Abstract
PurposeA multifunctional diet (MFD) targeting subclinical inflammation was developed as a tool to decrease risk factors for cardiometabolic disease in healthy “at-risk” individuals (BMI 25–33 kg/m2). MFD contains several components that are degraded in the colon by the microbiota, such as dietary fibers from rye, barley, oats and berries. It also contains soy beans, oily fish and plant stanols. In previous studies, we have observed improved cardiometabolic markers in healthy at-risk individuals after 4–8 week intake of MFD. However, whether these improvements can be associated with changes in the gut microbiota composition has not been investigated. In the present study, we analyzed the gut microbiota before and after an 8-week dietary intervention with MFD.MethodsCardiometabolic at-risk individuals (n = 47), between 51 and 72 years old and with a BMI of 25–33 kg/m2, were given either the MFD or a control diet lacking the functional (“active”) components for 8 weeks in a parallel, randomized design. Next-generation sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes was used to analyze the gut microbiota composition.ResultsThe 8-week intervention with MFD did not significantly alter the gut microbiota composition at phylum or genus taxonomic levels, while LEfSE analysis identified increased abundance of Prevotella copri in the MFD group as compared to the control group. Treponema correlated positively with blood pressure. In contrast, Faecalibacterium showed a negative association with blood pressure, while Bilophila appeared to associate with a negative blood lipid profile.ConclusionsTaken together, results from the present study may be used in the further development of effective dietary concepts capable of reducing cardiometabolic risk markers in humans through a targeted modulation of the gut microbial community.Trial registration numberClinical Trials.gov NCT02148653.
Highlights
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.Ingested food components, preferentially carbohydrates that are not digested and absorbed in the small intestine, reach the colon where they serve as fuel for the inherent microbiota
Faecalibacterium showed a negative association with blood pressure, while Bilophila appeared to associate with a negative blood lipid profile
The multifunctional diet (MFD) was effective in improving cardiometabolic risk markers and in the present study, we show that it induced minor shifts in the gut microbiota at species level, with increased abundance of P. copri
Summary
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00394-017-1563-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.Ingested food components, preferentially carbohydrates that are not digested and absorbed in the small intestine, reach the colon where they serve as fuel for the inherent microbiota. Eur J Nutr (2018) 57:2927–2936 associations between cardiovascular risk markers and specific bacteria [4]. Other dietary components, such as walnuts and pomegranate, can be metabolized by the gut microbiota. These metabolites, urolithins, can be detected in blood and used as markers for cardiometabolic risk in humans [5]. The diet includes foods and/or meals with anti-inflammatory potential in that they promote low acute glycemic responses, are rich in polyphenols and/or specific dietary fiber with prebiotic action, are rich in omega 3 fatty acids such as oily fish and rapeseed oil, or with anti-oxidative and anti-hypercholesterolaemic effects, e.g., soybeans and almonds [7]
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