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High‐Fat Diet Enriched with Bilberry Modifies Colonic Mucus Dynamics and Restores Marked Alterations of Gut Microbiome in Rats
Author(s) -
Liu HaoYu,
Walden Tomas B.,
Ahl David,
Nyman Margareta,
Bertilsson Stefan,
Phillipson Mia,
Holm Lena
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
molecular nutrition and food research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.495
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1613-4133
pISSN - 1613-4125
DOI - 10.1002/mnfr.201900117
Subject(s) - bilberry , akkermansia muciniphila , dysbiosis , mucus , microbiome , mucin , gut flora , akkermansia , prebiotic , inflammation , biology , bifidobacterium , bacteroides , microbiology and biotechnology , lactobacillus , immunology , bacteria , food science , biochemistry , bioinformatics , fermentation , ecology , genetics
Scope Emerging evidence suggests that high‐fat diet (HFD) is associated with gut microbiome dysbiosis and related disorders. Bilberry is a prebiotic food component with known health benefits. Herein, the dynamics of the colonic mucus layer and microbiome during HFD and bilberry supplementation are addressed. Methods and results The effects on colonic mucus thickness in vivo and gut microbiota composition (Illumina sequencing, quantitative real‐time PCR) are investigated in young rats fed a low‐fat diet or HFD with or without bilberries for 8 weeks ( n = 8). HFD induced significant local colonic effects, despite no observed weight gain or systemic inflammation, as HFD causes epithelial upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase, which is counteracted by bilberry. The firmly adherent mucus layer becomes thicker and the mRNA levels of Muc2 and Tff3 are increased by HFD with or without bilberry. In parallel, HFD reduced the colonic abundance of mucolytic bacterial species Akkermansia muciniphila and Bacteroides spp. Finally, bilberry prevents HFD‐induced microbiota dysbiosis, including expansion of pathobionts, for example, Enterobacteriaceae . Conclusion HFD expand firmly adherent mucus thickness and reduce mucus‐foraging bacteria populations in the colon prior to obesity. Enriching HFD with bilberry protects against intestinal inflammation and marked microbiota encroachment.