Immunomodulatory effects of inulin and its intestinal metabolites

“Dietary fiber” (DF) refers to a type of carbohydrate that cannot be digested fully. DF is not an essential nutrient, but it plays an important part in enhancing digestive capacity and maintaining intestinal health. Therefore, DF supplementation in the daily diet is highly recommended. Inulin is a s...

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Main Authors: Wei Sheng, Guang Ji, Li Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1224092/full
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author Wei Sheng
Guang Ji
Li Zhang
author_facet Wei Sheng
Guang Ji
Li Zhang
author_sort Wei Sheng
collection DOAJ
description “Dietary fiber” (DF) refers to a type of carbohydrate that cannot be digested fully. DF is not an essential nutrient, but it plays an important part in enhancing digestive capacity and maintaining intestinal health. Therefore, DF supplementation in the daily diet is highly recommended. Inulin is a soluble DF, and commonly added to foods. Recently, several studies have found that dietary supplementation of inulin can improve metabolic function and regulate intestinal immunity. Inulin is fermented in the colon by the gut microbiota and a series of metabolites is generated. Among these metabolites, short-chain fatty acids provide energy to intestinal epithelial cells and participate in regulating the differentiation of immune cells. Inulin and its intestinal metabolites contribute to host immunity. This review summarizes the effect of inulin and its metabolites on intestinal immunity, and the underlying mechanisms of inulin in preventing diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic kidney disease, and certain cancer types.
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spelling doaj.art-3b1f8c0fc7714a28bd9fe8c4f0489f772023-08-11T00:39:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242023-08-011410.3389/fimmu.2023.12240921224092Immunomodulatory effects of inulin and its intestinal metabolitesWei ShengGuang JiLi Zhang“Dietary fiber” (DF) refers to a type of carbohydrate that cannot be digested fully. DF is not an essential nutrient, but it plays an important part in enhancing digestive capacity and maintaining intestinal health. Therefore, DF supplementation in the daily diet is highly recommended. Inulin is a soluble DF, and commonly added to foods. Recently, several studies have found that dietary supplementation of inulin can improve metabolic function and regulate intestinal immunity. Inulin is fermented in the colon by the gut microbiota and a series of metabolites is generated. Among these metabolites, short-chain fatty acids provide energy to intestinal epithelial cells and participate in regulating the differentiation of immune cells. Inulin and its intestinal metabolites contribute to host immunity. This review summarizes the effect of inulin and its metabolites on intestinal immunity, and the underlying mechanisms of inulin in preventing diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic kidney disease, and certain cancer types.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1224092/fullinulinshort-chain fatty acidsintestinal immunityintestinal microbiotaintestinal epithelial cellsintestinal immune cells
spellingShingle Wei Sheng
Guang Ji
Li Zhang
Immunomodulatory effects of inulin and its intestinal metabolites
Frontiers in Immunology
inulin
short-chain fatty acids
intestinal immunity
intestinal microbiota
intestinal epithelial cells
intestinal immune cells
title Immunomodulatory effects of inulin and its intestinal metabolites
title_full Immunomodulatory effects of inulin and its intestinal metabolites
title_fullStr Immunomodulatory effects of inulin and its intestinal metabolites
title_full_unstemmed Immunomodulatory effects of inulin and its intestinal metabolites
title_short Immunomodulatory effects of inulin and its intestinal metabolites
title_sort immunomodulatory effects of inulin and its intestinal metabolites
topic inulin
short-chain fatty acids
intestinal immunity
intestinal microbiota
intestinal epithelial cells
intestinal immune cells
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1224092/full
work_keys_str_mv AT weisheng immunomodulatoryeffectsofinulinanditsintestinalmetabolites
AT guangji immunomodulatoryeffectsofinulinanditsintestinalmetabolites
AT lizhang immunomodulatoryeffectsofinulinanditsintestinalmetabolites