Abstract
BackgroundDiet-induced obesity (DIO) is a significant health concern which has been linked to structural and functional changes in the gut microbiota. Exercise (Ex) is effective in preventing obesity, but whether Ex alters the gut microbiota during development with high fat (HF) feeding is unknown.ObjectiveDetermine the effects of voluntary Ex on the gastrointestinal microbiota in LF-fed mice and in HF-DIO.MethodsMale C57BL/6 littermates (5 weeks) were distributed equally into 4 groups: low fat (LF) sedentary (Sed) LF/Sed, LF/Ex, HF/Sed and HF/Ex. Mice were individually housed and LF/Ex and HF/Ex cages were equipped with a wheel and odometer to record Ex. Fecal samples were collected at baseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks and used for bacterial DNA isolation. DNA was subjected both to quantitative PCR using primers specific to the 16S rRNA encoding genes for Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes and to sequencing for lower taxonomic identification using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Data were analyzed using a one or two-way ANOVA or Pearson correlation.ResultsHF diet resulted in significantly greater body weight and adiposity as well as decreased glucose tolerance that were prevented by voluntary Ex (p<0.05). Visualization of Unifrac distance data with principal coordinates analysis indicated clustering by both diet and Ex at week 12. Sequencing demonstrated Ex-induced changes in the percentage of major bacterial phyla at 12 weeks. A correlation between total Ex distance and the ΔCt Bacteroidetes: ΔCt Firmicutes ratio from qPCR demonstrated a significant inverse correlation (r2 = 0.35, p = 0.043).ConclusionEx induces a unique shift in the gut microbiota that is different from dietary effects. Microbiota changes may play a role in Ex prevention of HF-DIO.
Highlights
35% of adults [1] and 17% of adolescents and children in the United States are obese [2] and this epidemic is fueling a rise in type-2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and heart disease [3]
Microbiota changes may play a role in Ex prevention of high fat (HF)-Diet-induced obesity (DIO)
Our results indicate that HF diets do promote increased fatness, hyperglycemia and an altered gut microbiota profile compared to low fat (LF) fed mice
Summary
35% of adults [1] and 17% of adolescents and children in the United States are obese [2] and this epidemic is fueling a rise in type-2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and heart disease [3]. Lifestyle changes or other treatments that can prevent or limit obesity would significantly impact the health of the nation as well as reduce the socioeconomic burden on society. High fat (HF) diets are known to induce metabolic stress on the body, leading to obesity and low grade systemic inflammation [7]. Phyla level shifts are reported with HF, Western diets that appear to directly impact host metabolism and contribute to the development of obesity [10,12]. Diet-induced obesity (DIO) is a significant health concern which has been linked to structural and functional changes in the gut microbiota. Exercise (Ex) is effective in preventing obesity, but whether Ex alters the gut microbiota during development with high fat (HF) feeding is unknown
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