Effect of high bioative compounds sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) intake on appetite neuroendocrine control, antioxidant response, and intestinal health in vivo
Authors:   , Lúcio Haira Guedes 
Published: September 2024

The Western Diet along with a sedentary lifestyle, leads to obesity and comorbidities such as intestinal dysbiosis, diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD) and affects neuroendocrine satiety pathways. Sorghum is a cereal rich in bioactive compounds, and offer benefits to systemic and intestinal health. Objectives: To investigate the effect of two varieties of sorghum, rich in tannins and resistant starch, on appetite, satiety, antioxidant response, intestinal health and metabolic markers in animals and human model. Methods: For Study 1, 24 male Wistar rats (50-days-old) were used. For 8 weeks, they were divided into two groups: AIN93-M control (n=8) and high-fat-high- fructose diet (HFHF) (n=16). For the next 10 weeks, HFHF group was subdivided into HFHF (n=8) and HFHF + sorghum flour (n=8) replacing 50% of the daily dietary fiber recommendation. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Newman-Keuls (α=0.05) with GraphPadPrism. Study 2 involved men with overweight during eight weeks. Participants consumed breakfast cereals with milk or a drink with 40g of sorghum (n=10) or 38g of extruded wheat (n=11), following a 500kcal/day restricted diet. Anthropometric measurements, blood, and fecal samples were collected for analysis. The Study 3 was a controlled, randomized, single-blind clinical trial involving CKD patients on hemodialysis. Volunteers were divided into two groups: symbiotic group (n=19) consuming probiotic milk containing Bifidobacterium longum + extruded SC319 sorghum, and control group (n=20) consuming pasteurized milk with extruded corn, for 7 weeks. Participants were assessed for anthropometric measures, gastrointestinal symptoms, and intestinal behavior, and blood and fecal samples were collected. For studies 2 and 3, short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs) production was analyzed, and α- diversity and β-diversity were estimated. Functional prediction analysis was performed by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. Statistical analyses conducted using GraphpadPrism and STAMP software, adopting α=5%. Results: Study 1: Sorghum reduced gene expression of leptin, resistin, and endocannabinoid receptor type 1 in adipose and brain tissues compared to the HFHF group. It also decreased neuropeptide Y expression and increased the expression of sirtuin-1, heat shock protein 72, nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activity. In silico analysis showed interaction of 3-deoxyanthocyanins with PPARα, CB1, and leptin receptors. Study 2: Sorghum consumption led to intragroup weight loss and reduced body fat percentage without affect inflammatory markers. Sorghum consumption did not change SCFAs production, fecal pH, or α and β-diversity indices. However, sorghum consumption decreased Clostridium_sensu_stricto 1, Dorea, and Odoribacter, while increasing CAG-873 and Turicibacter. Study 3: Symbiotic drink meal reduced uremic toxins and improved gastrointestinal symptoms. It increased the production of short-chain fatty acids and Chao1 index, though Shannon and Simpson indices and beta diversity remained unchanged. Symbiotic drink also enhanced energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and ribonucleotide biosynthesis. Conclusion: Dry-cooked sorghum BRS305 modulated gene expression of neuroendocrine satiety pathways markers and improved antioxidant capacity in rats. Extruded sorghum SC319 improved intestinal microbiota composition, reduced body fat, and promoted weight loss. Extruded BRS 305 sorghum combined with a probiotic drink improved intestinal health and reduced uremic toxins and constipation in CKD patients. Keywords: Sorghum bicolor L., satiety, antioxidant response, 3-deoxyanthocyanins, chronic kidney disease, intestinal health