California Strawberry Consumption Increased the Abundance of Gut Microorganisms Related to Lean Body Weight, Health and Longevity in Healthy Subjects

ABSTRACT It was our hypothesis that foods high in polyphenols and fiber have prebiotic activity. This human intervention study aimed to determine if daily consumption of freeze-dried California strawberry powder (SBP) leads to changes in the intestinal microbiota, fecal cholesterol and bile acid (BA) microbial metabolites. Fifteen healthy adults consumed a beige diet+26 g of SBP for 4 wks, followed by 2 wks of beige diet only. Stool samples were collected at 0, 4 and 6 wks. Fecal microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing; fecal cholesterol, BA and microbial metabolites by gas chromatography. Confirming compliance, urine concentration of pelargonidin, urolithin A glucuronide (UAG) and dimethylellagic acid glucuronide (DMEAG) were present after 4 wks of SBP consumption. Daily SBP altered the abundance of 24 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Comparing wk-4 to baseline the most significant increases were observed for one OTU from Firmicutes\Clostridia\ Christensenellaceae\NA, one OTU from Firmicutes\ Clostridia\Mogibacteriacea\NA, one OTU from Verrucomicrobia\ Verrucomicrobiaceae\Akkermansia\Muciniphila, one OTU from Actinobacteria\ Bifidobacteriaceae\Bifidobacterium\NA, and one OTU from Bacteroidetes\Bacteroidia\ Bacteroidaceae\Bacteroides and decrease of one OTU from Proteobacteria\ Betaproteobacteria\Alcaligenaceae\Sutterella. Comparing wk-4 to 6, we observed a reversal of the same OTUs from C.Christensenellaceae, V.muciniphilia and C.Mogibacteriaceae. Fecal SCFA and most of the fecal markers including cholesterol, coprostanol, primary and secondary BAs were not changed significantly except for lithocholic acid, which was increased significantly at wk-6 compared to baseline. In summary, SBP consumption increased the abundance of gut microorganisms related to lean body weight, health and longevity, and increased fecal lithocholic acid at wk-6 in healthy study participants.