Impact of the Consumption of Tea Polyphenols on Early Atherosclerotic Lesion Formation and Intestinal Bifidobacteria in High-Fat-Fed ApoE−/− Mice

Abstract

There is an increasing interest in the effect of dietary polyphenols on the intestinal microbiota and the possible associations between this effect and the development of some cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis (AS). However, limited information is available on how these polyphenols affect the gut microbiota and AS development. This study was designed to evaluate the modulation of dietary tea polyphenols (TPs) on intestinal Bifidobacteria (IB) and its correlation with AS development in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE−/−) mice. Fifty C57BL/6 ApoE−/− mice were randomized into one of the five treatment groups (n = 10/group): control group fed normal diet (CK); a group fed a high-fat diet (HFD); and the other three groups fed the same HFD supplemented with TPs in drinking water for 16 weeks. The total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were decreased significantly (P < 0.05) after TP interference. In addition, the TP diet also decreased the plaque area/lumen area (PA/LA) ratios (P < 0.01) in the TP diet group. Interestingly, copies of IB in the gut of ApoE−/− mice were notably increased with TP interference. This increase was dose dependent (P < 0.01) and negatively correlated with the PA/LA ratio (P < 0.05). We conclude that TPs could promote the proliferation of the IB, which is partially responsible for the reduction of AS plaque induced by HFD.

Bifidobacterium in the gut microbiota confer resilience to chronic social defeat stress in mice

“…After establishment of the adult microbiota, the numbers of Bifidobacterium remain relatively stable at 3–6% of all bacteria. Moreover, Bifidobacterium may produce short-chain fatty acids to decrease the gut pH, form biological barriers, and secrete anti-microbial compounds to attenuate harmful bacteria3132. Postnatal stress, such as mother-child separation, caused an altered composition of microbiota and decreased Bifidobacterium levels in the gut of rhesus monkeys33.…”

Correlation analysis of intestinal flora with hypertension

“…Bifidobacterium can synthesize multiple vitamins, promote the absorption of vitamin D and convert cholesterols into steroids, thus lowering the concentration of cholesterols in the blood and decreasing the blood pressure. When the quantity of Bifidobacterium is reduced, the original balance of the intestinal floras is broken, the release of renin is induced and the blood pressure is elevated ( 20 ).…”

The Impact of Dietary Supplementation of Whole Foods and Polyphenols on Atherosclerosis

“…The specific use of EGCG was implemented in four of the studies [247][248][249][250]. Other catechins that are present in green tea, including (−)-epicatechin(EC), (−)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (−)-epicatechin gallate (ECG), (−)-gallocatechingallate (GCG), and caffeine were used in tandem with EGCG in three studies [251][252][253]. Rosehip [254] and pu-erh tea [255] were other sources of supplementation in two studies.…”

“…Rosehip [254] and pu-erh tea [255] were other sources of supplementation in two studies. Liao et al [252] were the only group to analyze both male and female mice, while Cavalera et al [254] were the only group to use only female mice. Xiao et al [255] did not disclose the sex of the mice.…”

“…Rosehip was the only treatment supplemented into the diet. The tea polyphenols [252], tea catechins [251], EGCG [248], green tea polyphenols [253], and pu-erh tea [255] were administered via drinking water. Wang et al (EGCG) [249] delivered the treatment through oral gavage.…”