A Mix of Potentially Probiotic ILimosilactobacillus fermentum/I Strains Alters the Gut Microbiota in a Dose- and Sex-Dependent Manner in Wistar Rats

• Published in: Microorganisms (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 4
• Main Authors: Carneiro dos Santos, Lucas Alves, Carvalho, Rodrigo Dias de Oliveira, Cruz Neto, José Patrocínio Ribeiro, de Albuquerque Lemos, Deborah Emanuelle, de Oliveira, Kataryne Árabe Rimá, Sampaio, Karoliny Brito, de Luna Freire, Micaelle Oliveira, Aburjaile, Flavia Figueira, Azevedo, Vasco Ariston de Carvalho, de Souza, Evandro Leite, de Brito Alves, José Luiz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 01.04.2024
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Development and progression; Gram-positive bacteria; Health aspects; Inflammation; Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms); Physiological aspects; Probiotics; Testing; Brazil
• ISSN: 2076-2607; 2076-2607
• DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040659

Multi-strain Limosilactobacillus (L.) fermentum is a potential probiotic with reported immunomodulatory properties. This study aimed to evaluate the composition, richness, and diversity of the gut microbiota in male and female rats after treatment with a multi-strain of L. fermentum at different doses. Thirty rats (fifteen male and fifteen female) were allocated into a control group (CTL), a group receiving L. fermentum at a dose of 10[sup.8] CFU (Lf-10[sup.8] ), and a group receiving L. fermentum at a dose of 10[sup.10] CFU (Lf-10[sup.10] ) for 13 weeks. Gut microbiota and serum cytokine levels were evaluated after L. fermentum treatment. Male CTL rats had a lower relative abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae and Prevotella and a lower alpha diversity than their female CTL counterparts (p < 0.05). In addition, male CTL rats had a higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio than female CTL rats (p < 0.05). In female rats, the administration of L. fermentum at 10[sup.8] CFU decreased the relative abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae and Anaerobiospirillum and increased Lactobacillus (p < 0.05). In male rats, the administration of L. fermentum at 10[sup.10] CFU decreased the F/B ratio and increased Lachnospiraceae and the diversity of the gut microbiota (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae and the alpha-diversity of gut microbiota were negatively correlated with serum levels of IL1β (r = −0.44) and TNFα (r = −0.39), respectively. This study identified important changes in gut microbiota between male and female rats and showed that a lower dose of L. fermentum may have more beneficial effects on gut microbiota in females, while a higher dose may result in more beneficial effects on gut microbiota in male rats.