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Functional Fiber Reduces Mice Obesity by Regulating Intestinal Microbiota
Mengdi Zhang1, Jianhua Liu1, Chen Li1
1Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
Nutrients
|July 9, 2022
Summary
This study shows that a novel functional fiber (FF) effectively reduces obesity by improving gut microbiota balance and increasing beneficial bacteria. FF supplementation also enhances insulin sensitivity and reduces inflammation, offering a promising approach to combatting obesity.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic Health
- Microbiome Research
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Obesity is a global health concern linked to metabolic syndrome.
- Dietary fibers (DF) show potential in mitigating obesity and metabolic issues by influencing gut microbiota.
- A novel functional fiber (FF) with specific physicochemical properties was developed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the anti-obesity effects of the developed functional fiber (FF).
- To investigate FF's role in preventing obesity through gut microbiota modulation.
- To analyze physiological, histological, biochemical, and microbial changes associated with FF supplementation.
Main Methods:
- Six groups of mice were used: control, high-fat diet (HFD), low-fat diet (LFD), and HFD supplemented with 8% FF, 12% FF, or 12% FF plus antibiotics (AB).
- Evaluated parameters included body weight, adipocyte size, insulin sensitivity, brown adipose tissue (BAT) heat production, intestinal integrity, systemic inflammation, and gut microbiota composition.
- Analyzed short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production and utilized Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) for functional pathway prediction.
Main Results:
- Supplementation with 12% FF significantly reduced body weight, adipocyte area, and improved insulin sensitivity and BAT heat production compared to HFD.
- 12% FF enhanced intestinal integrity, reduced systemic inflammation, promoted microbiota homeostasis, and stabilized SCFA production.
- FF increased beneficial bacteria (Bifidobacterium, Lactococcus, Coprococcus), inhibited cyanogenic amino acid metabolism, and decreased serum succinate; antibiotic treatment negated FF's effects.
Conclusions:
- The developed functional fiber (12% FF) effectively combats obesity and associated metabolic dysfunctions.
- FF exerts its benefits by modulating the gut microbiota, promoting beneficial bacterial species, and influencing host metabolism.
- FF represents a promising dietary intervention for obesity management through targeted gut microbiota regulation.
