It triggers a ‘fasting-like’ state

In a recent study, scientists discovered that the microbes found in kombucha tea can regulate fat metabolism in the intestines of a model worm species, resembling the effects seen during fasting.

The research, led by Robert Dowen from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his team, was published on March 28 in the journal PLOS Genetics.

New findings suggest that the microbial composition in kombucha may mimic the physiological effects of fasting, potentially leading to reduced fat stores.

The rising popularity of kombucha, a sweetened and fermented tea beverage, has been fueled by its purported health benefits, including claims of lowering blood pressure, preventing cancer, and protecting against metabolic diseases and liver toxins.

These benefits are attributed to the probiotic microbes present in the drink, although human studies validating these claims are limited.

Robert Dowen’s research team delved into the impact of kombucha microbes on metabolism by administering them to the model nematode worm C. elegans.

Their investigation revealed that the yeast and bacteria colonized the worms’ intestines, triggering metabolic changes akin to those observed during fasting.

Specifically, the microbes influenced the expression of genes involved in fat metabolism, leading to an increase in fat-degrading proteins and a decrease in proteins that synthesize triglycerides. This orchestrated shift resulted in reduced fat accumulation in the worms.

The latest findings shed light on how probiotics in kombucha tea can reshape metabolism in a model worm species, offering insights into potential impacts on human metabolism.

However, it’s crucial to emphasize that further research is needed to determine whether humans consuming kombucha can experience similar effects observed in the C. elegans model studied here.

Nonetheless, the authors suggest that these findings align with reported human health benefits of kombucha and could influence future approaches to complementary healthcare.

The authors continue: “We were surprised to find that animals consuming a diet consisting of the probiotic microbes found in Kombucha Tea displayed reduced fat accumulation, lower triglyceride levels, and smaller lipid droplets – an organelle that stores the cell’s lipids – when compared to other diets.”

According to the team, the results of the study “suggest that the microbes in Kombucha Tea trigger a “fasting-like” state in the host even in the presence of sufficient nutrients.”

Source: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011003

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