A compound derived from hops, known as TXN, has shown potential in reducing the abundance of a gut bacterium associated with metabolic syndrome, a condition prevalent in 35% of the U.S. adult population, leading to several severe health complications including cognitive dysfunction and type 2 diabetes.
Published in the journal Microbiome, the study led by researchers from the OSU College of Pharmacy and other institutes demonstrated that TXN, derived from xanthohumol (XN)—a chemical found in hops—could ameliorate metabolic syndrome by impacting the gut microbiome, specifically by reducing the populations of Oscillibacter species.
These species, when increased due to high-fat diets, can lead to inflammation in fatty tissues, driving metabolic syndrome.
Researchers applied transkingdom network analysis, a computational method developed by Andrey Morgun and Natalia Shulzhenko, to explore the interaction between TXN and bacteria controlling the expression of genes related to metabolic syndrome.
This approach elucidated the mechanisms through which TXN mitigates the condition by altering the composition of the gut microbiome.
The demonstrated action of TXN on Oscillibacter species indicates potential benefits in counteracting the inflammation and impaired glucose metabolism linked to metabolic syndrome, thus presenting a potential therapeutic approach to conditions related to metabolic syndrome, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Given the role of faulty glucose metabolism in multiple conditions, including brain physiology alterations, the findings bring forth new possibilities for addressing various health issues associated with diet and obesity through the modulation of gut microbiota.
Earlier research by Morgun and Shulzhenko had established a connection between Oscillibacter, adipose tissue, and type 2 diabetes, suggesting that TXN may also serve as a potential treatment for diabetes.
The research underscores the potential of hop-derived compounds like TXN in addressing metabolic syndrome by modulating the gut microbiome, reducing inflammation, and improving glucose metabolism.
These findings open avenues for the development of new therapeutic strategies, not only for metabolic syndrome but also for related conditions like type 2 diabetes, leveraging the health benefits of compounds found in hops.
The study is part of a broader collaborative effort aiming to explore the impact of hop compounds on human health, particularly focusing on diet and obesity-related conditions.
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The research findings can be found in Microbiome.
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