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Determining the gut microbiota‐independent effects of prebiotic fiber in diet‐induced obese rats
Author(s) -
Bomhof Marc,
Skochylas Heather,
Reimer Raylene
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.1056.6
Subject(s) - prebiotic , gut flora , intestinal permeability , obesity , food science , biology , endocrinology , medicine , immunology
Prebiotics, which are indigestible carbohydrates that are selectively fermented in the gut, have been shown to improve glycemia, inflammation, satiety, and body weight. The health benefits elicited by prebiotics are believed to be mediated through compositional changes in gut microbiota and associated metabolic activity. The extent to which prebiotics are dependent on gut microbiota for improved metabolic health is not clear. Our aim was to examine the gut‐microbiota independent effects of prebiotics on body weight, adiposity, intestinal permeability, and glycemia in a model of antibiotic‐induced intestinal decontamination. Diet induced obese male Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into 1 of 6 groups: 1) High energy (HE) ; 2) HE+Ampicillin (AMP); 3) HE+AMP+Neomycin (NEO); 4) HE+10% oligofructose (OFS); 5) HE+OFS+AMP; 6) HE+OFS+AMP+NEO (n=10 rats/gp). Decontamination of the gut with AMP and NEO did not limit classical prebiotic effects including reduced body fat and food intake and improved glucose tolerance (P<0.05). Decontamination with AMP, which is known to decrease the beneficial bacteria associated with OFS consumption, prevented prebiotic‐mediated improvements in adiposity and intestinal permeability (P<0.05). Taken together, this data suggests that prebiotics elicit both microbiota‐independent and microbiota‐dependent effects on metabolism in obesity. Funded by CIHR, NSERC, and AIHS. Grant Funding Source : Canadian Institutes of Health Research