Gut microbiota determines the prevention effects of Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem supplementation against obesity and associated metabolic disorders induced by high‐fat diet

Abstract

The gut microbiota, identified as the target for vegetables, can affect the development of obesity and associated metabolic syndromes. As a medicinal and edible plant, Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem (LC) has abundant nutrients that can effectively reduce obesity risk. However, the interaction between the prevention effects of LC against obesity and the modulating gut microbiota of LC remain obscure. This study demonstrated LC supplementation improved high‐fat diet (HFD)–induced gut microbiota dysbiosis and significantly enhanced short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA)–producing bacteria (e.g., Blautia) along with SCFA content accumulation in the gut. Meanwhile, LC supplementation substantially restored gut barrier damage in long‐term HFD treatment Moreover, LC supplementation improved HFD‐induced overweight, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, and chronic inflammation. Gene expression profiles showed that LC displayed an important impact on hepatic lipid transport and lipid synthesis (sterol regulatory element binding transcriptional factor 1c–peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ signaling pathway). More importantly, an antibiotic treatment experiment demonstrated that the beneficial effects of LC in reducing obesity risk largely depended on the gut microbiota, especially SCFA‐producing bacteria (e.g., Blautia). Therefore, LC supplementation improved gut microbiota dysbiosis via enhancing SCFA‐producing bacteria (e.g., Blautia), maintained gut barrier integrity, and alleviated the development of obesity. Overall, LC would provide a potential dietary intervention strategy against obesity and enteral homeostasis dysbiosis through modulating the gut microbiota.—Zhang, L., Shi, M., Ji, J., Hu, X., Chen, F. Gut microbiota determines the prevention effects of Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem supplementation against obesity and associated metabolic disorders induced by high‐fat diet. FASEB J. 33, 10339–10352 (2019). http://www.fasebj.org

Neohesperidin attenuates obesity by altering the composition of the gut microbiota in high‐fat diet‐fed mice

“…By increasing the relative abundance of Firmicutes and decreasing the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, HFD feeding often causes typical obesity-driven dysbiosis in the intestinal microbiota. 9,12,65 In agreement with this, a similar shift of the gut microbiota was observed in HFD mice in this study. However, Neo administration significantly decreased the abundance of Firmicutes and increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes in HFD-fed mice.…”

“…Moreover, gut microbiota dysbiosis is associated with disrupted gut barrier function and metabolic endotoxemia. 12,13 Several studies of obese animals have shown that environmental or genetic factors that contribute to obesity can also lead to intestinal malnutrition, which may, in turn, impair intestinal integrity. 14,15 This process results in the release of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria in the gut into the bloodstream.…”

Protective effects of selenium-enriched peptides from Cardamine violifolia against high-fat diet induced obesity and its associated metabolic disorders in mice

“…3 However, controversially, some studies have also indicated that the prevention of obesity was not associated with the change in the F/B ratio. 34,35 Despite no signicant difference at the phylum level, a series of specic species at the genus level positively correlated with obesity and obesity-related physiological parameters were found. Unclassied_f__Lachnospiraceae and Allobaculum were enriched in the HFD-fed groups, whereas Blautia and Bidobacterium were markedly decreased.…”

Dietary Supplementation of Black Rice Anthocyanin Extract Regulates Cholesterol Metabolism and Improves Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in C57BL/6J Mice Fed a High‐Fat and Cholesterol Diet

“…Fat excessive consumption induced by high‐fat diet usually accompanied with robust accumulations of lipids in liver, EWAT, and disruption of intestine barrier integrity. [ 27 ] To confirm the ameliorative effect of BRAE treatment on lipid metabolism, gut barrier function in hypercholesterolemic mice, morphology of EWAT, liver, and specific intestine was examined by H&E staining ( Figure 3 A).…”