Effect of two-week red beetroot juice consumption on modulation of gut microbiota in healthy human volunteers - A pilot study

With very little research exploring intestinal effects of red beetroot consumption, the present pilot study investigated gut microbial changes following red beetroot consumption, via a 14-day intervention trial in healthy adults. Compared to baseline, the study demonstrates transient changes in abundance of some taxa e.g., Rom-boutsia and Christensenella, after different days of intervention (p < 0.05). Enrichment of Akkermansia muciniphila and decrease of Bacteroides fragilis (p < 0.05) were observed after 3 days of juice consumption, followed by restoration in abundance after 14 days. With native betacyanins and catabolites detected in stool after juice consumption, betacyanins were found to correlate positively with Bifidobacterium and Coprococcus, and inversely with Ruminococcus (p < 0.1), potentiating a significant rise in (iso)butyric acid content (172.7 +/- 30.9 mu mol/g stool). Study findings indicate the potential of red beetroot to influence gut microbial populations and catabolites associated with these changes, emphasizing the potential benefit of red beetroot on intestinal as well as systemic health.

Automated summary

With a 14-day intervention trial, this pilot study investigated the changes in gut microbial populations following red beetroot consumption. The study found transient changes in the abundance of certain bacteria taxa after different days of intervention (p < 0.05). Akkermansia muciniphila was enriched and Bacteroides fragilis decreased after 3 days of juice consumption, followed by restoration in abundance after 14 days (p < 0.05). The presence of native betacyanins and catabolites in stool after juice consumption was also observed, with betacyanins positively correlated with Bifidobacterium and Coprococcus, and inversely correlated with Ruminococcus (p < 0.1), leading to a significant rise in (iso)butyric acid content (172.7 +/- 30.9 mu mol/g stool). These findings suggest the potential benefits of red beetroot on gut microbial populations and associated catabolites, highlighting its impact on intestinal and systemic health.