To evaluate the functional properties of the Limosilactobacillus fermentum FUA033 in fermenting pomegranate juice (FPJ), in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to comprehensively assess its functional potential. UPLC-MS profiling showed an increase in catechin-type compounds and a decrease in astringent phenolics. FPJ significantly prolonged the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans without inducing avoidance behavior. In mice, FPJ supplementation increased grip strength from 109 ± 3.35 gf to 123.7 ± 2.66 gf, improved endurance performance, enhanced glycogen storage, and increased overall antioxidant capacity. Moreover, 16S rRNA sequencing showed that FPJ reduced the firmicutes/bacteroidetes ratio and enriched beneficial genera. Correlation analysis linked these microbial changes to stronger antioxidant defenses, enhanced energy metabolism, and lower levels of fatigue-related biomarkers, suggesting a gut microbiota-mediated mechanism. Overall, pomegranate juice fermented by L. fermentum FUA033 is a promising functional beverage that may support metabolic health through the combined effects of bioactive compound enrichment and gut microbiota modulation.
Su et al. (Sun,) studied this question.