***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: Objective To highlight the contribution of the gut microbiota to the modulation of host metabolism by dietary inulin-type fructans ( ITF prebiotics ) in obese women . Methods A double blind , placebo controlled , intervention study was performed with 30 obese women treated with ITF prebiotics ( inulin/oligofructose 50/50 mix ; n=15 ) or placebo ( maltodextrin ; n=15 ) for 3 months ( 16 g/day ) .  Blood , faeces and urine sampling , oral glucose tolerance test , homeostasis model assessment and impedancemetry were performed before and after treatment . The gut microbial composition in faeces was analysed by phylogenetic microarray and qPCR analysis of 16S rDNA . Plasma and urine metabolic profiles were analysed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy . Results Treatment with ITF prebiotics , but not the placebo , led to an increase in Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii ; both bacteria negatively correlated with serum lipopolysaccharide levels .  ITF prebiotics also decreased Bacteroides intestinalis , Bacteroides vulgatus and Propionibacterium , an effect associated with a slight decrease in fat mass and with plasma lactate and phosphatidylcholine levels . No clear treatment clustering could be detected for gut microbial analysis or plasma and urine metabolomic profile analyses . However , ITF prebiotics led to subtle changes in the gut microbiota that may importantly impact on several key metabolites implicated in obesity and /or diabetes . Conclusions ITF prebiotics selectively changed the gut microbiota composition in obese women , leading to modest changes in host metabolism , as suggested by the correlation between some bacterial species and metabolic endotoxaemia or metabolomic signatures Background Recent studies suggest that some of the clinical effectiveness of soy or daidzein , which is a type of isoflavone , may be attributed to a person ’s ability to produce equol from daidzein . Equol , which is a metabolite of one of the major soybean isoflavones called daidzein , is produced in the gastrointestinal tract by certain intestinal microbiota where present . Habitual dietary patterns may alter the intestinal bacterial profile , and influence the metabolism of isoflavones and the production of equol . Fructooligosaccharides ( FOS ) have a prebiotic activity as well as being a dietary fibre . The purpose of the present study was to determine whether FOS supplementation increases equol production in equol producers and stimulates equol production in equol non-producers in Japanese postmenopausal women . Methods A soy challenge was used to assess equol-producer status prior to the start of the study in healthy postmenopausal Japanese women . The study involved 4 separate groups in r and omised crossover design . First , subjects were classified as equol producers ( n = 25 ) or non-producers ( n = 18 ) , and then they were r and omly assigned to the FOS or control group . All subjects received a daily dose of 37 mg isoflavone conjugates in the capsule ( 21 mg aglycone form ) and either FOS ( 5g/day ) or sucrose as control , in a r and omised crossover study design . Equol -production was assessed by testing the serum and urine before and after the 2-week supplementation period . Results The analyses were conducted on 34 subjects completed the study , 21 ( 61.8 % ) were classified as equol producers , and 13 ( 38.2 % ) as non-producers . Significant differences were observed in the interaction effect of time × equol state after 1 week of intervention ( p = 0.006 ) . However there were no effects after 2 weeks of intervention ( p = 0.516 ) . Finally , in both equol producers and non-producers , FOS supplementation did not affect the serum equol concentration or the urinary equol to daidzein concentration ratios . Conclusions We have reported that FOS intervention ( 5 g/day for 2 weeks ) does not significantly modulate the capacity of intestinal microbiota to produce equol in postmenopausal Japanese women , in either equol producers or non-producers in this pilot study . Further larger investigations that explore the roles of specific intestinal microbiota in equol production will enable the establishment of dietary conditions that are required to enhance equol production Long-term dietary intake influences the structure and activity of the trillions of microorganisms residing in the human gut , but it remains unclear how rapidly and reproducibly the human gut microbiome responds to short-term macronutrient change . Here we show that the short-term consumption of diets composed entirely of animal or plant products alters microbial community structure and overwhelms inter-individual differences in microbial gene expression . The animal-based diet increased the abundance of bile-tolerant microorganisms ( Alistipes , Bilophila and Bacteroides ) and decreased the levels of Firmicutes that metabolize dietary plant polysaccharides ( Roseburia , Eubacterium rectale and Ruminococcus bromii ) . Microbial activity mirrored differences between herbivorous and carnivorous mammals , reflecting trade-offs between carbohydrate and protein fermentation . Foodborne microbes from both diets transiently colonized the gut , including bacteria , fungi and even viruses . Finally , increases in the abundance and activity of Bilophila wadsworthia on the animal-based diet support a link between dietary fat , bile acids and the outgrowth of microorganisms capable of triggering inflammatory bowel disease . In concert , these results demonstrate that the gut microbiome can rapidly respond to altered diet , potentially facilitating the diversity of human dietary lifestyles OBJECTIVES : The prebiotic potential of NUTRIOSE ® – a sugar-free , digestion-resistant dextrin — was evaluated in two r and omized , placebo-controlled trials that included 48 and 40 healthy volunteers , respectively . METHODS : In study 1 , the effect on colonic bacteria of NUTRIOSE ® 10 , 15 or 20 g/day administered for 14 days was examined ; in study 2 , gut microbial changes in response to NUTRIOSE ® 8 g/day for 14 days were monitored using real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis . RESULTS : NUTRIOSE ® increased proliferation of Bacteroides and inhibited Clostridum perfringens in both studies , increased β-glucosidase activity ( at 10 and 15 g/day ) and decreased colonic pH ( at 20 g/day ) . The increase in short-chain fatty acid production  with NUTRIOSE ® consumption was not statistically significant . There were no indications of gastrointestinal intolerance at any dose . CONCLUSIONS : According to commonly accepted definitions , NUTRIOSE ® is a prebiotic soluble fibre that provides a beneficial effect on colonic ecology while preserving digestive comfort Dietary phytoestrogens , such as isoflavones , are used as food additives to prevent menopause-related disorders . In addition to other factors , their bioavailability strongly depends on the activity of intestinal bacteria but the underlying interactions remain poorly understood . A r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled study was undertaken with 39 postmenopausal women to characterize changes in the dominant microbial communities of the intestinal tract after 2 mo of isoflavone supplementation with and without pro- or prebiotic . The diversity and composition of the dominant microbiota were analyzed by temporal temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis ( TTGE ) and fluorescent in situ hybridization . Isoflavones alone stimulated dominant microorganisms of the Clostridium coccoides-Eubacterium rectale cluster , Lactobacillus-Enterococcus group , Faecalibacterium prausnitzii subgroup , and Bifidobacterium genus . The stimulation of the Clostridium coccoides-Eubacterium rectale cluster depended on the women 's equol excretion and was transient , with the exception of a prolonged bifidogenic effect . Lasting changes in the diversity of the dominant species were also observed . The probiotic strain supplied could be detected by TTGE during its passage through the intestinal tract , and ingestion of fructooligosaccharides triggered a marked and specific bifidogenic effect . In conclusion , this is the first human study that shows changes in the diversity and composition of dominant bacterial communities in response to dietary supplementation with hormone-related compounds combined with functional foods BACKGROUND Bacterial intestinal glucosidases exert an important role in isoflavone absorption . Insoluble dietary fibers such as inulin may stimulate the growth of these bacteria in the colon and , hence , stimulate the absorption of these substances in subjects who may need isoflavone supplementation .  OBJECTIVE The objective was to assess the influence of inulin on plasma isoflavone concentrations after intake of soybean isoflavones in healthy postmenopausal women . DESIGN Twelve healthy postmenopausal women participated in a r and omized , double-blind , crossover study . They consumed 40 mg of a conjugated form of soybean isoflavones ( 6 mg daidzein and 18 mg genistein as free form ) with or without 3.66 g inulin twice daily in two 21-d experimental phases . Blood sample s were collected 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 10 , 12 , and 24 h after intake of isoflavones with breakfast and dinner at the end of each 21-d experimental phase . Plasma concentrations of isoflavones were assessed by HPLC with an electrochemical detector . RESULTS Plasma 24-h areas under the curve indicated that the intake of soybean isoflavones with inulin for 21 d was followed by higher plasma concentrations of daidzein and genistein ( 38 % and 91 % , respectively ) compared with the formulation without inulin . Furthermore , the time for the maximum concentration of daidzein and genistein appeared to be lower after the 21-d intake of soybean isoflavones , with or without inulin . However , the time for the maximum concentration of daidzein and genistein after supplementation with the inulin-containing formulation on day 21 was not significantly different from that after supplementation with the formulation without inulin . CONCLUSIONS Inulin may increase the apparent plasma concentrations of the soybean isoflavones daidzein and genistein in postmenopausal women . The higher plasma concentrations of the 2 isoflavones suggests that the absorption of each was facilitated by the presence of inulin Wheat bran extract ( WBE ) is a food- grade soluble fibre preparation that is highly enriched in arabinoxylan oligosaccharides . In this placebo-controlled cross-over human intervention trial , tolerance and effects on colonic protein and carbohydrate fermentation were studied . After a 1-week run-in period , sixty-three healthy adult volunteers consumed 3 , 10 and 0 g WBE/d for 3 weeks in a r and om order , with 2 weeks ' washout between each treatment period . Fasting blood sample s were collected at the end of the run-in period and at the end of each treatment period for analysis of haematological and clinical chemistry parameters . Additionally , subjects collected a stool sample for analysis of microbiota , SCFA and pH. A urine sample , collected over 48 h , was used for analysis of p-cresol and phenol content . Finally , the subjects completed question naires scoring occurrence frequency and distress severity of eighteen gastrointestinal symptoms . Urinary p-cresol excretion was significantly decreased after WBE consumption at 10 g/d . Faecal bifidobacteria levels were significantly increased after daily intake of 10 g WBE . Additionally , WBE intake at 10 g/d increased faecal SCFA concentrations and lowered faecal pH , indicating increased colonic fermentation of WBE into desired metabolites . At 10 g/d , WBE caused a mild increase in flatulence occurrence frequency and distress severity and a tendency for a mild decrease in constipation occurrence frequency . In conclusion , WBE is well tolerated at doses up to 10 g/d in healthy adults volunteers . Intake of 10 g WBE/d exerts beneficial effects on gut health parameters BACKGROUND A major portion of the catechins in green tea is not absorbed in the small intestine . Bacteria in the colon convert nonabsorbed catechins into simpler phenolic compounds , which may also be absorbed . During the production of black tea , most catechins are polymerized to complex molecules called thearubigins . Little is known about the microbial degradation of these complex polyphenols , but hippuric acid has been identified as a major excretion product associated with black tea consumption . OBJECTIVE To investigate whether green tea and black tea have the same metabolic fate in humans . DESIGN Seventeen healthy male volunteers were studied with a r and omized , full-crossover design . Each intervention period lasted 4 d , ie , a 2-d run-in period with a low-polyphenol diet followed by a 2-d treatment period . Volunteers consumed a daily dose of 6 g green tea solids , 6 g black tea solids , or 360 mg caffeine . Intervention periods were separated by a 10-d washout period . Twenty-four-hour urine sample s were collected during the second day of each treatment period . Hipp 
    Output:
    
Results Studies show that the IM plays a key role in the metabolism of the substrates studied .
However , with the exception of studies focusing on fibre and polyphenols , there have been relatively few recent human studies specifically evaluating microbial metabolism .
Nevertheless , it appears that the IM plays a role in energy homeostasis and that protein microbial breakdown and fermentation produced ammonia , amines , phenols and branch chain fatty acids , and a greater diversity in the microbes present .
Few recent studies appear to have evaluated the effect of the IM composition and metabolism per se in relation with digestible dietary carbohydrate or fat in humans .
Intakes of RS and prebiotics altered levels of specific taxa that selectively metabolised specific prebiotic/carbohydrate-type substances and levels of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli were observed to increase .
In the polyphenol-related studies , a large amount of inter-individual variation was observed in the microbial metabolism and absorption of certain polyphenols .
Conclusions The systematic review demonstrates that the IM plays a major role in the breakdown and transformation of the dietary substrates examined .
Current evidence suggests that more detailed knowledge of the metabolic activities and interactions of the IM hold considerable promise in relation with host health