Oyster meat may provide a sustainable solution for intestinal inflammation

by Society for Experimental Biology

edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Andrew Zinin

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Ongoing research provides evidence that readily available and sustainable oyster meat extract may have powerful anti-inflammatory effects on human intestinal cells.

Pacific oysters (Carssostrea gigas) are the most widely farmed saltwater bivalve mollusk in the world, known for their high nutritional value and bioactive compounds that promote antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer effects. More recently, studies have suggested that they can also suppress inflammation in the white blood cells of mice.

This research, presented at the Society for Experimental Biology conference in Florence, Italy, highlights how dried oyster meat could provide a natural, environmentally sustainable and easily accessible dietary supplement for alleviating intestinal inflammation in humans.

"The identification of naturally occurring bioactive substances with anti-inflammatory properties represents a promising therapeutic and preventive strategy for the management of chronic inflammatory diseases and their systemic comorbidities," says Giulia Trinchera, a Ph.D. student at the University of Ferrara in Italy.

How the extract was tested

Chronic inflammation is an underlying factor in many diseases, including cancer, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and inflammatory bowel disease. It can be caused by changes to the permeability of the intestinal epithelial barrier, known as leaky gut, which allows bacteria and toxins from the intestines to enter the bloodstream. Diet plays a large role in counteracting inflammation by maintaining this epithelial barrier.

To assess the oyster meat's anti-inflammatory properties, the team conducted a comprehensive nutritional analysis of the oyster's soft tissue to determine its content, including proteins, lipids, minerals, polyphenols and carotenoids. They then produced an extract from the dried meat and tested its effects on human intestinal epithelial cells treated with TNF-α, which is an important pro-inflammatory molecule.

These effects were measured using a suite of complementary methods that analyzed the genetic, immunological and physical characteristics of the cells.

Signals of reduced inflammation

The team found that the oyster extract effectively interrupted the activation of the NF-kB signaling pathways, which prevented epithelial inflammation in the intestinal cells. The team also found that the oyster extract reduced the expression of COX-2, an enzyme that plays a key role in the inflammatory response.

Together, these effects protected the integrity of the intestinal barrier and restored normal levels of permeability, even in the presence of inflammatory stimuli. These protective effects on the intestinal barrier were confirmed using electron microscopy.

"This is, to our knowledge, the first time that oyster tissue has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects on intestinal cells," says Trinchera. "Our main finding highlights how the oyster extract, at concentrations that are non-toxic to cells, was able to significantly reduce TNF-α-induced intestinal inflammation."

From oyster waste to supplement

One of the major benefits of using this extract is that oysters are already consumed worldwide, and the team's whole-tissue oyster extract can be taken from the meat without requiring purification, making it a simple, readily available and cost-effective candidate for inflammation suppression.

"The oysters used in our experiments come from the Sacca di Goro, in the Po Delta, which is one of Italy's most productive aquaculture areas," says Trinchera.

"Given that every year 30–40% of the oyster production in that area is discarded as waste, we wondered whether this 'waste' material could be used as a nutraceutical ingredient with anti-inflammatory potential, thereby transforming an environmental and economic problem into an opportunity."

Clinical proof still needed

Trinchera emphasizes that while these are promising results, further experiments and clinical trials must take place to confirm the effects, establish safe dosages and identify exactly which bioactive components are responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity.

Clinical categories

GastroenterologyNutrition & Healthy eatingCommon illnesses & Prevention Provided by Society for Experimental Biology Who's behind this story?

Sadie Harley

BSc Life Sciences & Ecology. Microbiology lab background with pharmaceutical news experience in oil, gas, and renewable industries. Full profile →

Andrew Zinin

Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →

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