Functional Food Biscuits Modulate Gut Microbiota and Improve Brain Function in Mice via MGBA
Background
Global concerns over cognitive decline and neurological disorders are rising, often linked to chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. Current therapeutic strategies frequently have side effects or limited efficacy, highlighting the need for novel, holistic approaches. The microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) has emerged as a critical bidirectional communication pathway, influencing brain function, mood, and behavior through microbial metabolites, immune modulation, and neuroendocrine signaling. Traditional Chinese dietary culture emphasizes "food-medicine homology," where certain foods possess therapeutic properties. This study investigates how functional food biscuits, rich in bioactive compounds, leverage the MGBA to support brain health.
Study Design
This study investigated the effects of functional biscuits formulated with traditional Chinese ingredients (Gastrodia elata Bl., Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf, Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen (Roman.) Stapf, Sesamum indicum L., Juglans regia L., and Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) on mouse brain function and gut microbiota. Mice were divided into four groups: a control group and low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose biscuit groups. Researchers measured serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β), hippocampal acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and cerebral superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. Intestinal microbiota profiles were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The study aimed to identify optimal intervention doses and correlations between microbial changes and cerebral biomarkers.
Results
Functional biscuits significantly modulated several key cerebral biomarkers and reshaped intestinal microbiota in mice. > The low-dose group demonstrated optimal improvements, exhibiting enhanced modulation of hippocampal AChE and BDNF levels, indicating improved cholinergic function and neuroplasticity. This optimal modulation was concurrent with a significant reshaping of the intestinal microbiota, characterized by an elevated abundance of beneficial bacterial taxa. Intervention doses collectively exerted significant effects on overall microbial diversity. Specific bacterial genera, including unclassified Atopobiaceae, Facklamia, and Staphylococcus, were identified as significantly correlated with observed changes in cerebral biomarkers. These findings suggest that the compound biscuits successfully ameliorate brain function, enhance antioxidant capacity (via SOD levels), and reduce inflammatory status (via IL-1β) through their influence on the microbiota-gut-brain axis.
Key Findings
- Functional biscuits optimally modulated hippocampal
AChEandBDNFlevels in the low-dose group. - Intervention reshaped intestinal microbiota, increasing beneficial bacterial taxa abundance.
- Microbial diversity was significantly affected by biscuit intervention doses.
- Genera like
Atopobiaceae,Facklamia, andStaphylococcuscorrelated with cerebral biomarkers. - Biscuits ameliorated brain function, antioxidant capacity, and inflammatory status via the
MGBA.
Why It Matters
This research highlights the significant potential of functional food interventions to support cognitive and neurological health by targeting the microbiota-gut-brain axis. For individuals interested in holistic health and dietary strategies, these findings suggest that specific food formulations, particularly those rooted in traditional food-medicine homology, could offer a non-pharmacological approach to brain health. While a specific human protocol is far from established, this study provides a strong mechanistic basis for exploring complex botanical formulations. Integrating such functional foods into a daily regimen could become a viable strategy for maintaining cognitive function and mitigating neuroinflammation, potentially complementing existing health protocols. Further research is needed to translate these mouse findings into human-applicable dietary guidelines and to isolate the specific bioactive compounds responsible for the observed effects.