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Targeted colonic propionate delivery prevented weight gain
Increasing the amount of the short-chain fatty acid propionate in the colon could be a promising approach to prevent additional weight gain in adults who are overweight, according to research published in Gut.
Gary Frost, PhD, of the Imperial College London, United Kingdom, and colleagues explored whether propionate delivered to the colon would promote secretion of peptide YY (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide-1 and reduce energy intake and weight gain in humans.
“The present results support a role specifically for colonic propionate in weight management and may provide a molecular explanation of recent data that have observed changes in the gut microbiome and associated short-chain fatty acid production profiles in weight loss,” the researchers wrote.
Investigators from Imperial College London and University of Glasgow created a primary cultured human colonic cell model and designed a novel inulin-propionate ester (IPE) to deliver propionate — believed to play a role in appetite regulation — specifically to the colon.
After an acute randomized controlled crossover study to assess the effects of IPE on gut hormone secretion and energy intake, the researchers evaluated its long-term effects on weight gain in 60 men and women aged 40 to 65 years (BMI, 25-40 kg/m2) in a randomized controlled study for 24 weeks.
Propionate stimulated the release of PYY and GLP-1 from human colonic cells. At concentrations of 100 mmol/L and 400 mmol/L, PYY rose 1.8-fold (P<.05) and threefold (P<.001) over basal secretions, respectively, and GLP-1 1.6-fold and 2.4-fold (P<.001 for both), respectively.
Acute ingestion of 10 g IPE increased postprandial plasma PYY and GLP-1 and also reduced energy intake. During 24 weeks, IPE supplementation (10g/day) reduced weight gain, intra-abdominal adipose tissue distribution and intra-hepatocellular lipid content and prevented the insulin sensitivity deterioration observed in the inulin control group.
“This small, proof-of-principle study shows encouraging signs that supplementing one’s diet with the ingredient we’ve developed prevents weight gain in overweight people,” Frost said in a press release. “You need to eat it regularly to have an effect. We’re exploring what kinds of foods it could be added to, but something like bread or fruit smoothies might work well.”
Disclosure: Please see study for full list of researchers’ financial disclosures.