Yuan Yao Chen

This study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of a fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) and sea buckthorn complex (FS) on blood glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) rats. The T2DM model was induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) combined with alloxan administration. Prior to rat experiments, the synergistic hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of FOS and sea buckthorn have been verified by zebrafish experiments. FS intervention significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in rats, although high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) showed a non-significant increasing trend. 16S rDNA sequencing revealed that FS significantly reshaped gut microbiota; it enriched beneficial genera (e.g., Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium) and suppressed inflammation-associated taxa (e.g., Escherichia–Shigella). Transcriptomic analysis indicated that FS reversed aberrant expression of inflammation-related genes (e.g., Retnlg, Retnlb, Bmp2 in the colon) and metabolism-related genes (e.g., Gpam, Cpt1a in the liver), activating pathways including fat digestion and absorption and fatty acid metabolism, while inhibiting immune-inflammatory pathways (e.g., the “TNF signaling pathway”, “Th17 cell differentiation”). Serum bile acid (BA) profiling showed FS modulated levels of primary and secondary BAs (e.g. CA, α-MCA, HDCA, GHDCA), restoring metabolic homeostasis. Pearson correlation analyses demonstrated robust associations among key microbiota, BAs, blood glucose/lipid indices, and farnesoid X receptor (FXR/Nr1h4) expression, supporting a regulatory network involving the gut–liver axis. This study elucidates the multi-target mechanisms by which FS ameliorates glucolipid metabolic disorders in T2DM, via gut microbiota remodeling, attenuation of intestinal/hepatic inflammation, and BA metabolism crosstalk, providing a theoretical basis for prebiotic-based precision nutrition.

Background: The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet effectively lowers blood pressure and improves blood lipid profiles. However, it remains unclear how the DASH diet contributes to gut microbiota and how the gut microbes affect these processes. This study aimed to examine the associations of DASH diet adherence with blood pressure and lipid levels, and to explore whether the gut microbiota mediated these relationships. Methods: A total of 879 Chinese aged over 18 years were recruited. DASH diet adherence was evaluated by a food frequency questionnaire. Blood pressure and lipid measurements were obtained during physical examinations. The gut microbiota was analysed via 16S rRNA sequencing. Results: Greater DASH diet adherence was correlated with lower diastolic blood pressure (DBP; sβ = −0.180 and p = 0.027) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; sβ = −0.268 and p = 0.002). Five bacterial genera were associated with the DASH diet (q-value < 0.15). Among them, Bifidobacterium was inversely linked to both DBP and LDL-C (p < 0.050). Two species (Bifidobacterium kashiwanohense and Bifidobacterium longum) were detected within the Bifidobacterium genus. Both of them explained the associations of the DASH diet with DBP and/or LDL-C (average causal mediation effect = −0.027 to −0.018; p < 0.050; proportion mediated = 8.22% to 9.04%). Conclusions: This study found favourable correlations of the DASH diet with both DBP and LDL-C. Bifidobacterium partially explained these relationships. These results may offer valuable insights into managing blood pressure and lipid levels through dietary and gut microbiota modulation.

Purpose: Several studies have explored the relationship between various aspects of work and the onset of depressive symptoms. However, there is a lack of research focusing on the association between job types and depressive symptoms. This study aims to investigate the impact of agricultural work on depressive symptoms and whether life satisfaction mediates this relationship. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) (n = 6856). Participants were categorized based on whether they were engaged in agricultural or non-agricultural work and further classified as self-employed or employed. Depressive symptoms and life satisfaction were assessed using the CES-D and SWLS scales. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations, and Baron and Kenny’s mediation test and the Sobel test were used to assess the mediating effect of life satisfaction. Results: Engaging in agricultural work was positively associated with increased depressive symptoms scores (B = 3.437, p < 0.001), indicating that agricultural work exacerbates depressive symptoms. This effect was partially mediated by life satisfaction. Conclusions: Self-employed agricultural workers are a high-risk group for depressive symptoms. Additionally, life satisfaction plays a mediating role between type of job and depressive symptoms. Public health recommendations aimed at improving or mitigating depressive symptoms among agricultural workers could focus on enhancing life satisfaction to promote healthier psychological status.