Multifunctional dietary approach reduces intestinal inflammation in relation with changes in gut microbiota composition in subjects at cardiometabolic risk: the SINFONI project

The development of cardiometabolic (CM) diseases is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, partly linked to alterations of the gut microbiota (GM) and reduced intestinal integrity. The SINFONI project investigates a multifunctional (MF) nutritional strategy's impact combining different bioactive compounds on inflammation, GM modulation and CM profile. In this randomized crossover-controlled study, 30 subjects at CM-risk consumed MF cereal-products, enriched with polyphenols, fibers, slowly-digestible starch, omega-3 fatty acids or Control cereal-products (without bioactive compounds) for 2 months. Metabolic endotoxemia (lipopolysaccharide (LPS), lipopolysaccharide-binding protein over soluble cluster of differentiation-14 (LBP/sCD14), systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risk markers, intestinal inflammation, CM profile and response to a one-week fructose supplementation, were assessed at fasting and post mixed-meal. GM composition and metabolomic analysis were conducted. Mixed linear models were employed, integrating time (pre/post), treatment (MF/control), and sequence/period. Compared to control, MF intervention reduced intestinal inflammation (fecal calprotectin, <i>p</i> = 0.007) and endotoxemia (fasting LPS, <i>p</i> < 0.05), without alteration of systemic inflammation. MF decreased serum branched-chain amino acids compared to control (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and increased <i>B.ovatus</i>, <i>B.uniformis</i>, <i>A.butyriciproducens</i> and unclassified <i>Christensenellaceae.CAG-74</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.05). CM markers were unchanged. A 2-month dietary intervention combining multiple bioactive compounds improved intestinal inflammation and induced GM modulation. Such strategy appears as an effective strategy to target low-grade inflammation through multi-target approach.