Fate of riboflavin in human gut and its fostering role in butyrate metabolism

• Published in: Food bioscience Vol. 60; p. 104356
• Main Authors: Zhang, Wang-Wei, Zhang, Jian-Guo, Hu, Fei, Thakur, Kiran
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2024
• Subjects: B-vitamins; Butyrate metabolism; Gut barrier function; Gut inflammation; Riboflavin; Butyrate metabolism; Riboflavin; Gut barrier function; B-vitamins; Gut inflammation
• ISSN: 2212-4292; 2212-4306
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2024.104356

The inexplicable passage of time apparently infers to the inevitable dependency of gut ecosystem on B-vitamins which orchestrate a variety of functional for optimal health and are inticated in driving microbiome dynamics. An imbalance or unfavorable intestinal microbiome leads to mucosal inflammation in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), and particularly alters the riboflavin (B2) metabolism in the gut. The co-evolution studies of bacteria and humans have strengthened the understanding of metabolic fate of B2 vitamin auxotrophy in the butyrate-producing Firmicutes, biomarkers for gut health. This review extols the direct (to improve the gut barrier function) and indirect (to associate butyrate producing species and their prevalence with B2 acquisition) implications and emphasizes the contribution of B2 deficiency and supplementation during inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). The knowledge gaps and future directions linked with B2 exchange/cross-feeding and butyrate metabolism may unravel novel cellular signaling pathway-based role of this alliance for translational therapies targeting intestinal inflammation. Here we mainly narrate the ushering of B-vitamins to human gut with a particular emphasis on B2 vitamin and its fostering role in butyrate production in the gastrointestinal condition. [Display omitted] •Studies infer that gut ecosystem is intertwined with B-vitamins and related metabolites.•At host-microbiome interface, intestinal imbalance can alter the riboflavin (B2) metabolism.•We uncover the metabolic fate of B2 auxotrophy in butyrate producing commensals.•We discussed the direct and indirect implications of B2 during inflammatory bowel diseases.•Insights into B2 exchange and butyrate alliance unravel novel cellular signaling for translational therapies.