The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Mediating Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet-Infant Gut Microbiota Relationships and Its Therapeutic Potential in Obesity.

Naser A Alsharairi

doi:10.3390/nu13113702

Abstract

As the very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) gains increased interest as a therapeutic approach for many diseases, little is known about its therapeutic use in childhood obesity. Indeed, the role of VLCKD during pregnancy and lactation in influencing short chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria and the potential mechanisms involved in the protective effects on obesity are still unclear. Infants are characterized by a diverse gut microbiota composition with higher abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria. Maternal VLCKD during pregnancy and lactation stimulates the growth of diverse species of SCFA-producing bacteria, which may induce epigenetic changes in infant obese gene expression and modulate adipose tissue inflammation in obesity. Therefore, this review aims to determine the mechanistic role of SCFAs in mediating VLCKD-infant gut microbiota relationships and its protective effects on obesity.

Highlights

The very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) is distinguishable from other diets because of its very low carbohydrates (CHO), high fat and moderate protein intake [1]
The VLCKD can maintain the body in the state of ketosis by increasing levels of acetoacetate (ACA) and β-hydroxybutyrate in the blood, which are the two major ketone bodies (KBs) used as energy sources [13]
Given the fact that short chain fatty acid (SCFA) influence obesityrelated asthma [66], it is perhaps the case that SCFAs from VLCKD-infant gut microbiota interactions may have potential therapeutic implications for reducing obesity. This non-systematic review aims to explore the mechanisms by which microbiotaderived SCFAs mediate the VLCKD-infant gut microbiota relationship and its therapeutic efficacy in reducing obesity

Summary

Introduction

The VLCKD is distinguishable from other diets because of its very low carbohydrates (CHO), high fat and moderate protein intake [1]. The VLCKD favours animal/plant-derived fat and protein intake, from sources such as nuts and seeds, butter, cheese, cream, beef, lamb, chicken, olive and fish oil [6]. Such a diet is superior to low-CHO diets (LCDs) and low-fat diets (LFDs) in producing sustained ketosis and improving metabolic markers [7,8,9]. The VLCKDs proposed protocol for successful weight loss is divided into three phases. The VLCKD can maintain the body in the state of ketosis by increasing levels of acetoacetate (ACA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB) in the blood, which are the two major KBs used as energy sources [13]

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