• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.34-45
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• 2019

Objectives The purpose of this study is to highlight recent gut-microbiota studies and to encourage gut-microbiota-related researches in Pediatric science of Korean Medicine. Methods We searched gut microbiota related studies and patents via the PubMed database of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the PatentScope database of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to see current trends of gut microbiota studies. Results All searched research and review articles in gut-microbiota studies were analyzed and presented as two charts, showing the recent trends of gut microbiota research. We summarized and discussed the significance of the selected fifty-six articles. Also, we listed reported gut-microbiota-derived small metabolites, impacting on human health and diseases. Conclusions This study emphasizes the critical roles of gut-microbiota and their-derived small metabolites in the human physiology and pathology. We know and agree that many natural compounds in Korean Medicine could be converted into small metabolites by gut microbiota in our body. Thus, it is important to encourage physicians and researchers of gut microbiota in the arena of Pediatric Korean Medicine. We believe that researchers will find a lot of unknown metabolites produced by gut microbiota from natural compounds in Korean Medicine.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.24-37
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• 2021

[Purpose] To determine whether physical activity (PA), primarily the recommended 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA, is associated with gut bacterial microbiota in 10-year-old children. [Methods] The Block Physical Activity Screener, which provides minutes/day PA variables, was used to determine whether the child met the PA recommendations. 16S rRNA sequencing was performed on stool samples from the children to profile the composition of their gut bacterial microbiota. Differences in alpha diversity metrics (richness, Pielou's evenness, and Faith's phylogenetic diversity) by PA were determined using linear regression, whereas beta diversity (unweighted and weighted UniFrac) relationships were assessed using PERMANOVA. Taxon relative abundance differentials were determined using DESeq2. [Results] The analytic sample included 321 children with both PA and 16S rRNA sequencing data (mean age [SD] =10.2 [0.8] years; 54.2% male; 62.9% African American), where 189 (58.9%) met the PA recommendations. After adjusting for covariates, meeting the PA recommendations as well as minutes/day PA variables were not significantly associated with gut richness, evenness, or diversity (p ≥ 0.19). However, meeting the PA recommendations (weighted UniFrac R² = 0.014, p = 0.001) was significantly associated with distinct gut bacterial composition. These compositional differences were partly characterized by increased abundance of Megamonas and Anaerovorax as well as specific Christensenellaceae_R-7_group taxa in children with higher PA. [Conclusion] Children who met the recommendations of PA had altered gut microbiota compositions. Whether this translates to a reduced risk of obesity or associated metabolic diseases is still unclear.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.1497-1505
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• 2022

Recently, the concept of personalized nutrition has been developed, which states that food components do not always lead to the same metabolic responses, but vary from person to person. Although this concept has been studied based on individual genetic backgrounds, researchers have recently explored its potential role in the gut microbiome. The gut microbiota physiologically communicates with humans by forming a bidirectional relationship with the micronutrients, macronutrients, and phytochemicals consumed by the host. Furthermore, the gut microbiota can vary from person to person and can be easily shifted by diet. Therefore, several recent studies have reported the application of personalized nutrition to intestinal microflora. This review provides an overview of the interaction of diet with the gut microbiome and the latest evidence in understanding the inter-individual differences in dietary responsiveness according to individual baseline gut microbiota and microbiome-associated dietary intervention in diseases. The diversity of the gut microbiota and the presence of specific microorganisms can be attributed to physiological differences following dietary intervention. The difference in individual responsiveness based on the gut microbiota has the potential to become an important research approach for personalized nutrition and health management, although further well-designed large-scale studies are warranted.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.166-174
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• 2017

The bacterial cells located within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) outnumber the host's cells by a factor of ten. These human digestive-tract microbes are referred to as the gut microbiota. During the last ten years, our understanding of gut microbiota composition and its relation with intra- and extra-intestinal diseases including risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome, have greatly increased. A question which frequently arises in the research community is whether one can modulate the gut microbial environment to 'control' risk factors in CVD. In this review, we summarized promising intervention methods, based on our current knowledge of intestinal microbiota in modulating CVD. Furthermore, we explore how gut microbiota can be therapeutically exploited by targeting their metabolic program to control pathologic factors of CVD.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.208-219
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• 2019

Probiotics are very closely related to gut microbiome and recognized as beneficial microorganisms for our health. They have various biological effects such as inhibition of pathogenic bacteria, activation of beneficial bacteria, prevention of diarrhea and constipation, enhanced immune activity etc. Prebiotics, non-digestible carbohydrates such as galactooligosaccharide and fructooligosaccharide, are utilized by beneficial gut bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, resulting in production of short chain fatty acids which inhibit pathogenic bacteria in the gut and function for human health. Synbiotics are introduced for synergistic effects when probiotics are combined with prebiotics and now commercially available. At the moment many functional ingredients are developed and commercialized. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics might be hot items in the functional food market and the values will increase according to the results of human gut microbiome researches. To meet the situation, systematic and scientific studies as well as marketing effects should be accompanied.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.155-173
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• 2011

Humans have and hold 100 trillion intestinal bacteria that are essential for health. For millions of years human-microorganisms interaction has co-evolved, and maintained close symbiotic relationship. Gut bacteria contributes to human health and metabolism, and humans provides the optimum nutrition-rich environment for bacteria. What is the mechanism of the host distinguishing the intestinal bacteria as its cohabiting partner and what kind of benefits does the gut microbiota provide the human are the fundamental questions to be asked and solved in order to make human life a higher quality. This review explains the physiological relationship and mutualism between the host and gut microorganism, and highlights the potential therapeutic approach for treating diseases, maintaining and improving health based on these correlations.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.358-380
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• 2023

The intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in determining human health, rendering it a major focus of scientific investigation. Rather than eliminating all microbes, promoting the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms within the gut has been recognized as a more effective approach to improving health. Unfavorable conditions potentially alter gut microbial populations, including a reduction in microbial diversity. However, intentionally enhancing the abundance of beneficial gut microbes can restore a state of optimal health. Polysaccharides are widely acknowledged for their potential to improve the gut microbiota. This review emphasizes the findings of recent studies examining the effects of forest product-derived polysaccharides on enhancing the gut microbiota and alleviating inflammation, diabetes symptoms, and obesity. The findings of several studies reviewed in this paper strongly suggest that forest products serve as an excellent dietary source for improving the gut microbiota and potentially offer valuable dietary interventions for chronic health problems, such as inflammation, diabetes, and obesity.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.671-695
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• 2022

The gastrointestinal tract is a complex ecosystem that contains a large number of microorganisms with different metabolic capacities. Modulation of the gut microbiome can improve the growth and promote health in pigs. Crosstalk between the host, diet, and the gut microbiome can influence the health of the host, potentially through the production of several metabolites with various functions. Short-chain and branched-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids, polyamines, indoles, and phenolic compounds are metabolites produced by the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome can also produce neurotransmitters (such as γ-aminobutyric acid, catecholamines, and serotonin), their precursors, and vitamins. Several studies in pigs have demonstrated the importance of the gut microbiome and its metabolites in improving growth performance and feed efficiency, alleviating stress, and providing protection from pathogens. The use of probiotics is one of the strategies employed to target the gut microbiome of pigs. Promising results have been published on the use of probiotics in optimizing pig production. This review focuses on the role of gut microbiome-derived metabolites in the performance of pigs and the effects of probiotics on altering the levels of these metabolites.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.640-653
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• 2022

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is the most common mycotoxin contaminant of cereal-based food and animal feed. The toxicity of DON is very low compared to that of other toxins; however, the most prominent signs of DON exposure include inappetence and body weight loss, which causes considerable economic losses in the livestock industry. This review summarizes critical studies on biological DON mycotoxin mitigation strategies and the respective in vitro and in vivo intestinal effects. Focus areas include growth performance, gut health in terms of intestinal histomorphology, epithelial barrier functions, the intestinal immune system and microflora, and short-chain fatty acid production in the intestines. In addition, DON detoxification and modulation of these parameters, through biological supplements, are discussed. Biological detoxification of DON using microorganisms can attenuate DON toxicity by modulating gut microbiota and improving gut health with or without influencing the growth performance of pigs. However, the use of microorganisms as feed additives to livestock for mycotoxins detoxification needs more research before commercial use.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 2013

Presence of Helicobacter pylori is associated with an increased risk of developing upper gastrointestinal tract diseases. Antibiotic therapy and a combination of two or three drugs have been widely used to eradicate H. pylori infections. Due to antibiotic resistant drugs, new drug resources are needed such as plants which contain antibacterial compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of GutGard$^{TM}$ to inhibit H. pylori growth both in Mongolian gerbils and C57BL/6 mouse models. Male Mongolian gerbils were infected with the bacteria by intragastric inoculation ($2{\times}10^9$ CFU/gerbil) 3 times over 5 days and then orally treated once daily 6 times/week for 8 weeks with 15, 30 and 60 mg/kg GutGard$^{TM}$. After the final administration, biopsy samples of the gastric mucosa were assayed for bacterial identification via urease, catalase and ELISA assays as well as immunohistochemistry (IHC). In the Mongolian gerbil model, IHC and ELISA assays revealed that GutGard$^{TM}$ inhibited H. pylori colonization in gastric mucosa in a dose dependent manner. The anti-H. pylori effects of GutGard$^{TM}$ in H. pylori-infected C57BL/6 mice were also examined. We found that treatment with 25 mg/kg GutGard$^{TM}$ significantly reduced H. pylori colonization in mice gastric mucosa. Our results suggest that GutGard$^{TM}$ may be useful as an agent to prevent H. pylori infection.