Alterations in the Intestinal Morphology, Gut Microbiota, and Trace Mineral Status Following Intra-Amniotic Administration (Gallus gallus) of Teff (Eragrostis tef) Seed Extracts.
The consumption of teff (Eragrostis tef), a gluten-free cereal grain, has increased due to its dense nutrient composition including complex carbohydrates, unsaturated fatty acids, trace minerals (especially Fe), and phytochemicals. This study utilized the clinically-validated Gallus gallus intra amniotic feeding model to assess the effects of intra-amniotic administration of teff extracts versus controls using seven groups: (1) non-injected; (2) 18Ω H2O injected; (3) 5% inulin; (4) teff extract 1%; (5) teff extract 2.5%; (6) teff extract 5%; and (7) teff extract 7.5%. The treatment groups were compared to each other and to controls. Our data demonstrated a significant improvement in hepatic iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) concentration and LA:DGLA ratio without concomitant serum concentration changes, up-regulation of various Fe and Zn brush border membrane proteins, and beneficial morphological changes to duodenal villi and goblet cells. No significant taxonomic alterations were observed using 16S rRNA sequencing of the cecal microbiota. Several important bacterial metabolic pathways were differentially enriched in the teff group, likely due to teff's high relative fiber concentration, demonstrating an important bacterial-host interaction that contributed to improvements in the physiological status of Fe and Zn. Therefore, teff appeared to represent a promising staple food crop and should be further evaluated.
['Carboni|Johnathon|J|', 'Reed|Spenser|S|', 'Kolba|Nikolai|N|0000-0001-9193-317X', 'Eshel|Adi|A|', 'Koren|Omry|O|0000-0002-7738-1337', 'Tako|Elad|E|0000-0002-7856-5197']
D000650:Amnion D000818:Animals D002432:Cecum D002645:Chickens D031750:Eragrostis D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome D007267:Injections D007413:Intestinal Mucosa D007501:Iron D008274:Magnesium D008871:Microvilli D009752:Nutritional Status D010936:Plant Extracts D056692:Prebiotics D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S D012639:Seeds D014131:Trace Elements D015032:Zinc
gut microbiota teff staple food crops iron deficiency prebiotics probiotics zinc deficiency