How a sesame seed chemical helps mouse bellies stay healthy when drinking alcohol
Oral supplementation with sesaminol, a sesame-related lignan, ameliorates ethanol-induced dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and increases the gut luminal short-chain fatty acid concentrations of mice.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Mice that drank alcohol had unhealthy gut bacteria and less good chemicals in their bellies. A tiny amount of a chemical from sesame seeds, called sesaminol, helped keep their gut bacteria balanced and increased helpful belly chemicals.
Surprising Findings
A very low dose of sesaminol (2.5 mg/day) completely mitigated alcohol-induced gut dysbiosis in mice.
Such a small amount of a dietary lignan having a measurable protective effect contradicts assumptions that only high-dose supplements or pharmaceuticals can influence gut pathology.
Practical Takeaways
Consider consuming sesame-based foods (like tahini) as part of a diet aimed at supporting gut health, especially if consuming alcohol regularly.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Mice that drank alcohol had unhealthy gut bacteria and less good chemicals in their bellies. A tiny amount of a chemical from sesame seeds, called sesaminol, helped keep their gut bacteria balanced and increased helpful belly chemicals.
Surprising Findings
A very low dose of sesaminol (2.5 mg/day) completely mitigated alcohol-induced gut dysbiosis in mice.
Such a small amount of a dietary lignan having a measurable protective effect contradicts assumptions that only high-dose supplements or pharmaceuticals can influence gut pathology.
Practical Takeaways
Consider consuming sesame-based foods (like tahini) as part of a diet aimed at supporting gut health, especially if consuming alcohol regularly.
Publication
Journal
The Journal of nutritional biochemistry
Year
2025
Authors
Daiki Oikawa, Hideo Ohira, Yuichi Aoki, Yoichi Kurokawa, Ayano Omura, Kunio Kiyomoto, Yoshio Fujioka, T. Nakayama
Related Content
Claims (5)
The good stuff in sesame seeds might only work if your gut bacteria are the right kind — not everyone’s gut can activate it.
Taking a small daily dose of a compound called sesaminol might help protect the good bacteria in the gut when drinking alcohol a lot, which could keep the gut healthier and less inflamed in mice.
Taking a small daily dose of a compound called sesaminol might help boost good gut chemicals in mice that drink alcohol a lot, possibly protecting their gut and reducing inflammation.
Drinking alcohol regularly in mice seems to hurt the good gut bacteria that make a helpful substance called butyric acid, which keeps the gut healthy.
Tahini might only work well if your gut bacteria are healthy and the right kind — they help turn sesame nutrients into something your body can actually use.