Effects of Inulin Propionate Ester on Obesity-Related Metabolic Syndrome and Intestinal Microbial Homeostasis in Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Abstract

Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) plays an important role in improving obesity and related metabolic syndrome induced by high-fat diet. We used the prepared inulin propionate ester (IPE) as a system for the targeted release of propionate to the colon to elucidate the role of IPE in regulating obesity and metabolic syndrome, and intestinal microbial homeostasis, in diet-induced obese mice. With this strategy, IPE significantly increased the SCFA contents in the colon and resulted in significant body weight reduction, insulin resistance amelioration, and gastrointestinal hormone (glucagon-like peptide and peptide YY) secretion (P < 0.05). The IPE intervention reduced liver fatty accumulation, which improved obesity-related fatty liver disease (P < 0.05). IPE supplementation increased the richness and diversity of the microbial community and altered bacterial population at both the phylum and family level. Intestinal microbial results showed that the relative abundance of Desulfovibrionaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae, which promote the production of inflammatory factors, was reduced. Our results demonstrate that IPE can be used as an effective strategy for delivering propionate to obese mice colon, which can ameliorate obesity and associated metabolic syndrome and modify intestinal microbial homeostasis.

Metabolic Profile and Metabolite Analyses in Extreme Weight Responders to Gastric Bypass Surgery

“…In the analyzed fecal and serum SCFAs, serum propionate was more abundant in good responders, and fecal and serum valerate levels conversely more so in bad responders. An increase of colonic propionate stimulates GLP-1 and PYY release in mice and rats [ 57 ], and reduces weight [ 59 ] and obesity-related fatty liver disease [ 60 ] in diet-induced obese mice. In overweight human individuals, propionate supplementation also showed anti-obesity effects by increasing postprandial GLP-1 and PYY release and reducing energy intake [ 61 ].…”

Diet Therapeutics Interventions for Obesity: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

“…High catechin green tea leads to the reduction of abdominal fatness among overweight and obese people 33 . On the other hand, the effect of inulin on weight loss has been shown in animal 34 and human studies 35 .…”

Chemogenetic Approaches to Explore the Functions of Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2

“…Indeed, it has been suggested that provision of acetate in drinking water of mice has little effect on systemic levels [13], although this is both a widely used and convenient means of delivery. Despite these comments, alternative strategies for delivery of either C3 (propionate) or C4 to the colon as the corresponding inulin-esters has been shown to be effective in both mouse [14][15] and human [16] and offer new insights into the broader roles of SCFAs. Moreover, because of the close proximity of the genes encoding FFA2 and FFA3 in mice (at chromosomal location 7 A3), as is also the case in human (at chromosomal location 19q13.1), it is vital to assess if knock-out of FFA2 in mice may also produce consequences for expression of FFA3 [17].…”