Probiotic-induced enrichment of Adlercreutzia equolifaciens increases gut microbiome wellness index and maps to lower host blood glucose levels

The gut microbiome is essential for maintaining host health, influencing gut function and metabolic regulation. While probiotics are widely used to manage gut health, evidence of their specific effects in healthy individuals remains limited. Most studies focus on diseased populations, with little at...

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Main Authors: Zeng Zhang, Zhihan Yang, Shijia Lin, Shuaiming Jiang, Xiaolu Zhou, Jiahe Li, Wei Lu, Jiachao Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Gut Microbes
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2520407
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author Zeng Zhang
Zhihan Yang
Shijia Lin
Shuaiming Jiang
Xiaolu Zhou
Jiahe Li
Wei Lu
Jiachao Zhang
author_facet Zeng Zhang
Zhihan Yang
Shijia Lin
Shuaiming Jiang
Xiaolu Zhou
Jiahe Li
Wei Lu
Jiachao Zhang
author_sort Zeng Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The gut microbiome is essential for maintaining host health, influencing gut function and metabolic regulation. While probiotics are widely used to manage gut health, evidence of their specific effects in healthy individuals remains limited. Most studies focus on diseased populations, with little attention to early interventions in individuals without major diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects of probiotics on gut health in participants free from significant health conditions. Fifty-four participants were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or composite probiotics for 60 d. Shotgun metagenomics revealed that individuals with lower baseline Gut Microbiome Wellness Index 2 (GMWI) exhibited more decisive responses to probiotic intervention, characterized by an increased abundance of beneficial commensal bacteria, including Adlercreutzia equolifaciens. Probiotic intake significantly improved the function of the gut microbiome, reducing antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors while enhancing carbohydrate-active enzymes. Notably, A. equolifaciens promoted the production of palmitoyl serinol, a metabolite associated with improved GMWI and preventive benefits in blood glucose. In a population-based experiment, these findings were validated in a follow-up single-strain probiotic intervention with Lacticaseibacillus casei Zhang. Our study highlights the potential of probiotics as an early intervention strategy for maintaining gut health in individuals without significant health conditions.
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issn 1949-0976
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publishDate 2025-12-01
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spelling doaj-art-e401892468dc48678b748b4155d8d1002025-08-20T02:39:38ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGut Microbes1949-09761949-09842025-12-0117110.1080/19490976.2025.2520407Probiotic-induced enrichment of Adlercreutzia equolifaciens increases gut microbiome wellness index and maps to lower host blood glucose levelsZeng Zhang0Zhihan Yang1Shijia Lin2Shuaiming Jiang3Xiaolu Zhou4Jiahe Li5Wei Lu6Jiachao Zhang7School of Food Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Functional Food of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, ChinaSchool of Food Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Functional Food of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, ChinaSchool of Food Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Functional Food of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, ChinaSchool of Food Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Functional Food of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, ChinaSchool of Food Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Functional Food of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, ChinaSchool of Food Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Functional Food of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, ChinaDepartment of Health Management, Haikou People’s Hospital/Affiliated Haikou Hospital of Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, Haikou, Hainan, ChinaSchool of Food Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Functional Food of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, ChinaThe gut microbiome is essential for maintaining host health, influencing gut function and metabolic regulation. While probiotics are widely used to manage gut health, evidence of their specific effects in healthy individuals remains limited. Most studies focus on diseased populations, with little attention to early interventions in individuals without major diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects of probiotics on gut health in participants free from significant health conditions. Fifty-four participants were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or composite probiotics for 60 d. Shotgun metagenomics revealed that individuals with lower baseline Gut Microbiome Wellness Index 2 (GMWI) exhibited more decisive responses to probiotic intervention, characterized by an increased abundance of beneficial commensal bacteria, including Adlercreutzia equolifaciens. Probiotic intake significantly improved the function of the gut microbiome, reducing antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors while enhancing carbohydrate-active enzymes. Notably, A. equolifaciens promoted the production of palmitoyl serinol, a metabolite associated with improved GMWI and preventive benefits in blood glucose. In a population-based experiment, these findings were validated in a follow-up single-strain probiotic intervention with Lacticaseibacillus casei Zhang. Our study highlights the potential of probiotics as an early intervention strategy for maintaining gut health in individuals without significant health conditions.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2520407Probioticgut microbiomeGMWImulti-omicscommensal biacteria
spellingShingle Zeng Zhang
Zhihan Yang
Shijia Lin
Shuaiming Jiang
Xiaolu Zhou
Jiahe Li
Wei Lu
Jiachao Zhang
Probiotic-induced enrichment of Adlercreutzia equolifaciens increases gut microbiome wellness index and maps to lower host blood glucose levels
Gut Microbes
Probiotic
gut microbiome
GMWI
multi-omics
commensal biacteria
title Probiotic-induced enrichment of Adlercreutzia equolifaciens increases gut microbiome wellness index and maps to lower host blood glucose levels
title_full Probiotic-induced enrichment of Adlercreutzia equolifaciens increases gut microbiome wellness index and maps to lower host blood glucose levels
title_fullStr Probiotic-induced enrichment of Adlercreutzia equolifaciens increases gut microbiome wellness index and maps to lower host blood glucose levels
title_full_unstemmed Probiotic-induced enrichment of Adlercreutzia equolifaciens increases gut microbiome wellness index and maps to lower host blood glucose levels
title_short Probiotic-induced enrichment of Adlercreutzia equolifaciens increases gut microbiome wellness index and maps to lower host blood glucose levels
title_sort probiotic induced enrichment of adlercreutzia equolifaciens increases gut microbiome wellness index and maps to lower host blood glucose levels
topic Probiotic
gut microbiome
GMWI
multi-omics
commensal biacteria
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2520407
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