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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Little Rock, Arkansas » Microbiome and Metabolism Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #360748
Title: Dietary supplementation with strawberry induces marked changes in the composition and functional potential of the gut microbiome in diabetic mice

Author
item PETERSEN, CHRISSA - University Of Utah
item WANKHADE, UMESH - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item BHARAT, DIVYA - University Of Utah
item WONG, KIANA - University Of Utah
item MUELLER, JENNIFER ELLEN - University Of Utah
item CHINTAPALLI, SREE - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item PICCOLO, BRIAN - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item JALILI, THUNDER - University Of Utah
item ZHENQUAN, JIA - University Of Utah
item SYMONS, J. DAVID - University Of Utah
item SHANKAR, KARTIK - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item ANANDH BABU, PON VELAYUTHAM - University Of Utah

Submitted to: Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/12/2019
Publication Date: 1/18/2019
Citation: Petersen, C., Wankhade, U.D., Bharat, D., Wong, K., Mueller, J., Chintapalli, S.V., Piccolo, B.D., Jalili, T., Zhenquan, J., Symons, J., Shankar, K., Anandh Babu, P. 2019. Dietary supplementation with strawberry induces marked changes in the composition and functional potential of the gut microbiome in diabetic mice. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2019.01.004.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2019.01.004

Interpretive Summary: Consumption of fruits has been shown to confer positive effects to prevent disease as part of a healthy diet pattern. The effects of strawberries and specific strawberry-derived components (e.g., anthocyanins) is likely dependent on the actions of the naturally-occurring bacteria in the intestinal tract (gut microbiota). The effect of strawberry consumption on the gut microbiome is not well studied. In this experiment, we used diabetic and healthy mice to determine the effect of strawberry consumption on microbiota. Strawberry supplementation changed the microbiome composition at several taxonomic levels in diabetic mice. Functional biochemical pathways predicted based on microbial abundance were also altered in mice fed strawberries. Strawberry supplementation increased the abundance of the beneficial Bifidobacterium which play a pivotal role in the metabolism of anthocyanins. This study provides evidence that fruits such as strawberries can significantly alter the gut microbiota and microbiome function in mice. This forms the foundation for studies in human populations to test how feeding strawberries and other nutrient-rich fruits impacts the gut microbiota and related signals that influence health.

Technical Abstract: Gut microbiota contribute to the biological activities of berry anthocyanins by transforming them into bioactive metabolites and anthocyanins support the growth of specific bacteria indicating a two-way relationship between anthocyanins and microbiota. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that strawberry supplementation alters gut microbial ecology in diabetic db/db mice. Control (db/+) and diabetic (db/db) mice (7-wk) consumed standard diet or diet supplemented with 2.35% freeze-dried strawberry (db/db + SB) for 10 weeks. Colon contents were used to isolate bacterial DNA. V4 variable region of 16S rRNA gene was amplified. Data analyses were performed using standardized pipelines (QIIME 1.9 and R packages). Differences in predictive metagenomics function was identified by PICRUSt. Principle coordinate analyses confirmed that the microbial composition was significantly influenced by both host genotype and strawberry consumption. Further, a-diversity indices and Beta-diversity were different at the phylum and genus levels, and genus and OTU levels, respectively (P<.05). At the phylum level, strawberry supplementation decreased the abundance of Verrucomicrobiain db/db + SB vs. db/db mice (P<.05). At the genus level, db/db mice exhibited a decrease in the abundance of Bifidobacterium and strawberry supplementation increased Bifidobacterium in db/db + SB vs. db/db mice (P<.05). PICRUSt revealed significant differences in 45 predicted metabolic functions among the three groups. Our study provides evidence for marked changes in the composition and functional potential of the gut microbiome with strawberry supplementation in diabetic mice. Importantly, strawberry supplementation increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria Bifidobacterium which play a pivotal role in the metabolism of anthocyanins.