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