3.12. Gut Microbiota and Mucosal Immunity Are Influenced by Cocoa the Obromine
Martín-Peláez, S. *; Rigo-Adrover, M.; Camps-Bossacoma, M.; Massot-Cladera, M.; Saldaña-Ruiz, S.; Franch, A.; Pérez-Cano, F.J.; Castell, M.
Background and objectives
Ingestion of cocoa has
been shown to influence the immune system.
The role of the
bioactive components of cocoa (i.e., flavonoids, fiber, theobromine) is not
completely understood. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect
of cocoa theobromine on the intestinal compartment.
Methodology
Twenty-one
three-week-old Lewis rats, were randomly assigned to three dietary groups
(n = 7 per group) for 15 days: the reference group (RF), which was fed with a
standard diet; the cocoa group (CC), which was fed with a standard diet
containing 10% of a conventional cocoa powder; and the theobromine group
(TB), which was fed with a standard diet including 0.25% theobromine (the
same amount of theobromine as the CC diet). Fecal samples were obtained at day
15 in order to establish bacterial populations, short chain fatty acids (SCFA),
pH and IgA coating bacteria.
Results
The TB diet
significantly inhibited the growth of the bacterial groups covered by E. coli, Bif164,
Strept and Chis150 probes compared to RF. This inhibitory effect was not
observed when theobromine was ingested with cocoa (CC diet), except for E.
coli. Both CC and TB diets increased the fecal amounts of total SCFA, but
led to different percentages of the individual SCFA analyzed, except for
butyric acid, which increased with both diets. The TB increased percentages of
formic acid, whereas the CC diet increased the percentage of acetic acid. Only
the TB diet led to changes in fecal pH, which was found to be significantly higher
than the RF and CC diets. The TB and in particular the CC diets significantly
decreased the percentages of fecal IgA-coating bacteria compared to the RF
diet.
Conclusions
Theobromine present in
cocoa has an important role in rat’s intestinal gut microbiota and immune
system modulation.
Acknowledgments
Grant AGL2011-24279
from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.
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