Phenyllactic acid modulates the gut microbiota, enhances intestinal health, and alleviates physical frailty in aging mice.

Dayoung Kim, Han Xu, Ouyang Li, Mengjuan Xue, Zhijun Bao, Fan Yang

Department of Gerontology, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Shanghai, China.Department of Gerontology, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Shanghai, China. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

Phenyllactic acid (PLA) is a natural antibiotic-like compound derived from certain foods and probiotics. PLA levels have been associated with age-related sarcopenia and provide benefits to metabolic health when derived from probiotics. However, the specific regulatory effects of PLA in aging remain largely unexplored. In this study, aging mice were administered PLA via gavage, followed by fecal 16S rRNA sequencing, measurements of targeted metabolites, glucose metabolism monitoring, and physical performance assessments. Our results indicate that PLA administration significantly altered gut microbiota composition, increased the abundance of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and succinate producing microbiota, and enhanced gut integrity in aging mice. Furthermore, PLA treatment raised fasting blood glucose levels and improved physical activity. Mechanistically, PLA intake elevated the levels of circulating SCFAs and succinate, promoting glycogen metabolic homeostasis and maintaining skeletal muscle oxidative capacity. This study provides evidence that PLA modulates the gut microbiota in aging mice, supports intestinal health, promotes glucose homeostasis, and enhances physical activity.

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Research summary

The paper investigates the effects of phenyllactic acid on gut microbiota and its potential benefits for intestinal health and physical activity in aging mice. While it addresses aspects of aging and metabolic health, the findings primarily focus on the modulation of gut microbiota and symptom alleviation rather than directly targeting the root causes of aging or lifespan extension. Therefore, while it contributes to the understanding of aging-related mechanisms, its impact is limited and more incremental than transformative.

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