2024-04-10 22:51:06
Kombucha is one of the most popular low-alcohol beverages in the world, and its appeal lies in its ability to provide probiotics to the gut.
Fermented kombucha tea contains yeast and “health-promoting” gut bacteria, such as lactic acid microbes, which studies show have improved fat metabolism in mice.
However, it is not yet known whether kombucha can provide enough microflora to significantly alter the composition of the human microbiome.
In a new study with roundworms (Caenorhabditis elegans) found evidence that microbes associated with kombucha tea can “firmly colonize” the gut of animals.
According to scientists from the University of North Carolina (USA), the fat metabolism of worms that were fed these microbes was “rearranged”.
Specifically, the fat reserves of these worms were significantly reduced. Further analysis of the worms’ genetic activity suggested that this effect was due to an increase in fat-destroying proteins produced in the worms’ intestines.
Scientists say that such an effect is equivalent in favor of intermittent fasting to people.
“This study provides a critical basis for elucidating the molecular mechanisms that may underlie the purported health benefits of kombucha tea using a genetically tractable animal model,” said Rachel DuMez-Kornegay, a graduate student in molecular biology, and her team.
In recent years, sales of probiotics supplements, which contain live bacteria, and prebiotics, which “feed” the gut microbiome, have soared following new evidence that certain microbes are associated with better health outcomes.
But the mysteries of the gut still abound. Scientists still need to figure out how microbes enter the gut, what changes the composition of the microbiome, and how it can be managed. Although some studies suggest that probiotics may improve immune health or gastrointestinal disorders, results are mixed so far.
In the case of kombucha specifically, some small studies have shown that the drink may benefit gut health in people with a Western diet. However, almost all studies to date have been conducted on animals, so the results can be conflicting.
Not all kombucha drinks are created equal. They come in different forms, with different composition of microbes. If the drink is not kept at the right temperature, these beneficial microbes can easily die before the kombucha is consumed.
To date, there have been very few human clinical trials examining the effects of kombucha on gut health. in 2023 A pilot clinical trial involving a dozen participants found that kombucha and a carbohydrate-rich meal together reduced fasting blood glucose levels after four weeks.
The findings suggest that kombucha may have anti-diabetic effects – but this needs to be confirmed in larger cohort studies.
Another more general clinical trial found that consuming high amounts of fermented foods, including kombucha, can increase microbiome diversity and decrease markers of inflammation.
While waiting for more clinical trials, researchers using animals – such as C. elegans – will be able to explore the possible mechanisms of benefits of kombucha. Because the worm genome can be easily obtained and analyzed, these animals are excellent models for seeing which gut proteins are regulated by consumption of the microbes found in kombucha.
Such research has already yielded unexpected results.
“We were surprised to find that the animals that consumed the probiotic microbes found in kombucha tea accumulated less fat… – researchers say. “These results show that the microbes in kombucha tea induce an intermittent fasting-like state in the host, even in the presence of sufficient nutrients.”
The study is published in PLOS Genetics.
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2024-04-10 22:51:06