Evaluation of food bioactives on intestinal starch digestion: an in vivo study.

Obesity is worldwide rising with impact, partly as it is a major cause of other (metabolic) diseases. Numerous preventive measures are being taken to lessen its prevalence, including the use of extracts containing food bioactive compounds in ayurvedic treatment. Thus far, as mainly extracts were used, the establishment of compound-specific effects and their mechanisms of action are largely lacking. Moreover, most of these studies were performed in vitro, not in vivo. One of the in vitro effects seen is inhibition of pancreatic alpha-amylase (intestinal) starch digestion, but whether this holds in vivo is an open question, regarding blood glucose maintenance and gut health, and simultaneously provides insights into effects on microbial fermentation. We will use individual compounds in young mice, to investigate in vivo their inhibitory role in α-amylase mediated starch digestion, intestinal integrity, and gut microbial fermentation and composition. Cumulatively, we will be able to illustrate “The inhibitory effects of food bioactives on intestinal starch digestion by α-amylase, overall gut health, intestinal integrity, microbiota composition, and its connection with glucose homeostasis”. We will use in vivo real-time non-invasive extended indirect calorimetry with hydrogen, methane and hydrogen sulfide sensors for continuous physiological measurements and gut microbiota activity. To examine microbiota composition, we will use 16S DNA sequencing and also investigate the synergistic beneficial effect of galactose with the most potent compound on intestinal health. With the new insights, we will contribute to the development of an approach to support the control of metabolic conditions by food bioactive compounds.