Short chain fatty acids and GIT hormones mitigate gut barrier disruption in high fat diet fed rats supplemented by synbiotics

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Mohamed EL Kafoury, Bataa^a | Ebrahim, Asmaa Tarek^{b; *} | Abd-El Hamid Ali, Manal Said^{c; d} | Shaker Mehanna, Nayra^e | Ibrahim Ramadan, Gamil El-Sayed^f | Ezzat Morsy, Wessam^{c; d}

Affiliations: [a] Professor of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt | [b] Assistant Lecturer of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt | [c] Assistant Professor of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt | [d] Assistant Professor of Physiology, Armed Forces College of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt | [e] Professor of Dairy and Food Microbiology, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt | [f] Professor of Chemistry of Aroma and Flavour, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Asmaa Tarek Ebrahim, Assistant lecturer of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Tel.: +20 01005313820-01140550975; E-mail: dr.asmaa_tarek@med.asu.edu.eg.

Abstract: High fat diet (HFD) predisposes to many metabolic changes; it may disrupt gut barrier integrity and gut microbiota composition. Synbiotic supplementation may promote host’s metabolic health by selective activation of the healthy microorganisms. This study aimed to probe the interaction between synbiotic supplementation, gut microbiota and gut hormones in HFD states. Twenty-seven adult male albino rats, 3 groups, group I: control, group II: HFD received HFD for 12 weeks and group III: synbiotic-supplemented HFD received synbiotic in the last 6 weeks. The anthropometric measurments were measured. Liver transaminases, lipid profile, parameters of insulin resistance, serum serotonin, glucagon like polypeptide-1 (GLP-1), oxidant/antioxidant markers (MDA/GPx), zonulin levels and quantitative cecal short chain fatty acids (SCFA) were assessed. Samples of liver and colon were employed for histopathological studies. Compared to HFD group, synbiotic led to a significant reduction in anthropometric measurements, liver enzymes, atherogenic index, HOMA-IR and MDA denoting improved dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and oxidative state. Moreover, synbiotic supplementation decreased serum zonulin and increased both serum serotonin, GLP-1 and cecal SCFAs. Synbiotic supplementation ameliorated the metabolic derangements and the disturbed integrity of the intestinal barrier induced by HFD. As synbiotics can increase gut hormones (serum GLP-1&serotonin) and SCFAs.

Keywords: GLP-1, serotonin, zonulin, synbiotics, high fat diet, short chain fatty acids, insulin resistance.

DOI: 10.3233/MNM-230026

Journal: Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 139-163, 2023