Bifidobacterium longum S3 alleviates loperamide-induced constipation by modulating intestinal acetic acid and stearic acid levels in mice

Food Funct. 2024 Jun 4;15(11):6118-6133. doi: 10.1039/d4fo00695j.

Abstract

Constipation is a major gastrointestinal (GI) symptom worldwide, with diverse causes of formation, and requires effective and safe therapeutic measures. In the present study, we used loperamide hydrochloride to establish a constipation model and assessed the effect of Bifidobacterium on constipation and its possible mechanism of relief. The results showed that B. longum S3 exerted a constipation-relieving effect primarily by improving the gut microbiota, enriching genera including Lactobacillus, Alistipes, and Ruminococcaceae UCG-007, and decreasing the bacteria Lachnospiraceae NK4B4 group. These changes may thereby increase acetic acid and stearic acid (C18:0) levels, which significantly increase the expression levels of ZO-1 and MUC-2, repair intestinal barrier damage and reduce inflammation (IL-6). Furthermore, it also inhibited oxidative stress levels (SOD and CAT), decreased the expression of water channel proteins (AQP4 and AQP8), significantly elevated the Gas, 5-HT, PGE2, and Ach levels, and reduced nNOS and VIP levels to improve the intestinal luminal transit time and fecal water content. Collectively, these changes resulted in the alleviation of constipation.

MeSH terms

  • Acetic Acid*
  • Animals
  • Bifidobacterium longum*
  • Constipation* / chemically induced
  • Constipation* / drug therapy
  • Constipation* / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome* / drug effects
  • Intestines / microbiology
  • Loperamide* / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Probiotics* / pharmacology
  • Stearic Acids* / metabolism

Substances

  • Loperamide
  • Acetic Acid
  • Stearic Acids
  • stearic acid