Short-chain fatty acids reduce inflammation in the lungs of older mice (Make your own)

Medical Xpress / Am Physiological Soc / American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular ^ | May 17, 2023 | Christina B. Hildebrand et al

[ConservativeMind]

The gut microbial community structure—communities of bacteria, viruses and fungi that live in the intestines—influences the inflammatory response in the lungs of aging mice, according to researchers from the Institute of Functional Anatomy at Charité, the Medical University of Berlin in Germany.

Inflammation leads to reduced lung function and disease in older adults. It also worsens their prognosis in cases of pneumonia and acute lung injury. However, the source of the inflammation and potential treatments are not fully understood.

In this study, researchers analyzed the gut microbiome and its impact on inflammatory signaling in aging lungs. Then, scientists tested the effects of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)—beneficial metabolites of the gut microbiome—in mice ages 3 to 18 months. The animals drank either water mixed with SCFAs or water only. The researchers discovered that inflamm-aging (chronic, low-grade inflammation that develops during aging) in the lungs of healthy, old mice was reduced when they were supplemented with SCFAs. The research team also found an improvement in pulmonary inflammation severity in older mice with acute lung injury.

"This study provides new evidence that SCFAs play a beneficial role in the gut-lung axis of the aging organism by reducing pulmonary inflamm-aging and ameliorating enhanced severity of acute lung injury in older mice," this study's authors wrote. The researchers said these findings could help improve human health as it relates to pulmonary aging by focusing on gut bacteria.

[ConservativeMind]

The paper mentions that “Gut microbiome-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)…acetate, butyrate, and propionate,” were used. These come from bacteria that digest our fiber for us. We can greatly increase these by eating various types of soluble fiber sources. Yes, as your body adjusts, you will have more gas than normal.

An additional mention in the paper was given for the known benefits of Bifidobacterium, Faecalibaculum, and Lactobacillus gut bacteria.

[ConservativeMind]

A great paper describing the types of fermentable fibers in quick reference pictures (Figure 1), along with a wonderful graph of how much of each you can take before having gas issues (Figure 3), is here:

Gastrointestinal Effects and Tolerance of Nondigestible Carbohydrate Consumption

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9776669/

[ConservativeMind]

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[telescope115]

Thanks for posting this. VERY useful information!

[BipolarBob]

In before the influx of comments about people worried about their aging pet mice lungs. Most of this stuff is over my small cranium. I think eating Bavarian style sauerkraut might be the way to go for humans though.

[frithguild]

Ping for reference

[tired&retired]

Sounds like some sort of histamine response influence.

People don’t realize that the gastrin, produced by the G-cells in the lining of the stomach when we eat, enters the bloodstream as a hormone and regulates the parietal cells in the fundus of the stomach to produce (HCL) acid and intrinsic factor through histamine production.

Histamines are inflamatory.

Histamine is a potent inflammatory mediator, commonly associated with allergic reactions, promoting vascular and tissue changes. Inflammatory mediators are molecules produced by activated cells that intensify and prolong the inflammatory response.

Histamine is a chemical your immune system releases. It’s mainly known for its role in causing allergy symptoms. But it has other important functions, like regulating your sleep-wake cycle and cognitive function.