Main description:

This book provides an overview of the metabolism of dietary compounds by the intestinal microbiota, and on the consequences of such metabolic activity on host metabolism and physiological functions; both in intestinal and peripheral tissues.

Over the last years, our understanding of the causal links between microbiota metabolic activity towards dietary and endogenous substrates and human health status has evolved extensively. In this context, the book starts with a comprehensive introduction devoted to the physiological and metabolic functions of the intestinal epithelium, followed by a part dedicated to the way intestine offers board and lodging for microbes being on a short- or long-term stay. The next chapters focus on the utilization of the available substrates from diet by the intestinal bacteria to produce numerous bacterial metabolites, and on the impact of such microbial activity, in the first place for communication between microbes, and for communication between microbes and lodging host. As will be detailed, this latter process of interkingdom communication leads to either beneficial or deleterious effects on intestinal physiology and metabolism. Special attention is given to selected pathophysiological processes namely chronic intestinal inflammation, colorectal carcinogenesis, and diarrhea. Then, the effects of modifications of bacterial metabolites and other bioactive compounds by the host after intestinal absorption, and consequences for peripheral tissue functions are presented.

Summarizing the state of the art on what is known about the metabolic crosstalk between gut microbiota and human metabolism, as well as perspectives for further experimental and clinical research, this book provides a useful resource for researchers, professionals, and students with a background in biology, and/or nutrition, medicine, pharmacology, and for those which are involved in the agriculture and food production. By explaining technical terms all along the text, this book should be understandable also for interested non-specialists.

Contents:

Contents

Introduction and aim of the book

Chapter 1. Physiological and metabolic functions of the intestinal epithelium: from the small to the large intestine

1.1 The intestine displays multiple physiological functions in addition to absorption of components originating from food

1.2 The intestinal epithelium represents a border between the outdoor and internal environment

1.3 Structure and function of the small intestine epithelium. Metabolism of nutrients in enterocytes

1.4 Structure and functions of the large intestine epithelium. Metabolism of nutrients in colonocytes

Chapter 2. Intestine offers board and lodging for intestinal microbes on a short- or long-term stay

2.1 The human intestinal microbiota: a complex mixture

2.2 Bacteria concentration, composition, and diversity during the whole life

- Installation of the intestinal microbiota after birth, and evolution of the composition during development

- Evolution of the intestinal microbiota during ageing

- Supply of substrates by the host to the intestinal microbiota

- Microbiota and the host intestinal epithelium: binding of microbe components to epithelial cells and consequences

- Microbiota, production of toxins, and effects on the intestinal epithelium

Chapter 3. Metabolism of dietary substrates by intestinal bacteria and consequences for the host intestine

3.1 Metabolism of proteins and amino acids by the intestinal microbiota and impact on the intestinal epithelium metabolism and functions

-Amino acid-derived bacterial metabolites and effects on the intestinal epithelium

-Effects of the amount of dietary proteins on the intestinal ecosystem and consequences

3.2 Metabolism of polysaccharides by the intestinal microbiota and impact on the intestinal epithelium metabolism and functions

-Polysaccharide-derived bacterial metabolites and effects on the intestinal epithelium

-Effects of the amount of dietary polysaccharides on the intestinal ecosystem and consequences

3.3 Metabolism of lipids by the intestinal microbiota

-Lipid-derived bacterial metabolites and effects on the intestinal ecosystem

-Effects of the amount of dietary lipids on the intestinal ecosystem and consequences

3.4 Metabolism of purine nucleotides by the intestinal microbiota

3.5 Metabolism of phytochemicals by the intestinal microbiota and impact on the intestinal epithelium metabolism and functions

3.6 Osmolarity and pH of the luminal fluid and effects on the intestinal epithelium

3.7 Bacterial metabolites and the intestinal immune system

3.8 Minerals and the intestinal microbiota: consequences for the intestinal ecosystem

3.9 Vitamins and the intestinal microbiota: consequences for the intestinal ecosystem

3.10 Food additives and compounds produced during cooking processes and the intestinal microbiota: consequences for the intestinal ecosystem

Chapter 4. Alimentation, bacterial metabolites and host intestinal epithelium

4.1 Dietary compounds, bacterial metabolites and mucosal inflammation and subsequent healing

4.2 Dietary compounds, bacterial metabolites and colorectal cancer

4.3 Dietary compounds, bacterial metabolites and diarrhea

Chapter 5. Modification of the bacterial metabolites by the host after absorption, and consequences for the peripheral tissues metabolism, physiology, and patophysiology

5.1 Bacterial metabolites and production of co-metabolites by the host

5.2 Bacterial metabolites and the gut-liver axis

5.3 Bacterial metabolites and the gut-kidney axis

5.4 Bacterial metabolites and the gut-cardiovascular system axis

5.5 Bacterial metabolites and the gut-bone axis

5.6 Bacterial metabolites and the gut-brain axis

Chapter 6. Lessons to be learned from clinical and experimental research on the intestinal microbiota metabolic activity for health benefit and perspectives

6.1 Modulating the intestinal microbiota metabolic activity. The interest of metabolomics analysis of biological fluids

6.2 The needs for further mechanistic studies for enlightening the black box between bacterial metabolites and co-metabolites production and effects on host tissues

6.3 The needs for further dietary intervention studies in volunteers