Effects of Montmorency Tart Cherry Supplementation on Metabolic Parameters and Short-chain Fatty Acid Production in Mice Fed a Western Diet (P06-059-19)

Abstract

ObjectivesTart cherries (TC) are rich source of phenolic compounds such as anthocyanins and flavonoids that can influence the gut microbiota and promote health. This study investigated the effects of TC supplementation on metabolic parameters and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production in mice fed a western diet (WD). MethodsSix week old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to dietary treatment groups in a 2x3 factorial design with diet (control [AIN-93 M] or WD, 45% fat kcal and 26% sucrose kcal) and TC (0, 5, 10% wt/wt) as factors for 12 wks. At the end of dietary treatment, body composition was assessed and blood and tissue samples were collected. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), plasma clinical chemistry parameters and cecal SCFAs were assessed. Additionally, plasma glucagon-like peptide 1, insulin, leptin, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, and resistin were measured by the Bio-Plex array system (Bio-Rad). Data were analyzed using 2-way ANOVA (SAS, Version 9.4). ResultsAs expected, WD has significant main effect of increasing body weight (P = 0.002), % body fat (P = 0.045), and relative weights of abdominal fat (P = 0.001) and perirenal fat (P = 0.03), which was not modulated by TC. However, TC has a main effect of increasing (P = 0.022) bone mineral density. WD reduced relative cecum weight (P = 0.028) while TC increased (P = 0.011) cecum weight. Similarly, the weight of cecal contents was increased by TC (P < 0.0001) while WD (P = 0.67) has no main effect on this parameter. Consistent with the effects of TC on the cecum, TC also has main effect of increasing (P < 0.05) the SCFAs n-heptanoic, n-valeric, i-valeric, i-butyric, and propionic acids. WD increased fasting glucose (P = 0.001) and area under the curve (P = 0.018) after IPGTT but was not affected by TC. Similar pattern was observed of increased levels in hormones [leptin (P = 0.001), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1(P = 0.034), and resistin (P = 0.001)] and lipids [cholesterol (P < 0.0001) and triglycerides (P < 0.001)] with WD but no main effects of TC. ConclusionsOur preliminary findings indicate that TC has modest effects in modulating changes in metabolic parameters due to WD. However, TC has significant effects on the gut and enhanced the production of SCFAs. Further investigation of TC’s effects on gut microbiota, morphology and markers of gut integrity are warranted. Funding SourcesCherry Marketing Institute.