(P20-019-23) The Effects of Whole Blenderized Watermelon Consumption on Microbiome in Children and Adolescents With Overweight and Obesity

Objectives: Consumption of watermelon has been revealed to have beneficial effects on metabolic conditions, however, there is limited research on how it can affect the microbiome of children and adolescents. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of whole blenderized watermelon consumption on the gut microbiome, and bowel movement habits among overweight or obese children and adolescents.

Methods: In this 8-week, randomized crossover design study, 17 participants consumed a cup containing 100kcal/d of either blenderized watermelon or sugar sweetened beverage with a washout period of 4 weeks. Stool samples were collected for microbiome analysis at baseline and week 8. Alpha diversity, beta diversity, and relative abundance analyses were conducted using R and the RStudio. Bowel movement habits were measured over seven consecutive days using a 6-item questionnaire.

Results: The watermelon intervention demonstrated a decrease in Chao1 diversity index, but no significant differences were made in Simpson, Shannon-Wiener, and ACE indices between the trials over the period. On the species-level, the watermelon intervention had a significant decrease in the abundance of Streptococcus minor and Anaerovibrio lipolyticus while increased in Parabacteroides distasonis, Prevotella corporis, and Sphingobacterium shayense. The sugar-sweetened beverage intervention had a decrease in Listeria innocua, Lactobacillus paracasei, Coprobacillus cateniformis Participants in the watermelon intervention reported softer stool at week 8 when compared to baseline and the control. No significant differences were found within the intervention and between trials in bowel movement strain, pain, or constipation.

Conclusions: In the literature Parabacteroides distasonis has shown protective effect against obesity and colorectal cancer, while a dichotomous role in inflammatory bowel disease and diabetes. It was reported S. shayense was negatively associated with obesity. The results of the current study suggest that the consumption of whole blenderized watermelon may have positive effects on gut health, therefore, further research on its possible health benefits for chronic disease is warranted.

Funding Sources: National Watermelon Promotion Board