Key Takeaways
- A pilot study from Colorado State University indicates that consuming crickets might have a positive impact on human gut microbiome due to a unique type of insoluble fiber called chitin present in them.
- In a clinical trial involving 20 healthy adults, a daily intake of 25 grams of powdered cricket led to a substantial increase in beneficial bacterial species like Bifidobacterium animalis, known for improving gastrointestinal function.
- Cricket consumption also resulted in decreased levels of certain lactic acid bacteria and a reduction in the inflammatory marker TNF-alpha, suggesting potential anti-inflammatory effects.
- While the findings are preliminary and the study had a small sample size with uncontrolled diet, they hint towards a new dimension of insect-based food in promoting gut health, necessitating larger and longer clinical trials for verification.
- With edible insects already a dietary staple for 2 billion people globally, this study takes a step forward in understanding the broader health impacts of insect consumption, beyond just their nutritional value.
The Research
Crickets and other insects are hailed as an environmentally sustainable protein source that could help feed the world’s growing population. But beyond their nutritional value, could eating insects actually improve human health? A pilot study from scientists at Colorado State University provides preliminary evidence that consuming crickets could benefit the gut microbiome.
The human gastrointestinal tract contains trillions of bacterial cells that are intimately linked to health and disease. Imbalances in the gut microbiota are associated with inflammation, weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, and even depression. Diet is known to be a major factor shaping the makeup of the gut microbiome. The more diversity in the diet, the more diverse and healthier the microbiota tends to be.
Researchers wanted to explore how incorporating edible insects like crickets into the diet impacts gut bacteria. Crickets contain a unique type of insoluble fiber called chitin that may function as a novel prebiotic, selectively promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestines. But so far, no studies have comprehensively evaluated the effects of insect consumption on human microbiota and health.
In this first clinical trial of its kind, 20 healthy adults consumed muffins and shakes containing 25 grams of powdered cricket (Acheta domesticus) daily for two weeks. Their gut microbiota, gastrointestinal health, and inflammation levels were analyzed and compared to a control diet without crickets.
The results show cricket consumption is safe and tolerable at the doses studied. Participants did not report any significant gastrointestinal side effects from eating crickets. Bloodwork also remained normal, indicating crickets did not damage kidney or liver function.
Although cricket consumption did not dramatically disrupt the overall gut microbiota, certain beneficial bacterial species increased substantially. Most notably, Bifidobacterium animalis levels rose 5.7-fold. This probiotic organism is known to improve gastrointestinal function and potentially reduce infections. Cricket powder also suppressed bacteria associated with stunted growth in infants.
At the same time, crickets were associated with decreased levels of some lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus reuteri. This could be related to chitin’s antimicrobial properties or reduced intake of yogurt and other fermented foods containing these species. Additional studies controlling total diet are needed to clarify this effect.
Researchers also observed reduced levels of the inflammatory marker TNF-alpha in participants’ blood after eating crickets. This anti-inflammatory effect may be linked to increased probiotics and improvements in gut barrier function.
While the study population was small and diet was not fully controlled, the findings provide intriguing evidence that crickets could benefit human gut microbiota and health. Edible insects are already a regular part of the diet for 2 billion people across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Most previous research has focused only on the nutritional qualities of insects.
This pilot study is the first step toward understanding how insect consumption influences gut microbiota and inflammation. The authors say larger and longer clinical trials controlling overall diet are now needed to verify the prebiotic effects of crickets. Testing isolated cricket chitin could also help clarify whether microbial changes are due to this unique fiber or other bug components.
Ultimately, more research is required to determine whether edible insects like crickets should be recommended to improve diet, digestion, and inflammation. But the results open up an exciting new dimension of insect-based food beyond basic nutrition. Crickets may provide hidden benefits via interactions with our resident gut microbes.