Prebiotics inducing the growth or activity of beneficial intestinal bacteria – probiotics producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) have lately received wide recognition for their beneficial influence on host intestinal microbiota and metabolic health. Some non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) are defined as prebiotics and oats being one of richest sources of NSP in grains are considered as potentially having prebiotic effect. However, information on fermentation of specific NSP of oats is limited. Moreover, bacterial cross-feeding interactions in which fermentation of prebiotics is involved is poorly characterized. Here, we report the exploration of new candidates for the syntrophic bacterial interactions and fermentability of oat non-starch polysaccharides (NSP). The results obtained by differentiating composition, viscosity and concentration of oats NSP in fermentation medium showed that Bacillus licheniformis pre-digests oat NSP, degrades high viscosity of oat β-glucan and makes hemicellulose easier to access for other bacteria. Because of fermentation, B. licheniformis produces lactic and succinic acids, which further can be used by other bacteria for cross-feeding and SCFA production.

The article discusses the possible relationships between intestinal microbiota and the therapeutic efficacy of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) in inflammatory bowel diseases. Intestinal microbiota may be involved in 5-ASA enzymatic biotransformation, but the metabolism of drugs by the intestinal microbiota has been studied in less detail, and little is known about the relationships between anti-inflammatory efficacy of 5-ASA with bacterial viability, quantity and activity. It remains unclear whether 5-ASA affects the microbiota depending on the different segments of gastrointestinal tract. Drugs and diet can both improve and worsen the composition of the intestinal microbiota. However, it is not known whether drugs affect the intestinal microbiota regardless of diet. Further research is needed to answer these questions.

The objective of this research was to investigate the feasibility of integrating oat (1 → 3, 1 → 4)-β-D-glucan (β-glucan) dried by two different techniques (freeze drying and spray drying) into a synbiotic formulation with Akkermansia muciniphila. The study evaluated the impact of this synbiotic formulation on the growth of A. muciniphila and its effect on the fermentation process. The extracted oat β-glucans underwent freeze-drying (FD) and spray-drying (SD) processes before being introduced as supplementary carbon sources (1%) to brain heart infusion (BHI) medium containing A. muciniphila MSCL 1582. The BHI medium containing inulin, D-glucose, and BHI without added substrates served as the control. Bacterial growth and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production were measured before and after 72 h of fermentation. A light microscope and KOVA slides were used for the A. muciniphila count, and SCFA levels were measured via gas chromatography. Our findings revealed that oat β-glucans could effectively function as prebiotic substrates in complementary synbiotic composition with A. muciniphila, without inhibiting growth and causing metabolic impairment. Both FD and SD techniques demonstrated equivalent and favorable impacts on the fermentative capacity of A. muciniphila, rendering them suitable choices for the drying of β-glucans. Incorporating oat β-glucan into synbiotic formulations offers potential benefits, contributing to A. muciniphila growth and the fermentation process.

Oat protein itself, as a substance, has extensively been studied providing information on its nutritional value, some functional properties and possible applicability in food systems. Chosen protein isolation methods and technological aspects define final composition of obtained oat protein product, its concentration, nutrition value and its functionality in food industry. Scientific data on oat protein recovery methods, typically relying on protein solubility or dry fractionation, provides an insufficient knowledge about the success in commercialization of oat protein recovery technologies and their derivatives in form of oat protein. The aim of the study was to analyse and summarize the research findings on oat protein extraction methods and functional properties of oat protein. Semi-systematic, monographic methods were used to analyse the oat protein isolation techniques, functional properties of oat protein in aqueous food systems, covering the latest information on oat protein extraction methods. Wet and dry isolation methods were demonstrated as main methods in oat protein extraction. Functional properties of oat protein, such as thermal stability, solubility, emulsification, water hydration capacity and foaming were reviewed and evaluated, identifying limitations and protein alterations which occur through the oat protein extraction process. The study provides recent trends in oat protein recovery technologies, along with an overview of current and potential oat protein utilization in food systems.

Objective: The current study aims to conduct comparative analysis of C-reactive protein (CRP), serum ferritin (SF), and fecal calprotectin (CALP) levels in individuals presenting with both inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in contrast to those with IBD without T2D. Materials and methods: This retrospective analysis of a laboratory database included 2274 unique individuals diagnosed with IBD categorized into two cohorts: 2125 IBD patients without T2D, and 149 IBD patients with T2D. The differences between groups on a continuous measure were determined using non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The study involved 925 male and 1200 female IBD patients without T2D, with mean ages of 41.6 ± 15.1 years for males and 47.1 ± 17.4 years for females. The second cohort involved 51 males and 98 females with IBD and T2D, with mean ages of 58.1 ± 13.9 years for males and 64.2 ± 12.1 years for females. Individuals with comorbid IBD and T2D demonstrated elevated levels of CRP and SF compared to those affected by IBD without T2D, with statistical significance observed (p < 0.05). An increase in CALP values was found in females afflicted with both IBD and T2D when compared to individuals with IBD without comorbid T2D (p < 0.01); however, such an increase was not noted in males. Conclusions: These findings underscore the need for further research on gender-specific differences and the potential presence of additional inflammatory conditions in individuals with IBD and T2D. Keywords: type 2 diabetes (T2D) inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comorbidities C-reactive protein (CRP) ferritin fecal calprotectin

Iron deficiency (ID) and its late stage, iron deficiency anaemia, are often overlooked conditions in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The study is primarily aimed at the need for first-phase screening for ID in patients with IBD using laboratory baseline parameters such as ferritin and C-reactive protein (CRP). Laboratory data of 4558 unique patients with IBD was analysed. For first-phase screening of ID, the thresholds of serum ferritin < 30 µg/l in the absence of inflammation (CRP < 5 mg/l) and serum ferritin < 100 µg/l in the presence of inflammation (CRP > 5 mg/l) were used. The study revealed that ferritin analysis was conducted for only one third of the enrolled unique patients with IBD over a five-year period. First-phase ID screening showed that decrease in ferritin values was found in 56% of unique IBD patients over this period, as determined using CRP and ferritin during the same blood collection (same referral number). Haemoglobin (Hb) tests were performed in 93% of unique IBD patients in the five-year period. A decrease in Hb was found in 21% of unique patients with Crohn’s disease, 20% of patients with ulcerative colitis, and in 5% of patients with unspecified non-infective gastroenteritis and colitis.