(08-03-2018) Blueberry Supplementation Influences the Gut Microbiota, Inflammation, and Insulin Resistance in High-Fat-Diet-Fed Rats. Lee S1,Keirsey K

Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Gut microbiota dysbiosis has been linked to obesity-associated chronic inflammation. Microbiota manipulation may therefore affect obesity-related comorbidities. Blueberries are rich in anthocyanins, which have anti-inflammatory properties and may alter the gut microbiota.

OBJECTIVE:
We hypothesized that blueberry supplementation would alter the gut microbiota, reduce systemic inflammation, and improve insulin resistance in high-fat (HF)-diet-fed rats.

METHODS:
Twenty-four male Wistar rats (260-270 g; n = 8/group) were fed low-fat (LF; 10% fat), HF (45% fat), or HF with 10% by weight blueberry powder (HF_BB) diets for 8 wk. LF rats were fed ad libitum, whereas HF and HF_BB rats were pair-fed with diets matched for fiber and sugar contents. Glucose tolerance, microbiota composition (16S ribosomal RNA sequencing), intestinal integrity [villus height, gene expression of mucin 2 (Muc2) and β-defensin 2 (Defb2)], and inflammation (gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines) were assessed.

RESULTS:
Blueberry altered microbiota composition with an increase in Gammaproteobacteria abundance (P < 0.001) compared with LF and HF rats. HF feeding led to an ∼15% decrease in ileal villus height compared with LF rats (P < 0.05), which was restored by blueberry supplementation. Ileal gene expression of Muc2 was ∼150% higher in HF_BB rats compared with HF rats (P < 0.05), with expression in the LF group not being different from that in either the HF or HF_BB groups. Tumor necrosis factor α (Tnfa) and interleukin 1β (Il1b) gene expression in visceral fat was increased by HF feeding when compared with the LF group (by 300% and 500%, respectively; P < 0.05) and normalized by blueberry supplementation. Finally, blueberry improved markers of insulin sensitivity. Hepatic insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) phosphorylation at serine 307:IRS1 ratio was ∼35% higher in HF rats compared with LF rats (P < 0.05) and HF_BB rats.

CONCLUSION:
In HF-diet-fed male rats, blueberry supplementation led to compositional changes in the gut microbiota associated with improvements in systemic inflammation and insulin signaling.

Source: J Nutr.2018 Feb 1;148(2):209-219. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxx027.

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