Beneficial effect of GABA-rich fermented milk on insomnia involving regulation of gut microbiota

Leilei Yu; Xiao Han; Shi Cen; Hui Duan; Saisai Feng; Yuzheng Xue; Fengwei Tian; Jianxin Zhao; Hao Zhang; Qixiao Zhai; Wei Chen

doi:10.1016/j.micres.2020.126409

Beneficial effect of GABA-rich fermented milk on insomnia involving regulation of gut microbiota

Microbiol Res. 2020 Mar:233:126409. doi: 10.1016/j.micres.2020.126409. Epub 2020 Jan 7.

Authors

Leilei Yu¹, Xiao Han², Shi Cen², Hui Duan², Saisai Feng², Yuzheng Xue³, Fengwei Tian⁴, Jianxin Zhao⁵, Hao Zhang⁶, Qixiao Zhai¹, Wei Chen⁷

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Probiotics at Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
³ Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China. Electronic address: xueyz001@163.com.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Probiotics at Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China. Electronic address: fwtian@jiangnan.edu.cn.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
⁶ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; (Yangzhou) Institute of Food Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Yangzhou 225004, China.
⁷ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; Beijing Innovation Centre of Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Technology & Business University, Beijing 100048, China.

PMID: 31927503
DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2020.126409

Abstract

Insomnia is a common health problem in modern societies. GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, can promote relaxation and reduce anxiety. In this study, milk was fermented with Lactobacillus brevis DL1-11, a strain with high GABA-producing capacity. The potential beneficial effects of this fermented milk on anxiety and sleep quality were evaluated in animal experiments. Sixty mice were divided into control, non-GABA fermented milk (NGFM), low-dose GABA fermented milk (LGFM, 8.83 mg/kg.bw), medium-dose GABA fermented milk (MGFM, 16.67 mg/kg.bw), high-dose GABA fermented milk (HGFM, 33.33 mg/kg.bw) and diazepam groups. The results of open field test and elevated plus-maze test indicated decreases in anxiety behavior after oral HGFM administration. Moreover, mice in the HGFM group exhibited a significantly prolonged sleep time after an intraperitoneal injection of sodium pentobarbital and a shortened sleep latency after an intraperitoneal injection of sodium barbital. These results indicate a beneficial effect of HGFM on sleep. Additionally, significant increases in the relative abundances of Ruminococcus, Adlercreutzia and Allobaculum and the levels of some short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyric acid, were observed in the HGFM group. The results suggest that GABA-fermented milk may improve sleep and the protective pathways may involve in regulation of gut microbiota and increase of SCFAs level.

Keywords: Fermented milk; Gut microbiota; Insomnia; Lactobacillus; SCFAs; γ-Aminobutyric acid.

MeSH terms

Animals
Cultured Milk Products*
Fatty Acids, Volatile / analysis
Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
Levilactobacillus brevis*
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred ICR
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / therapy*
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / chemistry*

Substances

Fatty Acids, Volatile
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid