Triacetin and a Mushroom Blend Restore Butyrate Production by IBS Microbiomes Ex Vivo, Thus Promoting Barrier Integrity

Author: mycolabadmin
9/25/2025
View Source

Summary

Researchers tested two natural products—triacetin and a mushroom blend—to see if they could help people with IBS by improving their gut bacteria and strengthening their intestinal lining. Both products successfully increased beneficial short-chain fatty acids and improved barrier integrity, with triacetin having the added advantage of producing less uncomfortable gas. These findings suggest these products could offer a new dietary approach to managing IBS symptoms.

Background

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is characterized by dysbiosis and impaired gut barrier integrity. While dietary fibers can stimulate short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, they typically promote problematic gas production. This study investigates novel products that may promote SCFA production without excessive gas generation.

Objective

To evaluate how triacetin (TA) and a mushroom blend (MB) modulate the microbiome of IBS subjects and impact butyrate production and gut barrier integrity using ex vivo SIFR technology combined with epithelial/immune cell co-cultures.

Results

Both TA and MB significantly increased butyrate production and enhanced gut barrier integrity (TEER) under non-stressed and stressed conditions. TA increased acetate and butyrate via specific Lachnospiraceae members with remarkably low gas production, while MB stimulated broader microbial diversity and additionally promoted propionate production.

Conclusion

Both triacetin and mushroom blend show promise as dietary interventions for IBS management through product-specific microbiome modulation that restores butyrate production and improves barrier integrity, with potential for combination approaches to maximize therapeutic benefits.

Published in:International Journal of Molecular Sciences,
Study Type:Ex vivo experimental study,
Source: PMID: 41096656, DOI: 10.3390/ijms26199388