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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #401351
Research Project: Molecular, Immune and Microbiome Approaches for Mitigating GI Nematode Infections of Livestock

Location: Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory

Title: Phospholipid-rich krill oil promotes intestinal health by strengthening beneficial gut microbial interactions in an infectious colitis model

Author
item LIU, F - Zhengzhou University
item Smith, Allen
item Wang, Thomas - Tom
item Pham, Quynhchi
item HOU, P.F. - Qingdao University
item Cheung, Lumei
item YANG, H - Zhengzhou University
item Li, Robert

Submitted to: Food & Function
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/7/2024
Publication Date: 2/12/2024
Citation: Liu, F., Smith, A.D., Wang, T.T., Pham, Q., Hou, P., Cheung, L., Yang, H., Li, R.W. 2024. Phospholipid-rich krill oil promotes intestinal health by strengthening beneficial gut microbial interactions in an infectious colitis model. Food & Function. 15(5):2604-2615. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3FO04980A.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3FO04980A

Interpretive Summary: Krill oil is rich in bioactive ingredients, including polyunsaturated fatty acids in phospholipid forms and antioxidant astaxanthin and has been used as a better alternative to traditional fish oil. The health benefits of krill oil consumption have been documented via animal models and clinical trials. In this study, we used a multi-disciplinary approach to understand the mechanism of krill oil in curbing intestinal inflammation and alleviating colitis pathology. We provided strong evidence that krill oil is able to improve mucosal barrier function and play a protective role in epithelial healing via multiple targets, Together, our findings suggest that this natural product has the potential to be developed as a safe complementary approach in managing chronic gut disorders.

Technical Abstract: Krill oil (KO) is rich in bioactive ingredients including phospholipids, omega-3 fatty acids, and astaxanthin. While health benefits and roles of KO in modulating lipid metabolism are well documented, its ability to alleviate symptoms related to infectious colitis and modulate gut microbial interactions is still largely unknown. Here we used a multi-omics approach, including transcriptome, microbiome, and metabolome analyses, to understand how KO mediates gut microbial interactions and promotes epithelial healing in an infectious colitis model. KO reversed the infection-induced intestinal hyperplasia to baseline. KO dampened intestinal inflammation via multiple targets, mediating several proinflammatory pathways, including IL17 signaling, and reducing luminal histamine levels. KO supplementation enriched butyrate-producing bacteria, including Roseburia and Clostridium, and strengthened beneficial microbial interactions in the gut microbial community. Supplementation with phospholipid-rich KO also increased microbial phylogenetic diversity. KO enhanced mucosal barrier function by increasing the production of Muc6 and the antimicrobial peptide, Leap2. KO played an active role during epithelial healing by inhibiting the expression of granzyme K while increasing the expression of a colitis protective factor, Dclk1. Together, our findings demonstrate that KO rich in omega-3 phospholipids can play a protective role in infectious colitis and should be considered a dietary option for promoting gut health.