Determining Changes in Fecal Fermentation Profile and Weight Gain in a Murine Model Consuming a Mediterranean Diet v. Western Diet

Authors' Affiliations

Caroline Dos Santos Medeiros, Department of Rehabilitative Science, College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences (CCRHS), East Tennessee State University, TN Kristy Thomas, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, TN Amy Wahquilst, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, TN W. Andrew Clark, Department of Rehabilitative Science, College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences (CCRHS), East Tennessee State University, TN Mary Andrea, Department of Rehabilitative Science, College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences (CCRHS), East Tennessee State University, TN Pearson Mills, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, TN Allison Cook, Department of Rehabilitative Science, College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences (CCRHS), East Tennessee State University, TN Katelynn Pyle, Department of Rehabilitative Science, College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences (CCRHS), East Tennessee State University, TN

Location

Culp Center Ballroom

Start Date

4-25-2023 9:00 AM

End Date

4-25-2023 11:00 AM

Poster Number

140

Faculty Sponsor’s Department

Health Sciences

Name of Project's Faculty Sponsor

W. Andrew Clark

Additional Sponsors

W. Andrew Clark, Mary Andreae

Classification of First Author

Undergraduate Student

Competition Type

Competitive

Type

Poster Presentation

Project's Category

Nutrition Disorders

Abstract or Artist's Statement

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate physiological and microbiome differences in a murine model consuming a Mediterranean (M) v. Western (W) diet.

Methods
Study design: To investigate the potential of diets in modifying the fecal microbiota, we used 16 ICR mice per diet split evenly between males and females. Mice were acclimated for 5 weeks, consuming regular chow, before switching to M or W diets. Four same sex mice were housed per cage and randomly assigned M or W diets with 2 cages of male and female mice/diet. All animals were weighed weekly, and stool samples were collected, freeze-dried, and ground. An aliquot was analyzed for short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) to determine the fecal fermentation profile (FFP).

Diets: All animals were acclimated to their surroundings while consuming the standard mouse chow diet for 5 wks. Experimental diets were from Envigo for 10 wks. M v.. W diets were 24.2v. 17.3% protein, 42.3 v. 48.5% carbohydrate, 13 v. 21.2 % fat, 9 v. 5% fiber, and energy density of 3.6 v. 4.5 kcal/g, and were offered ad libitum.

Fecal Fermentation Profile: Fecal samples had SCFA extracted and analyzed using a modified Schwiertz et al. method via gas chromatography. The resulting SCFA profiles were used to determine differences between diets.

Statistical Model: General linear models examined main effects of diet, sex, and week while accounting for baseline value and a random effect for cage (SCFA) or mouse (weight).

Results:
Diet effects for M v. W diets for SCFA were Acetate 50.12 v. 38.45% (p< 0.01), Propionate 14.19 v. 7.98% (p< 0.01), Butyrate 8.37 v. 17.27% (p< 0.01), Caproate 16.19 v. 23.68% (p< 0.01), and Caprillic 0.44 v. 0.68% (p< 0.01). Sex comparisons showed higher percentages of Butyrate (p< 0.05) for males and higher percentages of Isobutyrate (p< 0.01), Isovalerate (p< 0.01), and Propionate (p=0.02) for female mice. On the Mediterranean diet, male mice gained more weight than female mice, 4.96g v. 2.86g compared to baseline (p<0.01). Animals on a Western diet approached significance by gaining more weight (p<0.0871).

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Apr 25th, 9:00 AM Apr 25th, 11:00 AM

Determining Changes in Fecal Fermentation Profile and Weight Gain in a Murine Model Consuming a Mediterranean Diet v. Western Diet

Culp Center Ballroom

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate physiological and microbiome differences in a murine model consuming a Mediterranean (M) v. Western (W) diet.

Methods
Study design: To investigate the potential of diets in modifying the fecal microbiota, we used 16 ICR mice per diet split evenly between males and females. Mice were acclimated for 5 weeks, consuming regular chow, before switching to M or W diets. Four same sex mice were housed per cage and randomly assigned M or W diets with 2 cages of male and female mice/diet. All animals were weighed weekly, and stool samples were collected, freeze-dried, and ground. An aliquot was analyzed for short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) to determine the fecal fermentation profile (FFP).

Diets: All animals were acclimated to their surroundings while consuming the standard mouse chow diet for 5 wks. Experimental diets were from Envigo for 10 wks. M v.. W diets were 24.2v. 17.3% protein, 42.3 v. 48.5% carbohydrate, 13 v. 21.2 % fat, 9 v. 5% fiber, and energy density of 3.6 v. 4.5 kcal/g, and were offered ad libitum.

Fecal Fermentation Profile: Fecal samples had SCFA extracted and analyzed using a modified Schwiertz et al. method via gas chromatography. The resulting SCFA profiles were used to determine differences between diets.

Statistical Model: General linear models examined main effects of diet, sex, and week while accounting for baseline value and a random effect for cage (SCFA) or mouse (weight).

Results:
Diet effects for M v. W diets for SCFA were Acetate 50.12 v. 38.45% (p< 0.01), Propionate 14.19 v. 7.98% (p< 0.01), Butyrate 8.37 v. 17.27% (p< 0.01), Caproate 16.19 v. 23.68% (p< 0.01), and Caprillic 0.44 v. 0.68% (p< 0.01). Sex comparisons showed higher percentages of Butyrate (p< 0.05) for males and higher percentages of Isobutyrate (p< 0.01), Isovalerate (p< 0.01), and Propionate (p=0.02) for female mice. On the Mediterranean diet, male mice gained more weight than female mice, 4.96g v. 2.86g compared to baseline (p<0.01). Animals on a Western diet approached significance by gaining more weight (p<0.0871).