Protective effect of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 against nausea caused by pirfenidone in a mouse model of pellagra.

2023
Bioscience of microbiota, food and health 42(3)

PubMed: 37404569
DOI: 10.12938/bmfh.2022-042

Study Design

Population: mouse model of pellagra
Methods: investigated the effect of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 on pellagra-related nausea caused by pirfenidone in our mouse model

Pellagra is caused by abnormal intake and/or use of nicotinic acid and is known in part to be induced by the use of medications such as isoniazid or pirfenidone. We previously investigated atypical phenotypes of pellagra, such as nausea, using a mouse model of pellagra and found that gut microbiota play an important role in the development of these phenotypes. Here, we investigated the effect of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 on pellagra-related nausea caused by pirfenidone in our mouse model. Our pharmacological data indicated that pirfenidone (PFD) causes modulation of the gut microbiota profile, which appeared to play an important role in the development of pellagra-related nausea. A gut microbiota-mediated protective effect of B. longum BB536 against nausea caused by PFD was also identified. Finally, the urinary ratio of nicotinamide/N-methylnicotinamide was shown to be a biomarker of pellagra-like adverse effects induced by PFD, and it may contribute to the prevention of these effects in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Research Insights

Supplement	Dose	Health Outcome	Effect Type	Effect Size	Source
Bifidobacterium longum BB536	—	Reduced Nausea	Beneficial	Moderate	View source a gut microbiota-mediated protective effect of B. longum BB536 against nausea caused by PFD was also identified.
Bifidobacterium longum BB536	—	Reduced Pellagra-Like Adverse Effects	Beneficial	Moderate	View source a biomarker of pellagra-like adverse effects induced by PFD, and it may contribute to the prevention of these effects in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.