There are limited data on exposure to mycotoxins in Pakistan. Here, we measured exposure to deoxynivalenol (DON), a common contaminant of wheat, and aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁), a known contaminant of rice, using biomarkers of exposure. Wheat (n = 195) and rice (n = 62) samples were analyzed for AFB₁ and DON levels, and the corresponding urinary biomarkers were analyzed in urine samples from a rural population (n = 264, aged 4–80 years, male 58%) using ultra-sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. AFB₁ was detected in 66% of rice (5.04 ± 11.94 µg/kg) and 3% of wheat samples. AFM₁ (hydroxylated form of AFB₁) was detected in 69% of urine samples, mean 0.023 ± 0.048 ng/mL and DON was detected in 20% of urine samples, mean 0.170 ± 0.129 ng/mL. The maximum probable daily intake for DON derived from the urinary biomarker was 59.8 ng/kg b.w./day, which is below the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives’ tolerable daily intake (1000 ng/kg b.w./day). However, for aflatoxin, the derived margin of exposure (MoE) of (13.2) was well below the safe MoE (10,000) suggested by the European Food Safety Authority. The calculated aflatoxin-associated cancer risk of 0.514/10⁵ individuals/year suggests that measures should be taken to reduce the AFB₁ contamination in food, particularly rice, in Pakistan.

Weizmannia coagulans BC99, a Gram-positive, spore-forming, lactic acid-producing bacterium is renowned for its resilience and health-promoting properties, W. coagulans BC99 survives harsh environments, including high temperatures and gastric acidity, enabling effective delivery to the intestines. The consequences of chronic sleep deprivation (SD) include memory deficits and gastrointestinal dysfunction. In this study, a chronic sleep deprivation cognitive impairment model was established by using a sleep deprivation instrument and W. coagulans BC99 was given by gavage for 4 weeks to explore the mechanism by which BC99 improves cognitive impairment in sleep-deprived mice. BC99 improved cognitive abnormalities in novel object recognition tests induced by chronic sleep deprivation and showed behavior related to spatial memory in the Morris water maze test. W. coagulans BC99 reduced the heart mass index of sleep-deprived mice, increased the sleep-related neurotransmitters 5-HT and DA, decreased corticosterone and norepinephrine, and increased alpha diversity and community similarity. It reduced the abundance of harmful bacteria such as Olsenella, increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and promoted the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). W. coagulans BC99 also inhibits LPS translocation and the elevation of peripheral inflammatory factors by maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier and inhibiting the expression of the NLRP3 signaling pathway in the jejunum, thereby inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome in the brain of mice and reducing inflammatory factors in the brain, providing a favorable environment for the recovery of cognitive function. The present study confirmed that W. coagulans BC99 ameliorated cognitive impairment in chronic sleep-deprived mice by improving gut microbiota, especially by promoting SCFAs production and inhibiting the NLRP3 signaling pathway in the jejunum and brain. These findings may help guide the treatment of insomnia or other sleep disorders through dietary strategies.

Probiotics have attracted increasing attention due to their benefits in terms of relieving gastrointestinal ailments, including constipation. This study evaluated the potential of Weizmannia coagulans BC99 for clinical remission of constipation in adults. In this randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial, 90 individuals with constipation were divided between a BC99 and a placebo group for an 8-week intervention duration. The spontaneous bowel movement (SBM) frequency, patient assessment of constipation symptoms (PAC-SYM), patient assessment of constipation quality of life (PAC-QOL), inflammatory cytokines, neurotransmitters, and serum metabolites were investigated before and after the intervention. The results showed that BC99 intervention significantly improved constipation symptoms and quality of life in adults with constipation, as evidenced by an increased SBM score and decreased PAC-SYM and PAC-QOL scores. Additionally, BC99 supplementation increased the levels of neurotransmitters (5-HT, MTL, AChE, and BDNF) associated with intestinal motility and alleviated inflammation in participants with constipation, as supported by higher levels of anti-inflammatory factors (IL-4, IL-10) and lower levels of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6, IFN-γ) in the BC99 group. Furthermore, BC99 altered the abundance of 93 metabolites and affected biological pathways correlated with gastrointestinal motility, including sphingolipid metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the W. coagulans BC99 strain in relieving constipation in adults, and reveals its potential mechanism of action. These findings provide a scientific basis for BC99 as an effective and safe probiotic for constipation treatment.

The consequences of chronic sleep deprivation include memory deficits and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Studies suggest that gut microbiota plays a causal role in cognitive impairment induced by chronic sleep deprivation, but the working mechanism of the microbiota-gut-brain axis remains unclear. In this study, a chronic sleep deprivation cognitive impairment model was established by sleep deprivation instrument, and Weizmannia coagulans BC99 was given by gavage for 4 weeks. BC99 improved cognitive abnormalities in novel object recognition tests induced by chronic sleep deprivation and showed behavior related to spatial memory in the Morris water maze test. W. coagulans BC99 reduced the heart mass index of sleep-deprived mice, increased the sleep-related neurotransmitters 5-HT and DA, decreased corticosterone and norepinephrine, and increased alpha diversity and community similarity. It reduced the abundance of harmful bacteria such as Olsenella, increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and promoted the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). W. coagulansBC99 also inhibits LPS translocation and the elevation of peripheral inflammatory factors by maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier and inhibiting the expression of the NLRP3 signaling pathway in the jejunum, thereby inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome in the brain of mice and reducing inflammatory factors in the brain, providing a favorable environment for the recovery of cognitive function. The present study confirmed that W. coagulans BC99 ameliorated cognitive impairment in chronic sleep-deprived mice by improving gut microbiota, especially by promoting SCFAs production and inhibiting the NLRP3 signaling pathway in the jejunum and brain. These findings may help guide the treatment of insomnia or other sleep disorders through dietary strategies.