Weizmannia coagulans BC99 alleviates alcohol-induced oxidative stress and gut barrier dysfunction via modulation of butyrate metabolism: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Yuxuan Wang; Jingyi Guo; Yao Dong; Jianguo Zhu; Shuguang Fang; Ying Wu; Shaobin Gu

doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2026.02.032

Weizmannia coagulans BC99 alleviates alcohol-induced oxidative stress and gut barrier dysfunction via modulation of butyrate metabolism: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Free Radic Biol Med. 2026 Apr:247:528-539. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2026.02.032. Epub 2026 Feb 12.

Authors

Yuxuan Wang¹, Jingyi Guo¹, Yao Dong², Jianguo Zhu², Shuguang Fang², Ying Wu³, Shaobin Gu⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Food and Bioengineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China.
² Wecare Probiotics R&D Centers (WPC), Wecare Probiotics Co., Ltd., Suzhou, 215200, China.
³ College of Food and Bioengineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China; Henan University-Enterprise R&D Center for Scientific Evidence-Based and Industrialization Application of Probiotics, Luo-yang, 471023, China. Electronic address: wuying2000@126.com.
⁴ College of Food and Bioengineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China; Henan University-Enterprise R&D Center for Scientific Evidence-Based and Industrialization Application of Probiotics, Luo-yang, 471023, China; Henan Engineering Research Center of Food Microbiology, Luoyang, 471000, China. Electronic address: shaobingu@haust.edu.cn.

PMID: 41690607
DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2026.02.032

Abstract

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial investigated the effects of Weizmannia coagulans BC99 on alcohol-related physiological disturbances in adults with chronic alcohol consumers. Sixty participants were randomly assigned to receive either BC99 or placebo for 60 days. Compared with placebo, BC99 supplementation significantly increased the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)¹ and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)², indicating enhanced ethanol metabolism. BC99 improved serum lipid profiles, reflected by a significant reduction in triglycerides (TG)³. BC99 markedly alleviated oxidative stress, as shown by increased serum superoxide dismutase (SOD)⁴ and glutathione (GSH)⁵ and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA)⁶ and P450 2E1 (CYP2E1)⁷ levels. Serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS)⁸ concentrations were significantly reduced, suggesting improved intestinal barrier integrity. Fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)⁹, particularly butyrate, increased substantially following BC99 intervention. Untargeted serum metabolomics identified 590 differentially regulated metabolites after BC99 supplementation. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed significant modulation of metabolic pathways, including butyrate metabolism, purine metabolism, and histidine metabolism. Metabolites involved in butyrate metabolism were negatively correlated with LPS and oxidative stress biomarkers, indicating a potential mechanistic link between enhanced SCFA metabolism and improved systemic oxidative and inflammatory status. Collectively, BC99 supplementation improved alcohol metabolism, reduced oxidative stress, and supported intestinal barrier function in chronic alcohol consumers. These findings suggest that modulation of butyrate-related metabolic pathways may contribute to the protective effects of BC99, supporting its potential as a therapeutic probiotic for alcohol-related health disturbances.

Keywords: Butyrate metabolism; Chronic alcohol consumption; Gut barrier; Oxidative stress; Weizmannia coagulans BC99.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Adult
Alcoholism* / metabolism
Alcoholism* / therapy
Butyrates* / metabolism
Double-Blind Method
Ethanol* / adverse effects
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Oxidative Stress* / drug effects
Probiotics* / administration & dosage

Substances

Ethanol
Butyrates