Abstract
The gut microbiome is a growing topic of discussion due to its varying effects on the gut brain barrier, infections, obesity, allergies, and mental health. With a newfound public desire to ameliorate gut health, there has been an increase in probiotic consumption and dietary changes; however more research is needed to understand the mechanisms responsible for the observed phenotypes. In the current study, we set out to determine how different diets and administration of a commercially available probiotic influence the gastrointestinal microbiome in mice. Weanling, male C57Bl/6 mice were purchased and given a week to acclimate to a solid diet and group housing. Mice were then randomly assigned to receive one of three diets ad libitum : chow, the American Institute of Nutrition 93-formulation (AIN93), and our novel Americanized diet (AD). Mice from each diet were then administered a control solution (distilled water) or 30 uL of a commercially available probiotic mixture, orally five days a week for two weeks. After 8-weeks, mice were euthanized and the cecal content was collected and stored in RNAlater solution. Total DNA was isolated from the cecal samples using a commercially available assay, and the presence of microbial species was determined by 16S rRNA sequencing and RT-PCR analysis of Firmicutes, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , and Bacteroides specifically. Data were analyzed using General Linear Models in SPSS with significant difference identified as P<0.05. Diet significantly impacted Bifidobacterium (P=0.015) , Lactobacillus (P=0.001), and Bacteroides (P<0.001) levels, with mice fed the AIN diet having the greatest Bifidobacterium levels but lower Lactobacillus and Bacteroides . Mice fed the AD had the highest Lactobacillus and Bacteroides . Probiotics significantly decreased Bifidobacterium and Firmicutes , with a decrease in Firmicutes being associated with improved physiological phenotypes in other studies. This preliminary study highlights that dietary changes, even within “normal” ranges, significantly influence the gut microbiome. Furthermore, our data supports the claim that commercially available probiotics modulate GI microbial flora and that this effect is modified by the diet consumed. More research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying this change to maximize its potential benefits and improve gut and overall health.
Published Version
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