Riboflavin Supplementation Promotes Butyrate Production in the Absence of Gross Compositional Changes in the Gut Microbiota.

Lei Liu, Mehdi Sadaghian Sadabad, Giorgio Gabarrini, Paola Lisotto, Julius Z H von Martels, Hannah R Wardill, Gerard Dijkstra, Robert E Steinert, Hermie J M Harmsen

Journal: Antioxidants & redox signaling 2023;38(4-6):282-297

PMID: 35943883

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Plain Language Summary

Gut microbiota composition can determine the health of an individual. Individuals with a high abundance of bacteria that produce metabolites known as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have been shown to reduce disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease and obesity. Riboflavin is a vitamin, which has been shown to play a role in the promotion of a healthy gut mirobiome and for individuals with health disorders, its supplementation may be of benefit. This randomised control trial of 105 individuals aimed to determine if the 2-week supplementation of riboflavin at two different doses affected the abundance of the gut microbe Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, gut microbiota composition, SCFA production, gut hormones, and the need to eat. The results showed that riboflavin supplementation for 2-weeks at either 50 or 100 mg/day had very little effect on the abundance of F. prausnitzii, SCFA production, or gut microbiota diversity. Combining the results from the two doses increased the production of the SCFA butyrate. It was concluded that riboflavin supplementation promotes butyrate production without affecting the gut microbiota. This study could be used by healthcare professionals to understand that riboflavin supplementation for 2 weeks has very little effect on the gut microbiota and associated health benefits. The study was not designed to combine the outcomes from the two different doses and therefore the conclusion that riboflavin supplementation increased butyrate production should be interpreted with caution.

Abstract

We performed a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, RIBOGUT, to study the effect of 2 weeks supplementation with either 50 or 100 mg/d of riboflavin on (i) abundance, (ii) gut microbiota composition, (iii) short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles, and (iv) the satiety and gut hormones. Neither dose of riboflavin, analyzed separately, impacted the abundance of , and only minor differences in SCFA concentrations were observed. However, combining the results of the 50 and 100 mg/d groups showed a significant increase in butyrate production. While the gut bacterial diversity was not affected by riboflavin supplementation, the complexity and stability of the bacterial network were enhanced. Oral glucose tolerance tests showed a trend of increased plasma insulin concentration and GLP-1 after 100 mg/d supplementation. Dietary supplements, such as vitamins, promote health by either directly targeting host physiology or indirectly via gut microbiota modulation. Here, we show for the first time that riboflavin intervention changes the activity of the microbiota. The butyrate production increased after intervention and although the composition did not change significantly, the network of microbial interactions was enforced. This RIBOGUT study suggests that oral riboflavin supplementation promotes butyrate production in the absence of major shifts in gut microbiota composition. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02929459.

Address: Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention and University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.; School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, and Precision Medicine (Cancer), The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.; Department of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.; DSM Nutritional Products AG, Kaiseraugst, Switzerland.; Department of Surgery, Division of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

DOI: 10.1089/ars.2022.0033