SCOPE
Wheat peptides (WP) are rich in glutamic acid, glutamine, and other bioactive compounds that may benefit gut function and health. This study aims to evaluate the effects of regular consumption of WP on constipation-induced complications and gut microbiota in humans and mice.
METHODS AND RESULTS
A randomized trial of 49 functional constipation participants was conducted. The weekly amount of spontaneous bowel movements (SBM) increased by 2.09 per week after WP treatment, and by 0.40 per week among the placebo group (PL). Concomitantly, the secondary outcomes showed significant improvements in the quality of life-related to constipation, constipation severity, and satisfaction with the intervention. In the animal study, WP effectively alleviated constipation symptoms and affected the secretion of intestinal mobility-related neurotransmitters and gastrointestinal hormones in loperamide-induced constipation mice. Additionally, WP regulated the gene and protein expression levels of water-electrolyte metabolism and intestinal mobility. Furthermore, WP treatment decreased the abundance of several gut microbiota positively correlated to constipation (Turicibacter, Bacteroides_f_Bacteroidaceae, and Streptococcus) in mice.
CONCLUSION
WP ameliorated constipation in humans and mice, which could be partly explained by improving water-electrolyte metabolism, boosting intestinal motility, and reshaping gut microbiota. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.