N-Acetylglucosamine and Immunoglobulin Strengthen Gut Barrier Integrity via Complementary Microbiome Modulation.

Combined SBI and NAG produced the greatest improvement in gut barrier integrity as measured by transepithelial electrical resistance.

• TEER increased by +36% for the SBI_NAG combination
• SBI alone improved TEER by +21% and NAG alone by +29%
• The combined effect exceeded either individual ingredient alone
• Measurements were made using a co-culture of epithelial/immune (Caco-2/THP-1) cells

SBI selectively increased propionate production and health-associated indole derivatives.

• SBI most selectively increased propionate production associated with Bacteroidota families
• SBI most specifically boosted health-associated indole derivatives such as indole-3-propionic acid
• These effects were distinct from those observed with NAG

NAG most specifically boosted acetate and butyrate production associated with Bifidobacteriaceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Lachnospiraceae.

• NAG-driven increases in acetate and butyrate were attributed to Bifidobacteriaceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Lachnospiraceae
• These microbial and metabolite shifts were distinct from those induced by SBI
• The complementary nature of the two ingredients' effects supported their combined use

The SBI_NAG combination enhanced all three short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) simultaneously.

• The combination displayed effects of both individual ingredients
• SBI_NAG enhanced acetate, propionate, and butyrate together
• Individual ingredients each elevated only a subset of SCFAs most prominently

The SBI_NAG combination elevated microbial diversity as measured by the community modulation score (CMS).

• The combined treatment increased the community modulation score (CMS)
• The CMS elevation reflected the complementary and additive microbial compositional shifts of each ingredient
• The study used microbiota from healthy adults (n = 6) in the ex vivo SIFR® technology platform

SBI and NAG induced distinct and complementary shifts in microbial composition and metabolite output.

• SBI and NAG each induced distinct microbial compositional shifts when applied individually
• The metabolic outputs of the two ingredients were complementary rather than redundant
• The combination displayed effects of both individual ingredients simultaneously
• This complementarity was proposed as the mechanistic basis for the superior combined effect on gut barrier integrity

The study used the validated ex vivo SIFR® technology combined with epithelial/immune cell co-culture to assess both microbiome and barrier effects.

• SIFR® (Systemic Intestinal Fermentation Research) technology was described as a validated ex vivo platform
• Microbiota were derived from healthy adults (n = 6)
• Gut barrier integrity was assessed using a co-culture of Caco-2/THP-1 cells
• TEER (transepithelial electrical resistance) was used as the primary measure of barrier integrity