Dietary Manganese Modulates Microbiota and Intestinal N-Acylethanolamines in a Sex-Specific Manner in Mice With...

Obesity is characterized by low-grade inflammation, changes in gut microbiota, and increased tone of the expanded endocannabinoid system (eCBome). The gut is a complex ecosystem that serves as an interface between the diet and its ultimate conversion to nutrients and energy for all cells of the organism. Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient from the diet required for normal cell function and physiological processes. Moreover, it is an indispensable trace mineral for some microbial species since it is a cofactor in several metabolic enzymes. Therefore, we aimed to identify possible interactions between gut microbiota composition and the eCBome during dietary variations of Mn in the context of diet-induced obesity. Female and male mice were fed Mn-depleted and Mn-enriched diets in combination with Low Fat-Low Sucrose (LFLS) or High Fat-High Sucrose (HFHS) diets for 28 days to assess intestinal microbiota and eCBome levels. Mn-enriched diets enhanced the circulating levels of N-docosapentaenoyl-ethanolamine (DPEA) and anandamide (AEA), while they reduced the intestinal concentrations of other N-acylethanolamines, particularly in the caecum. Besides, we found a strong sex effect of Mn on the intestinal levels of 2-monoacylglycerols (2-MAGs), which were lower in females. Other endocannabinoid-like molecules involved in the immune response were impacted by dietary Mn enrichment, such as N-palmitoyl-glycine and N-oleoyl-L-serine. Concomitantly, Mn enrichment promoted segment-specific changes in the relative abundance of several taxa in intestinal microbiota following the HFHS diet. Microbial families such as Peptostreptococcaceae, Muribaculaceae, and Erysipelotrichaceae responded differentially to dietary variations in Mn. This study hints at potential interactions between Mn levels and diet composition with the eCBome and intestinal bacteria during dietary Mn variations within HFHS-induced dysmetabolic processes in a sex-dependent manner. These results will eventually contribute to identifying members of the gut microbiome and mediators of the eCBome useful for improving metabolic health.