Digestion

Probiotics and oat beta-glucan strengthen the gut

Probiotics protect the gut in NAFLD

The job of the small intestine is to digest and absorb nutrients through its mucosal membrane lining, and to act as a first line of defense against pathogens. When the lining functions properly, bacteria and toxins can’t pass through and leak into the bloodstream, while beneficial nutrients can. Since the liver accepts blood directly from the gut, doctors wanted to examine the role the small intestine may play in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

In this study, 39 people with NAFLD took a placebo or a daily probiotic combination including strains of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. After six months, while the probiotics hadn’t altered symptoms of NAFLD, they had stabilized the mucosal immune function in the small intestine, strengthening its impermeability to bacteria and toxins.

Reference: Nutrients; 2021, Vol. 13, No. 9, nu13093192

Oat beta-glucan reduced gastritis damage

The stomach has a mucosal barrier that keeps digestive juices from inflaming and damaging its walls. Stress, age, excessive alcohol, regularly using pain relievers such as aspirin and other NSAIDS, and bacterial infection with H-pylori may all contribute to this condition, called gastritis.

In this study, 48 people with gastritis took a placebo, or 3 grams of high- or low-molar mass oat beta-glucan per day. After 30 days, those in the high-molar mass oat beta-glucan group had less mucosal damage, better intestinal barrier function, improved metabolism, and greater antioxidant capacity. Doctors said the findings suggest oat beta-glucan is a new nutritional treatment for gastritis.

Reference: Nutrients; 2021, Vol. 13, No. 8, nu13082791