Gut microbiome changes elicited by dietary red cabbage is associated with attenuation of high fat diet-related risk factors in a rodent diet-induced obesity model

Authors: WU, YANBEI - Beijing Technology And Business University; XIN, MENGMENG - Beijing Technology And Business University; Pham, Quynhchi; GAO, YU - Beijing Technology And Business University; HUANG, HAIGIU - University Of Maryland; JIANG, XIAOJING - University Of Maryland; Li, Robert; YU, LIANGLI - University Of Maryland; Luo, Yaguang - Sunny; WANG, JING - Beijing Technology And Business University; Wang, Thomas - Tom

Submitted to: Foods
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/23/2023
Publication Date: 12/26/2023
Citation: Wu, Y., Xin, M., Pham, Q., Gao, Y., Huang, H., Jiang, X., Li, R.W., Yu, L., Luo, Y., Wang, J., Wang, T.T. 2023. Gut microbiome changes elicited by dietary red cabbage is associated with attenuation of high fat diet-related risk factors in a rodent diet-induced obesity model. Foods. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202312.1628.v1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202312.1628.v1

Interpretive Summary: Dietary modulation of the gut microbiome may contribute to health promoting effects of a food. Cruciferous vegetable, such as red cabbage (RC), are of special interest due to the well documented health promoting effects. However, little is known of the effects of RC on the gut microbiome. The present study used a rodent diet-induced obesity model to investigate the effect of consuming RC on the gut microbiota. After 24-hour dietary intervention, high-fat (HF) diet and intake of RC led to increased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratios in the feces of mice. RC also reduced the relative abundance of Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus and Akkermansia muciniphila in mice fed low fat (LF) diet. After 8-weeks dietary intervention, RC significantly changed the structure and the ecological network of gut microbial community. Particularly, RC inhibited an HF-diet induced increase of AF12 in mice, and this genus was positively correlated with body weight, low-density lipoprotein level and fecal bile acid of mice. Unclassified Clostridiales, specifically increased by RC consumption, was also found to negatively correlate with hepatic free cholesterol levels in mice. Overall, our results demonstrated that RC modulation of gut microbial composition and interactions is associated with the attenuation of HF diet-induced body weight gain and altered cholesterol metabolism of mice. This study provide novel information on molecular regulation of the gut microbiome by red cabbage. The information will benefit basic and translational scientist working on research related to understanding interaction between food and the gut microbiome.

Technical Abstract: Red cabbage (RC), a cruciferous vegetable rich in various bioactive substances, can significantly reduce the risk factors of several chronic metabolic diseases, but its mechanism remains clear. Given that the relationship between diet, gut microbiota and health, a diet -induced mice obesity model was used to elucidate the effects of RC on gut microbial composition and interactions in mice. After 24-hour dietary intervention, high-fat (HF) diet and intake of RC led to increased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratios in the feces of mice. RC also reduced the relative abundance of Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus and Akkermansia muciniphila in mice fed low fat (LF) diet. After 8-weeks dietary intervention, RC significantly changed the structure and the ecological network of gut microbial community. Particularly, RC inhibited an HF-diet induced increase of AF12 in mice, and this genus was positively correlated with body weight, low-density lipoprotein level and fecal bile acid of mice. Unclassified Clostridiales, specifically increased by RC consumption, was also found to negatively correlate with hepatic free cholesterol levels in mice. Overall, our results demonstrated that RC modulation of gut microbial composition and interactions is associated with the attenuation of HF diet-induced body weight gain and altered cholesterol metabolism of mice.