McClintock et al 2020
A Calcium-Rich Multi-Mineral Intervention to Modulate Colonic Microbial Communities and Metabolomic Profiles in Humans: Results from A 90-Day Trial
MN Aslam, CM Bassis, IL Bergin, K Knuver, SM Zick, A Sen, DK Turgeon & J Varani
Background:
An intact colonic barrier is necessary for gastrointestinal health. This barrier prevents transport of toxins, soluble antigens, lipopolysaccharides and other inflammatory agents across the intestinal wall. Lack of a barrier is associated with inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.
Multiple structures contribute to an effective colonic barrier. Tight junctions at the surface of the mucosal epithelium form a “seal” between adjacent cells . Beneath the apical surface are desmosomes that provide anchoring sites and are necessary for cohesive strength. Adherens junctions are comprised of cadherin family members and mediate cell-cell attachment. Lastly, the basement membrane mediate interactions between cells and contributes to tissue barrier properties including cell trafficking and macromolecule permeability (Diagram below left).
As calcium is critical to cell-cell, and cell-matrix adhesion as well as epithelial cell differentiation. This study investigated if Aquamin improved barrier function and barrier integrity more than calcium alone.
Results:
Barrier integrity was measured by trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER). The graph (top right) shows the TEER values obtained from colonoid cells at day-2 and day-5. By day-5 the values of Aquamin-treated colonoid cells were 16% higher than calcium alone at 0.25 mM, 6% higher at 1.5 mM, and 11% higher at 3.0 mM. This demonstrates greater barrier integrity with Aquamin over calcium alone.
The response to Aquamin was greater than the response to calcium alone in both assays.
Tissue Cohesion :
In a simple epithelium such as the colon, there is only one layer of epithelial cells, and every cell resides on the basement membrane. If the basement membrane is not optimally constituted, or if cells cannot properly attach to the basement membrane, rapid apoptosis and sloughing of the cell layer will occur.
The response to Aquamin was greater than the response to calcium alone in both assays.
Tissue Cohesion :
In a simple epithelium such as the colon, there is only one layer of epithelial cells, and every cell resides on the basement membrane. If the basement membrane is not optimally constituted, or if cells cannot properly attach to the basement membrane, rapid apoptosis and sloughing of the cell layer will occur.
In the graph of the bottom left there is a reduction in colonoids incubated with calcium of 5.2-fold and 4.2-fold respectively. With Aquamin, the colonoid size were even smaller (3.7-fold and 3.5-fold) indicating better cell cohesion.
