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Updated: Mar 25, 2026
Quantification of Atherosclerosis in Mice
Published on: June 12, 2019
Lingonberries reduce atherosclerosis in Apoe(-/-) mice in association with altered gut microbiota composition and
Chrysoula Matziouridou1, Nittaya Marungruang1, Thao Duy Nguyen1
1Food for Health Science Centre, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Scope:
To investigate the efficacy of lingonberries in prevention of atherosclerosis, using atherosclerosis-prone Apoe(-/-) mice and to clarify whether effects were associated with changes in the gut microbiota, gut metabolites, and lipid metabolism.
Methods And Results:
Male Apoe(-/-) mice were fed either low-fat diet, high-fat diet, or high-fat diet with 44% lingonberries for 8 weeks. Blood lipid profiles, hepatic gene expression, atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic root region of the heart, bacterial 16S rRNA gene profiles, and cecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were analyzed. Triglyceride levels and amount of atherosclerotic plaques decreased in the group fed lingonberries in comparison to the high-fat group. Hepatic expression of the bile acid synthesis gene Cyp7a1 was significantly upregulated in the lingonberry group. Lingonberries increased the cecal relative abundance of bacterial genera Bacteroides, Parabacteroides and Clostridium. The cecal levels of total SCFAs were significantly lower in the lingonberry group, while the cecal proportion of propionic acid was higher in mice fed lingonberries.
Conclusion:
Intake of lingonberries resulted in decreased triglyceridemia and reduced atherosclerosis. The altered gut microbiota composition and SCFA profile was associated with increased hepatic bile acid gene expression in mice fed lingonberries.
Insights
Lingonberries reduced atherosclerosis and triglyceride levels in mice. These benefits were linked to changes in gut bacteria, metabolites, and increased bile acid gene expression.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Cardiovascular Research
- Microbiome Research
Background:
- Atherosclerosis is a significant cardiovascular disease.
- Dietary interventions, including berries, are explored for prevention.
- The role of gut microbiota in metabolic health is increasingly recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate lingonberry efficacy in preventing atherosclerosis in susceptible mice.
- To investigate the association between lingonberry consumption, gut microbiota, metabolites, and lipid metabolism.
Main Methods:
- Atherosclerosis-prone Apoe(-/-) mice were fed low-fat, high-fat, or high-fat with lingonberry diets for 8 weeks.
- Analyses included blood lipid profiles, hepatic gene expression (Cyp7a1), atherosclerotic plaque quantification, gut microbiota (16S rRNA), and cecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
Main Results:
- Lingonberry consumption significantly decreased triglyceride levels and atherosclerotic plaque formation compared to the high-fat diet group.
- Hepatic expression of bile acid synthesis gene Cyp7a1 was upregulated in the lingonberry group.
- Lingonberries altered gut microbiota composition, increasing Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Clostridium, and modified SCFA profiles, with lower total SCFAs but higher propionic acid.
Conclusions:
- Lingonberries effectively reduce triglyceridemia and atherosclerosis in mice.
- The observed benefits are associated with alterations in gut microbiota and SCFA profiles, potentially mediated by increased hepatic bile acid synthesis.
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