Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Little Rock, Arkansas » Microbiome and Metabolism Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #319905

Title: Enzyme-treated wheat bran alters gut microbiota and liver metabolome in mice fed a high fat diet

Author
item KIEFFER, DOROTHY - University Of California
item MARTIN, ROY - Louisiana State University
item PICCOLO, BRIAN - University Of California
item MARCO, MARIA - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item KIM, E - University Of California
item KEENAN, K - Louisiana State University
item KNUDSTEN, T - Aarhus University
item DUNN, TAMARA - University Of California
item Ferruzzi, Mario - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)

Submitted to: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2015
Publication Date: 4/1/2015
Citation: Kieffer, D.A., Martin, R.J., Piccolo, B.D., Marco, M.L., Kim, E.B., Keenan, K.E., Knudsten, T.N., Dunn, T.N., Adams, S.H. 2015. Enzyme-treated wheat bran alters gut microbiota and liver metabolome in mice fed a high fat diet. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference. 29(1):258.6.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Enzyme-treated wheat bran (ETWB) is a fermentable dietary fiber that has been shown to decrease body fat and modify the gut microbiome. However, it is not clear how these microbiome changes impact peripheral tissue metabolism. We hypothesized that supplementation with ETWB would change gut-derived signals reaching the liver, in turn altering hepatic metabolism. To assess the effects of ETWB on the liver metabolome, male C57Bl/6 mice were fed a 45% fat diet for 10 wks supplemented with ETWB (20% w/w) or rapidly digestible starch (n=15/grp). Body weight and liver triglycerides were decreased by ETWB feeding (by 10%, 25%, p<0.05). The cecal microbiome had an increase in Bacteroidetes (by 42%, p<0.05) and decrease in Firmicutes (by 16%, p<0.05). Multivariate analysis identified the following variables as strong discriminators between the ETWB and control groups: increased liver reactive oxygen species and decreased antioxidants (glutathione and a-tocopherol), increased plasma ß-hydroxybutyrate and hydrocinnamic acid (HA is a phenolic compound present in wheat bran, liberated only by microbial action). HA has been associated with metabolic outcomes including improved blood glucose levels. Together, these changes indicate that dietary fibers such as ETWB regulate hepatic metabolism, likely through gut-derived signals that impact the liver and emanate from shifts in gut microbe communities or their activities.