Abstract
Xylooligosaccharide (XOS) is a source of prebiotics with multiple biological activities. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of XOS on mice fed a high-fat diet. Mice were fed either a normal diet or a high-fat diet supplemented without or with XOS (250 and 500 mg/kg), respectively, for 12 weeks. The results showed that the XOS inhibited mouse weight gain, decreased the epididymal adipose index, and improved the blood lipid levels, including triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Moreover, XOS reduced the activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alleviated the damage to the liver caused by the high-fat diet. XOS also reduced hyperlipidemia-associated inflammatory responses. Additionally, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction results showed that XOS intervention activated the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway to regulate the fat synthesis, decomposition, and β oxidation; upregulated the mRNA expression levels of carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT-1), peroxisome proliferator–activated receptors α (PPAR-α), and cholesterol 7-alpha hydroxylase (CYP7A1); and downregulated the mRNA expression levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), and lipoprotein lipase (LPL). On the other hand, XOS enhanced the mRNA expression levels of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin, and claudin-1 in the small intestine; increased the strength of the intestinal barrier; and optimized the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Therefore, it was concluded that XOS regulated the intestinal barrier, changed the intestinal microecology, and played an important role in preventing hyperlipidemia through the unique anatomical advantages of the gut–liver axis.
Highlights
Hyperlipidemia is a metabolic disease worldwide and the main cause of cardiovascular- and cerebrovascular-related diseases
Hyperlipidemia is accompanied by weight gain and abnormal lipid metabolism as an important pathological basis for a series of diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, and so forth (Teng et al, 2020)
The serum TG, total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels significantly decreased, and the activities of ALT and AST in the serum of mice with hyperlipidemia improved, indicating that XOS could effectively accelerate the decomposition of cholesterol, reduce the levels of lipid peroxidation, and achieve the purpose of regulating and reducing blood lipid levels
Summary
Hyperlipidemia is a metabolic disease worldwide and the main cause of cardiovascular- and cerebrovascular-related diseases. The latest data show that about 30 million people die from related diseases caused by hyperlipidemia every year in the world, which are important causes of fatty liver, high blood sugar levels, and hypertension (Oishi et al, 2018). Common hyperlipidemia usually manifests as elevated serum total cholesterol (TC) levels, elevated. Lifestyle, sex, age, genetics, and other factors have led to varying degrees of hyperlipidemia. A healthy lifestyle, including moderate exercise, good work and rest habits, and a healthy diet, can effectively control blood lipid levels; it is often difficult for people to adhere to this lifestyle (Kaur, 2014). The use of drugs to treat hyperlipidemia is often the most direct intervention for patients
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