Abstract
Simple SummaryOn the basis of the extensive literature, two main strategies have been used to manipulate intestinal microbial composition and selectively stimulate the growth and activity of certain species, these being the administration of either prebiotics or food supplements containing living bacteria such as probiotics. Several animal studies have indicated that certain probiotics, including Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria, can suppress body weight gain in rodents, while some probiotics strains have little effect or promote weight gain. The potential anti-obesity effect of probiotics seems to depend on the strains used and the underlying mechanisms, leading to their effects remaining not fully understood. It is in this context that this study was designed to investigate the potential of two probiotics strains, these being Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12® and Lactobacillus plantarum 299v® in rabbits, whereby obesity and metabolic syndrome was first induced in a first experiment, and the animals were then used in a second experiment to test the hypothesis of probiotics effect on biochemical and morphometric parameters. The model of obesity induced by giving a “cafeteria” diet for 14 weeks in this trial demonstrated a change in the biochemical and morphometric parameters investigated in the ITELV2006 rabbit strain. This study revealed that B. animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 and L. plantarum 299v strains could exert beneficial effects in reducing the incidence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in the ITELV2006 rabbit strain.This study aimed first to develop an experimental model of obesity and metabolic syndrome over 14 weeks using a diet called “cafeteria”, which is a high-fat diet, to evaluate its consequences on the biochemical and morphometric parameters in ITELV2006 strain rabbits. Second, the trial aimed to evaluate the effect of two strains of probiotics, these being Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12® and Lactobacillus plantarum 299v®, on the obesity and MetS induced during the first experiment. Overall, the results of the “cafeteria” diet demonstrated significant changes in numerous biochemical and morphometric parameters, reproducing obesity and the main clinical manifestations of the metabolic syndrome in humans. The administration of the two probiotic strains demonstrated an impact on certain parameters of obesity and induced MetS. This study makes it possible to conclude that probiotics could be useful in the treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome of rabbits, but in a dependent manner. Furthermore, this study evidenced the importance of selecting specific probiotic strains and dosages to achieve desirable results on rabbits or other species.
Highlights
In recent decades, the incidence of obesity has increased dramatically and it is becoming a real global epidemic and a major public health concern, with high prevalence worldwide [1]
The analysis of the biochemical and morphometric parameters at day 0, during and after induction of obesity in the rabbits at 14 weeks made it possible to observe significant differences (p < 0.001) that are described and discussed. The results of this first experiment showed that the cafeteria diet induced for 14 weeks caused a significant increase in the fasting blood sugar and the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) (p < 0.001), as well as an alteration of the lipid profile revealed by a significant increase in triglycerides, cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (p < 0.001) and a significant decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level (p < 0.001)
The significant increase in fasting blood sugar, OGTT, triglycerides, cholesterol and LDL together with the significant decrease in HDL made it possible to confirm the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome
Summary
The incidence of obesity has increased dramatically and it is becoming a real global epidemic and a major public health concern, with high prevalence worldwide [1]. In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that more than 1.9 billion human adults over 18 years of age were overweight; among these, 650 million were obese. 38.2 million children under 5 years old were estimated in 2019 to be overweight or obese. The increase of fat mass is a result of a chronic disparity in the energy balance and is due to a radical change of diets and habits that is characterized by an increased consumption of lipids, responsible for the spectacular emergence of metabolic syndrome disorder related to obesity [5,6,7]. Intestinal microbiota is an additional parameter described to be related with obesity and is believed to be one of the onset factors causing the metabolic syndrome [2]. Microbiota improves the ability to extract and store energy from foods [10]
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