Abstract
Dietary habits are amongst the main factors that influence the gut microbiome. Accumulating evidence points to the impact of a high-salt diet (HSD) on the composition and function of the intestinal microbiota, immune system and disease. In the present study, we thus investigated the effects of different NaCl content in the food (0.03%/sodium deficient, 0.5%/control, 4% and 10% NaCl) on the gut microbiome composition in mice. The bacterial composition was profiled using the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene amplicon sequencing. Our results revealed that HSD led to distinct gut microbiome compositions compared to sodium-deficient or control diets. We also observed significant reduction in relative abundances of bacteria associated with immuno-competent short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production (Bifidobacterium, Faecalibaculum, Blautia and Lactobacillus) in HSD-fed mice along with significant enrichment of Clostridia, Alistipes and Akkermansia depending on the sodium content in food. Furthermore, the predictive functional profiling of microbial communities indicated that the gut microbiota found in each category presents differences in metabolic pathways related to carbohydrate, lipid and amino acid metabolism. The presented data show that HSD cause disturbances in the ecological balance of the gastrointestinal microflora primarily through depletion of lactic acid-producing bacteria in a dose-dependent manner. These findings may have important implications for salt-sensitive inflammatory diseases.
Highlights
The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract harbors a complex community of microorganisms, which include bacteria, fungi, viruses and protists, nominated the gut microbiota (GM)
To determine the impact of different levels of salt intake on the composition and structure of the murine gut microbiome, fecal pellets from C57BL/6 mice fed with diets differing only in their sodium chloride content (0.03%, 0.5%, 4% and 10% NaCl) were collected and subjected to 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene amplicon sequencing (Figure 1A)
The differences in the gut microbiome diversity between the 4% and 10% high-salt diet (HSD) are surprising and might point to partial changes in the gut environment that leads to a depletion of some bacterial taxa favoring the expansion of other halotolerant bacteria, such as members of Staphylococcaceae
Summary
The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract harbors a complex community of microorganisms, which include bacteria, fungi, viruses and protists, nominated the gut microbiota (GM). A complex dynamic network regulates the relationship between the host and the gut microbiome [4]. This relationship is constantly challenged by both genetic and environmental factors and can lead to significant alterations of the microbial community structure [1]. Many gut bacteria-associated diseases have intensely increased over the past century, suggesting that a change in lifestyle might alter the gut microbiota symbiosis with the host due to the depletion of symbiotic and protective microbes [8]. Western-style diet, characterized by high levels of saturated fat and sugars, may irreversibly deplete microbial diversity and lead to the loss of specific beneficial bacterial taxa in the gut [9]. The low consumption of dietary fibers may play a role in eradicating specific microbial taxa [10]
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