Abstract
Malnutrition remains a major health problem in low‐ and middle‐income countries. During low protein intake, <0.67 g/kg/day, there is a loss of nitrogen (N2) balance, due to the unavailability of amino acid for metabolism and unbalanced protein catabolism results. However, there are individuals, who consume the same low protein intake, and preserve N2 balance for unknown reasons. A novel factor, the gut microbiota, may account for these N2 balance differences. To investigate this, we correlated gut microbial profiles with the growth of four murine strains (C57Bl6/J, CD‐1, FVB, and NIH‐Swiss) on protein deficient (PD) diet. Results show that a PD diet exerts a strain‐dependent impact on growth and N2 balance as determined through analysis of urinary urea, ammonia and creatinine excretion. Bacterial alpha diversity was significantly (P < 0.05, FDR) lower across all strains on a PD diet compared to normal chow (NC). Multi‐group analyses of the composition of microbiomes (ANCOM) revealed significantly differential microbial signatures between the four strains independent of diet. However, mice on a PD diet demonstrated differential enrichment of bacterial genera including, Allobaculum (C57Bl6/J), Parabacteroides (CD‐1), Turicibacter (FVB), and Mucispirillum (NIH‐Swiss) relative to NC. For instance, selective comparison of the CD‐1 (gained weight) and C57Bl6/J (did not gain weight) strains on PD diet also demonstrated significant pathway enrichment of dihydroorodate dehydrogenase, rRNA methyltransferases, and RNA splicing ligase in the CD‐1 strains compared to C57Bl6/J strains; which might account in their ability to retain growth despite a protein deficient diet. Taken together, these results suggest a potential relationship between the specific gut microbiota, N2 balance and animal response to malnutrition.
Highlights
Both severe chronic malnutrition (-3 standard deviations (SD) below median World Health Organization (WHO) height-for-age score) and severe acute malnutrition (-3 SD below WHO weight-for-height score) annually affect approximately 200 million children worldwide, with almost half of the deaths in children under 5 years being directly or indirectly attributable to insufficient nutrition (Black et al 2003)
Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Physiological Society and the American Physiological Society
The protein deficient (PD) diet was associated with significantly diminished urea concentration in urine and serum for both CD-1 and C57Bl6/J relative to normal chow (NC) mice
Summary
Both severe chronic malnutrition (-3 standard deviations (SD) below median World Health Organization (WHO) height-for-age score) and severe acute malnutrition (-3 SD below WHO weight-for-height score) annually affect approximately 200 million children worldwide, with almost half of the deaths in children under 5 years being directly or indirectly attributable to insufficient nutrition (Black et al 2003). Both severe acute malnutrition (wasting with and without edema) and severe chronic malnutrition, known as stunting, can impair health, increasing the likelihood of a 2018 The Authors. Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Physiological Society and the American Physiological Society. Gut Microbial Response Protein Deficiency obesity and cardiometabolic disease as well as neurocognitive impairment throughout the life cycle (Galler et al 2012, 2013; Tennant et al 2014)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
