QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Decroos, K. Articles by Verstraete, W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Decroos, K. Articles by Verstraete, W.

---

Nutrient Physiology, Metabolism, and Nutrient-Nutrient Interactions

Administration of Equol-Producing Bacteria Alters the Equol Production Status in the Simulator of the Gastrointestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME)¹

Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

² To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: willy.verstraete{at}UGent.be.

The intestinal microbial transformation of daidzein, one of the principal isoflavones from soy, into the isoflavan equol is subjected to a high interindividual variability. The latter compound is considered to have a higher biological activity than its precursor; hence, there is interest in dietary applications that modulate this important biotransformation. In 2 separate experiments, we administered a mixed microbial culture (EPC4), which we had isolated previously and which efficiently transforms daidzein into equol, to the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME). The SHIME was fed soy germ powder and inoculated with fecal samples from two nonequol-producing individuals. Equol production was induced in the distal colon compartments in both experiments, 5–6 d after the start of the treatment; 2 wk after interrupting the addition of EPC4, equol was still produced in high amounts. There are large interregional differences in daidzein metabolism in the simulated colon. Furthermore, no major shifts in the composition and activity of the microbial communities were caused by the supplementation with the microbial consortium. Although further confirmation in in vivo studies is required, these results validate the concept that administering EPC4 could constitute a novel means for converting a nonequol-producer into a producer.

KEY WORDS: • equol • daidzein • gut bacteria • SHIME • soy germ

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Possemiers, S. Rabot, J. C. Espin, A. Bruneau, C. Philippe, A. Gonzalez-Sarrias, A. Heyerick, F. A. Tomas-Barberan, D. De Keukeleire, and W. Verstraete Eubacterium limosum Activates Isoxanthohumol from Hops (Humulus lupulus L.) into the Potent Phytoestrogen 8-Prenylnaringenin In Vitro and in Rat Intestine J. Nutr., July 1, 2008; 138(7): 1310 - 1316. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]