The Gut Microbiota from Lean and Obese Subjects Contribute Differently to the Fermentation of Arabinogalactan and Inulin

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 11; no. 7; p. e0159236
• Main Authors: Aguirre, Marisol, Bussolo de Souza, Carlota, Venema, Koen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 13.07.2016; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Acetates - metabolism; Adult; Arabinogalactan; Bacteria; Bacteroides; Bifidobacterium; Bifidobacterium - genetics; Bifidobacterium - isolation & purification; Bifidobacterium - metabolism; Biology and Life Sciences; Butyrates - metabolism; Colon; Diet; Dietary fiber; Dietary Fiber - metabolism; Drug dosages; Energy; Energy Metabolism - physiology; Experiments; Fatty acids; Female; Fermentation; Fibers; Food; Galactans - metabolism; Gastrointestinal Microbiome - genetics; Health aspects; Humans; In vivo methods and tests; Intestinal microflora; Inulin; Inulin - metabolism; Lactobacillus; Lactobacillus - genetics; Lactobacillus - isolation & purification; Lactobacillus - metabolism; Life sciences; Male; Medicine and Health Sciences; Metabolism; Metabolites; Microbiota; Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms); Nutrition research; Obesity; Obesity - metabolism; Overweight persons; Physical Sciences; Physiological aspects; Prebiotics; Prebiotics - analysis; Propionates - metabolism; Propionic acid; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; Rodents; Substrates; Valerates - metabolism; Weight control; United Kingdom; Netherlands
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159236
• ISSN: 1932-6203

An aberrant metabolic activity or a compositional alteration of the gut microbiota has been proposed as a factor that makes us more prone to disease. Therefore, we explored the effect of two dietary fibers (arabinogalactan and inulin) on the microbiota from lean and obese subjects during 72 h in vitro fermentation experiments using the validated TNO dynamic in vitro model of the proximal colon: TIM-2. Metabolically, arabinogalactan fermentation showed a higher production of propionate when compared to n-butyrate in the obese microbiota fermentations. In general, lean microbiota produced more n-butyrate from the fermentation of both substrates when compared to the obese microbiota. Furthermore, the obese microbiota extracted more energy from the fermentation of both fibers. Compositionally, bacteria belonging to Gemmiger, Dorea, Roseburia, Alistipes, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera were found to be highly abundant or stimulated by the prebiotics in the lean microbiota suggesting a potential role in leanness. Furthermore, a significant correlation between known butyrogenic strains including B. adolescentis, an unclassified Bifidobacterium and F. prausnitzii with this metabolite in the fermentation of inulin in both microbiotas was found. Although supplementary in vivo studies are needed, the current study provides more evidence for the consumption of specific ingredients with the aim of modulating the gut microbiota in the context of obesity.