Two yeasts commonly used in the food industry and notably present in Brie and Munster have an anti-inflammatory effect on the intestine.
- Yeasts have been used for hundreds or even thousands of years for the production of different foods (bread, cheese, etc.).
- 2 yeasts commonly used in the food industry have an anti-inflammatory effect on the intestine.
- Inflammatory bowel diseases (or IBD) include Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).
A new study from INRAE, made in collaboration with the IFF (International Flavor & Fragrances) and the AP-HP, shows that two yeasts commonly used in the food industry have an anti-inflammatory effect on the intestine. These results, published in mSystemsopen new perspectives for relieving intestinal inflammation through diet.
Yeasts, the microbiota and chronic inflammation of the intestine
Yeasts have been used for hundreds or even thousands of years for the production of different foods (bread, cheese, etc.). They have an influence on our intestinal microbiota, which itself plays a role in several human pathologies, including chronic inflammation of the intestine.
“Yet, they have almost never been studied for their potential roles in human health, particularly in light of current knowledge on the importance of the intestinal microbiota,” deplore the authors of the research. “This is why the research team tested the anti-inflammatory potential of five yeasts commonly used in different agri-food processes”they continue.
What mechanisms link yeast and intestinal inflammation?
Among the five yeasts studied, two of them, Cyberlindnera jadinii and Kluyveromyces lactis, reduce sensitivity to intestinal inflammation in mice. These two yeasts are found in particular in cheeses such as Brie, Munster or Pecorino.
“The various tests did not make it possible to precisely identify the mechanisms involved but suggest, in the case of Cyberlindnera jadinii, that this yeast would help the development of bacteria with beneficial effects for the microbiota”, write the scientists at the end of their report. “These promising results remain to be explored in greater depth to better understand their role on the intestinal microbiota and open up new perspectives in the study of this large catalog which includes several thousand microorganisms”, they conclude.
What is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?
Chronic inflammatory bowel disease (or IBD) includes Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Both are characterized by inflammation of the wall of part of the digestive tract due to dysregulation of the intestinal immune system.
“If there is no treatment to cure these diseases, current medications most of the time allow their lasting control and a satisfactory quality of life outside of flare-ups,” specifies Inserm.
