Modulating the human gut microbiome and health markers through kombucha consumption: a controlled clinical study
Abstract Fermented foods are becoming more popular due to their purported links to metabolic health and the gut microbiome. However, direct clinical evidence for the health claims is lacking. Here, we describe an eight-week clinical trial that explored the effects of a four-week kombucha supplement...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80281-w |
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| author | Gertrude Ecklu-Mensah Rachel Miller Maria Gjerstad Maseng Vienna Hawes Denise Hinz Cheryl Kim Jack A. Gilbert |
| author_facet | Gertrude Ecklu-Mensah Rachel Miller Maria Gjerstad Maseng Vienna Hawes Denise Hinz Cheryl Kim Jack A. Gilbert |
| author_sort | Gertrude Ecklu-Mensah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Fermented foods are becoming more popular due to their purported links to metabolic health and the gut microbiome. However, direct clinical evidence for the health claims is lacking. Here, we describe an eight-week clinical trial that explored the effects of a four-week kombucha supplement in healthy individuals consuming a Western diet, randomized into the kombucha (n = 16) or control (n = 8) group. We collected longitudinal stool and blood samples to profile the human microbiome and inflammation markers. We did not observe significant changes in either biochemical parameters or levels of circulating markers of inflammation across the entire cohort. However, paired analysis between baseline and end of intervention time points within kombucha or control groups revealed increases in fasting insulin and in HOMA-IR in the kombucha group whereas reductions in HDL cholesterol were associated with the control group. Shotgun metagenomic analysis revealed the relative abundance of Weizmannia, a kombucha-enriched probiotic and several SCFA producing taxa to be overrepresented in consumers at the end of the intervention. Collectively, in our healthy cohort consuming a Western diet, a short-term kombucha intervention induced modest impacts on human gut microbiome composition and biochemical parameters, which may be attributed to relatively small number of participants and the extensive inter-participant variability. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d44512362a49455094d171100baf6728 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-d44512362a49455094d171100baf67282025-01-05T12:28:08ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-0114111410.1038/s41598-024-80281-wModulating the human gut microbiome and health markers through kombucha consumption: a controlled clinical studyGertrude Ecklu-Mensah0Rachel Miller1Maria Gjerstad Maseng2Vienna Hawes3Denise Hinz4Cheryl Kim5Jack A. Gilbert6Department of Pediatrics and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San DiegoDepartment of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, Rady’s Children HospitalInstitute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of OsloDepartment of Pediatrics and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San DiegoLa Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI)La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI)Department of Pediatrics and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San DiegoAbstract Fermented foods are becoming more popular due to their purported links to metabolic health and the gut microbiome. However, direct clinical evidence for the health claims is lacking. Here, we describe an eight-week clinical trial that explored the effects of a four-week kombucha supplement in healthy individuals consuming a Western diet, randomized into the kombucha (n = 16) or control (n = 8) group. We collected longitudinal stool and blood samples to profile the human microbiome and inflammation markers. We did not observe significant changes in either biochemical parameters or levels of circulating markers of inflammation across the entire cohort. However, paired analysis between baseline and end of intervention time points within kombucha or control groups revealed increases in fasting insulin and in HOMA-IR in the kombucha group whereas reductions in HDL cholesterol were associated with the control group. Shotgun metagenomic analysis revealed the relative abundance of Weizmannia, a kombucha-enriched probiotic and several SCFA producing taxa to be overrepresented in consumers at the end of the intervention. Collectively, in our healthy cohort consuming a Western diet, a short-term kombucha intervention induced modest impacts on human gut microbiome composition and biochemical parameters, which may be attributed to relatively small number of participants and the extensive inter-participant variability.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80281-wDietFermented foodsGut microbiomeSerum cytokines |
| spellingShingle | Gertrude Ecklu-Mensah Rachel Miller Maria Gjerstad Maseng Vienna Hawes Denise Hinz Cheryl Kim Jack A. Gilbert Modulating the human gut microbiome and health markers through kombucha consumption: a controlled clinical study Scientific Reports Diet Fermented foods Gut microbiome Serum cytokines |
| title | Modulating the human gut microbiome and health markers through kombucha consumption: a controlled clinical study |
| title_full | Modulating the human gut microbiome and health markers through kombucha consumption: a controlled clinical study |
| title_fullStr | Modulating the human gut microbiome and health markers through kombucha consumption: a controlled clinical study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modulating the human gut microbiome and health markers through kombucha consumption: a controlled clinical study |
| title_short | Modulating the human gut microbiome and health markers through kombucha consumption: a controlled clinical study |
| title_sort | modulating the human gut microbiome and health markers through kombucha consumption a controlled clinical study |
| topic | Diet Fermented foods Gut microbiome Serum cytokines |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80281-w |
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