Impact of Fermented Soy Beverages Containing Selected Vaginal Probiotics on the In Vitro Fecal Microbiota of Post-Menopausal Women

The gut microbiome of women can change after menopause, and during this phase women can also be more susceptible to vaginal dysbiosis. Recent studies have explored the probiotic potential of <i>Lactobacillus crispatus</i> BC4 and <i>Lactobacillus gasseri</i> BC9 against vario...

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Main Authors: Margherita D’Alessandro, Davide Gottardi, Silvia Arboleya, Guadalupe Monserrat Alvarado-Jasso, Carola Parolin, Beatrice Vitali, Rosalba Lanciotti, Miguel Gueimonde, Francesca Patrignani
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/6/1022
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author Margherita D’Alessandro
Davide Gottardi
Silvia Arboleya
Guadalupe Monserrat Alvarado-Jasso
Carola Parolin
Beatrice Vitali
Rosalba Lanciotti
Miguel Gueimonde
Francesca Patrignani
author_facet Margherita D’Alessandro
Davide Gottardi
Silvia Arboleya
Guadalupe Monserrat Alvarado-Jasso
Carola Parolin
Beatrice Vitali
Rosalba Lanciotti
Miguel Gueimonde
Francesca Patrignani
author_sort Margherita D’Alessandro
collection DOAJ
description The gut microbiome of women can change after menopause, and during this phase women can also be more susceptible to vaginal dysbiosis. Recent studies have explored the probiotic potential of <i>Lactobacillus crispatus</i> BC4 and <i>Lactobacillus gasseri</i> BC9 against various pathogens and their use as co-starters in foods. However, their effects on the gut microbiota of post-menopausal women, who are more prone to dysbiosis, have not been examined. This study investigated the effects of predigested soy beverages (INFOGEST) containing BC4 and BC9 (encapsulated or not) on the composition and metabolic activity of the gut microbiota in post-menopausal women, using a fecal batch culture model. Parameters such as pH, gas, SCFAs, and microbiota composition (targeted qPCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing) were assessed. The study, while highlighting a strong variability among donors, showed differences in gut microbiota response to the tested products. For instance, donor 2 showed a significant increase in bifidobacteria with BC4 + BC9 and E-BC9, while BC4 increased <i>Ruminococcaceae</i> in donors 1 and 3, and E-BC4 and E-BC9 enhanced <i>Akkermansia</i> in donor 1. BC4, E-BC4, E-BC9, and E-BC4 + BC9 significantly impacted metabolic activity, as measured by SCFAs, compared to other samples. However, no significant differences in gas production were observed.
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spelling doaj-art-6f0e737bdd2a41fa877ae5afb29a722d2025-08-20T02:11:17ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-03-01146102210.3390/foods14061022Impact of Fermented Soy Beverages Containing Selected Vaginal Probiotics on the In Vitro Fecal Microbiota of Post-Menopausal WomenMargherita D’Alessandro0Davide Gottardi1Silvia Arboleya2Guadalupe Monserrat Alvarado-Jasso3Carola Parolin4Beatrice Vitali5Rosalba Lanciotti6Miguel Gueimonde7Francesca Patrignani8Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Agri-Food Research, University of Bologna, Via Quinto Bucci 336, 47521 Cesena, ItalyInterdepartmental Center for Industrial Agri-Food Research, University of Bologna, Via Quinto Bucci 336, 47521 Cesena, ItalyDepartment of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Dairy Research Institute IPLA-CSIC, C/Francisco Pintado Fe 26, 33011 Oviedo, SpainDepartment of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Dairy Research Institute IPLA-CSIC, C/Francisco Pintado Fe 26, 33011 Oviedo, SpainDepartment of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via San Donato 19/2, 40127 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via San Donato 19/2, 40127 Bologna, ItalyInterdepartmental Center for Industrial Agri-Food Research, University of Bologna, Via Quinto Bucci 336, 47521 Cesena, ItalyDepartment of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Dairy Research Institute IPLA-CSIC, C/Francisco Pintado Fe 26, 33011 Oviedo, SpainInterdepartmental Center for Industrial Agri-Food Research, University of Bologna, Via Quinto Bucci 336, 47521 Cesena, ItalyThe gut microbiome of women can change after menopause, and during this phase women can also be more susceptible to vaginal dysbiosis. Recent studies have explored the probiotic potential of <i>Lactobacillus crispatus</i> BC4 and <i>Lactobacillus gasseri</i> BC9 against various pathogens and their use as co-starters in foods. However, their effects on the gut microbiota of post-menopausal women, who are more prone to dysbiosis, have not been examined. This study investigated the effects of predigested soy beverages (INFOGEST) containing BC4 and BC9 (encapsulated or not) on the composition and metabolic activity of the gut microbiota in post-menopausal women, using a fecal batch culture model. Parameters such as pH, gas, SCFAs, and microbiota composition (targeted qPCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing) were assessed. The study, while highlighting a strong variability among donors, showed differences in gut microbiota response to the tested products. For instance, donor 2 showed a significant increase in bifidobacteria with BC4 + BC9 and E-BC9, while BC4 increased <i>Ruminococcaceae</i> in donors 1 and 3, and E-BC4 and E-BC9 enhanced <i>Akkermansia</i> in donor 1. BC4, E-BC4, E-BC9, and E-BC4 + BC9 significantly impacted metabolic activity, as measured by SCFAs, compared to other samples. However, no significant differences in gas production were observed.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/6/1022probioticsvaginal lactobacillisoy beveragesgut microbiotapost-menopausal womenmicrobial dysbiosis
spellingShingle Margherita D’Alessandro
Davide Gottardi
Silvia Arboleya
Guadalupe Monserrat Alvarado-Jasso
Carola Parolin
Beatrice Vitali
Rosalba Lanciotti
Miguel Gueimonde
Francesca Patrignani
Impact of Fermented Soy Beverages Containing Selected Vaginal Probiotics on the In Vitro Fecal Microbiota of Post-Menopausal Women
Foods
probiotics
vaginal lactobacilli
soy beverages
gut microbiota
post-menopausal women
microbial dysbiosis
title Impact of Fermented Soy Beverages Containing Selected Vaginal Probiotics on the In Vitro Fecal Microbiota of Post-Menopausal Women
title_full Impact of Fermented Soy Beverages Containing Selected Vaginal Probiotics on the In Vitro Fecal Microbiota of Post-Menopausal Women
title_fullStr Impact of Fermented Soy Beverages Containing Selected Vaginal Probiotics on the In Vitro Fecal Microbiota of Post-Menopausal Women
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Fermented Soy Beverages Containing Selected Vaginal Probiotics on the In Vitro Fecal Microbiota of Post-Menopausal Women
title_short Impact of Fermented Soy Beverages Containing Selected Vaginal Probiotics on the In Vitro Fecal Microbiota of Post-Menopausal Women
title_sort impact of fermented soy beverages containing selected vaginal probiotics on the in vitro fecal microbiota of post menopausal women
topic probiotics
vaginal lactobacilli
soy beverages
gut microbiota
post-menopausal women
microbial dysbiosis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/6/1022
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