Shifts in microbiota species and fermentation products in a dietary model enriched in fat and sucrose

Abstract

The gastrointestinal tract harbours a "superorganism" called the gut microbiota, which is known to play a crucial role in the onset and development of diverse diseases. This internal ecosystem, far from being a static environment, could be willingly manipulated by diet and dietary components. Feeding animals with high-fat sucrose diets entails diet-induced obesity, a model which is usually used in research to mimic the obese phenotype of Western societies.The aim of the present study was to identify gut microbiota dysbiosis and associated metabolic changes produced in 5 male Wistar rats fed a high-fat sucrose (HFS) diet for six weeks and to compare it with the basal microbial composition. For this purpose, DNA extracted from faeces at baseline and after the treatment was analysed by amplification of the V4-V6 region of the 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene using 454 pyrosequencing. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), acetate, propionate and butyrate, were also evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).At the end of the treatment, gut microbiota composition significantly differed at phylum level (Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria) and class level (Erisypelotrichi, Deltaproteobacteria, Bacteroidia and Bacilli). Interestingly, Clostridia class showed a significant decrease after the HFS-diet treatment, which correlated with visceral adipose tissue, and is likely mediated by dietary carbohydrates. Of particular interest, Clostridium cluster XIVa species were significantly reduced and changes were identified in the relative abundance of other specific bacterial species (Mitsuokella jalaludinii, Eubacterium ventriosum, Clostridium sp. FCB90-3, Prevotella nanceiensis, Clostridium fusiformis, Clostridium sp. BNL1100 and Eubacterium cylindroides) that, in some cases, showed opposite trends to their relative families.These results highlight the relevance of characterizing gut microbial population differences at species level and contribute to understand the plausible link between the 1 diet and specific gut bacterial species that are able to influence the inflammatory status, intestinal barrier function and obesity development.

Reshaping faecal gut microbiota composition by the intake of trans-resveratrol and quercetin in high-fat sucrose diet-fed rats

“…In the current investigation, the potential of quercetin to deeply modify general bacterial profile at family level is underlined, indicating an important reduction in the relative abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae family, in contrast to what it was found with trans-resveratrol administration alone or in combination. Likewise, it was previously demonstrated by our group [17] that Erysipelotrichi taxa was profoundly enlarged (1025.4 %) after a HFS diet treatment for 6 weeks [17]. Interestingly, concerning the enrichment found in the Bacteroidetes phylum, quercetin supplementation also deeply increased the abundance of Bacteroidaceae and Prevotellaceae families, which were stated to be negatively influenced in highfat-fed mice [45].…”

“…high-fat diets [17,18], has been also demonstrated to be susceptible to modulation by a variety of components such as probiotics and prebiotics [19]. Apparently, non-digestible polysaccharides could come to the aid of proliferating "friendly bacteria" and enhance microbial diversity in the gut [20], which might contribute to the amelioration of obesity and obesity-associated metabolic disorders [21].…”

Comparing metabolite profiles of habitual diet in serum and urine

“…We found that TMAO was associated with added sugar intake (r = 0.23). Sucrose previously has been shown to modify the gut microbiome (46,47); thus, our findings possibly could indicate an indirect sugar effect on TMAO via changes to the gut microbiome.…”

Agaro-Oligosaccharides Regulate Gut Microbiota and Adipose Tissue Accumulation in Mice

“…Clostridium fusiformis was reduced significantly in feces of high-fat sucrose diet-induced obese rats (33). It is particularly interesting that Thomas et al (34) reported Clostridium fusiformis as widely predominant in barrier flora and as producing a barrier effect against Clostridium difficile infection, suggesting that Clostridium fusiformis is a beneficial bacterium for human health.…”