AUTHOR=Wei Zuchen , Zhou Nong , Zou Liang , Shi Zhenxing , Dun Baoqing , Ren Guixing , Yao Yang 

TITLE=Soy Protein Alleviates Malnutrition in Weaning Rats by Regulating Gut Microbiota Composition and Serum Metabolites

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.774203

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2021.774203

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<p>Dietary intervention with plant protein is one of the main methods that is used to lessen the symptoms of malnutrition. Supplementary soy protein to undernourished weaning rats for 6 weeks significantly increased their body weight gain. After the intervention, the level of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) was restored to 1,512.7 μg/g, while the level was only 637.1 μg/g in the 7% protein group. The amino acids (valine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan) increased in the colon, and vitamin B<sub>6</sub> metabolism was significantly influenced in undernourished rats. The tryptophan and glycine-serine-threonine pathways were elevated, leading to an increase in the level of tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) in the serum. In addition, the relative abundance of <italic>Lachnospiraceae</italic>_NK4A136_group and <italic>Lactobacillus</italic> increased, while <italic>Enterococcus</italic> and <italic>Streptococcus</italic> decreased compared to undernourished rats. Overall, soy protein improved the growth of rats with malnutrition in early life by regulating gut microbiota and metabolites in the colon and serum.</p>