Synbiotic effects of β-glucans from cauliflower mushroom and Lactobacillus fermentum on metabolic changes and gut microbiome in estrogen-deficient rats

Genes & Nutrition, Nov 2017

Background We investigated whether the long-term consumption of a symbiotic formulation with Lactobacillus fermentum (probiotic) and β-glucan from cauliflower mushroom (prebiotic) would delay the progression of post-menopausal symptoms in ovariectomized (OVX) rats and explored their mechanisms of action, including changes in gut microbiota. Methods OVX rats were fed with high-fat diets containing 1% dextrin (control), 1% lyophilized cauliflower mushroom extract (CFM), 0.1% L. fermentum JS (LFE), 1% CFM plus 0.1% LFE (CFLF), or 30 μg 17β-estradiol/kg body weight (positive-control) for 8 weeks. Results CFM contained 95.8% β-glucans. OVX increased the ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in the large intestines. Only CFLF lowered tail skin temperature without increasing serum 17β-estradiol and uterine index. Visceral fat mass was lower in CFLF and positive-control groups by increasing daily energy expenditure and fat oxidation. Dyslipidemia induced by OVX was improved by CFM and CFLF as much as in the positive-control group. Homeostasis model assessment estimate of insulin resistance was lower in CFLF than in the positive-control. Hepatic insulin signaling (pAkt➔GSK-3β) was potentiated in the ascending order of the control, LFE, CFM, CFLF, and positive-control. AMPK phosphorylation showed similar patterns of hepatic insulin signaling but LFE increased it more than CFM. The changes in gut microbiota were prevented by CFLF in OVX rats, and the ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in the CFLF was similar to the positive-control group. Conclusion OVX changed gut microbiota and was associated with menopausal symptoms; however, the synbiotics, CFM and LFE, prevented menopausal symptoms and improved the gut microbiota in estrogen-deficient rats.

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Synbiotic effects of β-glucans from cauliflower mushroom and Lactobacillus fermentum on metabolic changes and gut microbiome in estrogen-deficient rats

Jeong et al. Genes & Nutrition Synbiotic effects of β-glucans from cauliflower mushroom and Lactobacillus fermentum on metabolic changes and gut microbiome in estrogen-deficient rats Seong-Yeop Jeong 1 Suna Kang 0 Cao Shi Hua 0 Zhang Ting 0 Sunmin Park 0 0 Department of Food & Nutrition, Obesity/Diabetes Center, Hoseo University , 165 Sechul-Ri, BaeBang-Yup, Asan-Si, ChungNam-Do 336-795 , South Korea 1 Department of R&D, Microbial Institute for Fermentation Industry , Sunchang , South Korea Background: We investigated whether the long-term consumption of a symbiotic formulation with Lactobacillus fermentum (probiotic) and β-glucan from cauliflower mushroom (prebiotic) would delay the progression of post-menopausal symptoms in ovariectomized (OVX) rats and explored their mechanisms of action, including changes in gut microbiota. Methods: OVX rats were fed with high-fat diets containing 1% dextrin (control), 1% lyophilized cauliflower mushroom extract (CFM), 0.1% L. fermentum JS (LFE), 1% CFM plus 0.1% LFE (CFLF), or 30 μg 17β-estradiol/kg body weight (positive-control) for 8 weeks. Results: CFM contained 95.8% β-glucans. OVX increased the ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in the large intestines. Only CFLF lowered tail skin temperature without increasing serum 17β-estradiol and uterine index. Visceral fat mass was lower in CFLF and positive-control groups by increasing daily energy expenditure and fat oxidation. Dyslipidemia induced by OVX was improved by CFM and CFLF as much as in the positive-control group. Homeostasis model assessment estimate of insulin resistance was lower in CFLF than in the positive-control. Hepatic insulin signaling (pAkt➔GSK-3β) was potentiated in the ascending order of the control, LFE, CFM, CFLF, and positive-control. AMPK phosphorylation showed similar patterns of hepatic insulin signaling but LFE increased it more than CFM. The changes in gut microbiota were prevented by CFLF in OVX rats, and the ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in the CFLF was similar to the positive-control group. Conclusion: OVX changed gut microbiota and was associated with menopausal symptoms; however, the synbiotics, CFM and LFE, prevented menopausal symptoms and improved the gut microbiota in estrogen-deficient rats. Cauliflower mushroom; β-Glucan; Lactobacillus fermentum; Gut microbiota; Ovariectomy; Synbiotics Background Estrogen deficiency causes disturbances of energy, lipid, glucose, and bone metabolism and induces vasomotor symptoms such as daytime hot flushes, night sweats, sleep and mood disorder, and difficulty in concentration. These menopausal symptoms result in a lower quality of life and increase the incidence of metabolic disease. Although hormone replacement therapy ultimately prevents menopausal symptoms and improves quality of life, hormone replacement therapy is often not recommended due to its risk of adverse side-effects [ 1 ]. Alternative therapies with less adverse effects have been suggested for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Firmicutes among the gut microbiota is associated with obesity and its progression towards metabolic disease [ 2 ], and dietary interventions to modulate the gut microbiota can alleviate metabolic diseases [ 3 ]. Sex hormones including estrogen and testosterone have been reported to modulate microbial communities [ 4 ], and gut microbiota influence systemic levels of sex hormones [ 5, 6 ]. Intestinal tissues mainly contain estrogen receptor (ER)-β. ER-β affects the composition of gut microbiota in female mice [7]. Cox-York et al. [ 8 ] have demonstrated that ovariectomized (OVX) rats with higher aerobic capacity increase microbial diversity and the number of the Bacteroidetes phylum in the gut. In addition, equol production in the gut produces the beneficial effects of soy and isoflavones on menopausal symptoms and gut microbiota is associated with equol production in the gut from soy-isoflavone concentrates in post-menopausal women [ 9 ]. Thus, the changes of gut microbiota composition can prevent the menopausal symptoms. Diets including prebiotics and probiotics can modulate gut microbiota [ 7, 10 ]. Probiotics consumption seems to be a feasible approach to modulate the intestinal microbiota and to maintain or restore human health [11]. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, natural components of the colon microbiota, are the most commonly used probiotics in many functional foods and dietary supplements. Various Lactobacillus species such as Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus plantarium, and Lactobacillus reuteri are naturally present in fermented foods and milk products [ 12 ] and especially, L. fermentum, which was isolated from human milk, can inhibit pathogens, decrease cholesterol synthesis, and change gut microbiota [ 13, 14 ]. Dietary supplementation with prebiotics, including lactulose, galactooligosaccharides, and fructo-oligosaccharides, increases the contents and proportion of bifidobacteria in the intest (...truncated)


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Seong-Yeop Jeong, Suna Kang, Cao Shi Hua, Zhang Ting, Sunmin Park. Synbiotic effects of β-glucans from cauliflower mushroom and Lactobacillus fermentum on metabolic changes and gut microbiome in estrogen-deficient rats, Genes & Nutrition, 2017, pp. 31, Volume 12, Issue 1, DOI: 10.1186/s12263-017-0585-z