Effect of Triadica cochinchinensis honey supplementation on liver metabolomics and gut microbiota in naturally aging mice

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of dietary intervention of Triadica cochinchinensis honey (TH) on blood lipid profiles, hepatic lipid metabolism, and the gut microbiota in mice undergoing natural aging. All mice were fed a standard diet, supplemented with TH at a dosage of 5 g/kg BW over nine months until the mice were 18 months old. The findings of the study indicated that administering TH significantly decreased the levels of circulating triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Additionally, TH imparted hepatoprotective effects by mitigating liver damage, decreasing the activity of antioxidative enzymes, and suppressing the expression of inflammatory markers, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The lipidomic study revealed that administering TH considerably altered lipid synthesis and metabolism in the aging liver. These changes were characterized by an increase in the levels of 56 lipids and a reduction in the levels of 52 lipids, primarily consisting of TGs. Additionally, TH consumption significantly modified the structure and composition of the gut microbiota. The intervention restored the reduced abundance of Akkermansia in elderly mice and increased the relative abundances of Bacteroidaceae, Sutterellaceae, Burkholderiales, and Gammaproteobacteria. These findings highlighted the high activity of TH and its beneficial effect on aging, providing strong empirical support for the application of TH in the fields of nutrition and pharmaceuticals.