Metabolic differences in the small intestine A. Metabolic genes as well as the associated reactions involved in the formation of glutathione (GSH) are presented. B, C Significant differences associated with (B) glycine and (C) glutamine are shown. Red and blue arrows indicate the significantly (Q‐value < 0.05) higher and lower expression of the metabolic genes in CONV‐R mice compared to GF mice, respectively. D. The levels of glycine, glutamine, and cysteine used in the de novo synthesis of the GSH are measured in the hepatic portal vein that conducts blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver tissue. *Q‐value < 0.05.
Human intestinal flora regulates the levels of the body’s main antioxidant, glutathione, which fights a host of diseases, new research confirms. The findings could lead to new probiotic-delivering foods, and a better understanding of the metabolic processes behind diseases such as type 2 diabetes.
The findings help complete our understanding of how nonessential amino acids are synthesized to equip the body’s cells with detoxifying agents and antioxidants, Mardinoglu says. “Gut microbiota regulates your glutathione and amino acid metabolism – not only in the small intestine but also in the liver and the colon,” he says.
The small intestine is host to >1,000 known different species of bacteria. Some of these microbiota were found to be consume glycine, which is one of the 3 amino acids required for the synthesis of the body’s glutathione. In a test with bacteria-free mice, the researchers measured the level of the amino acids in the portal vein, the main vessel that drains blood from the gastrointestinal tract and spleen to the liver. They found a lower level of glycine in the liver and colon tissues, which indicated that the gut bacteria regulates glutathione metabolism in those organs, too.
Mardinoglu points out that since decreased levels of glycine and other amino acids have been linked to type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and other metabolism-related disorders, further study of microbial amino acids in the human gastrointestinal tract could shed light on the development of these diseases.
The link between gut bacteria and glutathione metabolism could lead to the development of food products that can deliver beneficial bacteria, or probiotics, to the gut,” Mardinoglu says. “These results can be used to understand how bacteria play a role in the metabolic processes involved in the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease as well as malnutrition.” http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=157450&CultureCode=en
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