IN A NUTSHELL: This study recently published in Nature provides an analysis of metagenomes of human samples to search if the bacteria contained in fermented food known as lactic acid bacteria (LAB) could have an effect on the gut microbiota. It appears that LAB consumption leads to an integration of these bacteria into the gut microbiota, contributing to the balance of the microbiota and providing probiotics effects.
Abstract
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are fundamental in the production of fermented foods and several strains are regarded as probiotics. Large quantities of live LAB are consumed within fermented foods, but it is not yet known to what extent the LAB we ingest become members of the gut microbiome. By analysis of 9445 metagenomes from human samples, we demonstrate that the prevalence and abundance of LAB species in stool samples is generally low and linked to age, lifestyle, and geography, with Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactococcus lactis being most prevalent. Moreover, we identify genome-based differences between food and gut microbes by considering 666 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) newly reconstructed from fermented food microbiomes along with 154,723 human MAGs and 193,078 reference genomes. Our large-scale genome-wide analysis demonstrates that closely related LAB strains occur in both food and gut environments and provides unprecedented evidence that fermented foods can be indeed regarded as a possible source of LAB for the gut microbiome.
Source: Pasolli, E., De Filippis, F., Mauriello, I.E. et al. Large-scale genome-wide analysis links lactic acid bacteria from food with the gut microbiome. Nat Commun 11, 2610 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16438-8
To go further, you may have some documents for you:
- Changing gut bacteria through yogurt affects brain function
- 5 things about yogurt and the bacteria that defines it
- Which fermented foods contain the most ‘friendly’ bacteria?
- How yogurt affects the gut microbiota?
To help you include yogurt and dairy products in your daily life, you may try these recipes:
- For breakfast: Quinoa-Yogurt Parfait
- For lunch break: Chicken curry and vegetables with low-fat yogurt
- For dinner: Spinach-Basmati Soup with Yogurt
