Montmorencytart cherry supplementation improved markers of glucose homeostasis but has modest effects on indicators of gut health in mice fed a Western diet.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate the effects of tart cherry supplementation on gut microbiota, gut health markers, and metabolic parameters in mice fed a Western Diet.
Results Summary
The Western Diet increased body weight, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin resistance markers, while tart cherry supplementation (particularly 5% dose) improved glucose homeostasis but had modest effects on gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acid production.
Population
C57BL/6 male mice
Effective Dosage
0%, 5%, and 10% wt/wt tart cherry supplementation
Duration
12 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TC supplementation | increase | the bacterial phylum, Actinobacteria | C57BL/6 male mice fed a western diet | - | significantly increased | #1 |
TC supplementation | increase | cecal weight | C57BL/6 male mice fed a western diet | - | increased | #2 |
TC supplementation | increase | fecal SCFAs | C57BL/6 male mice fed a western diet | - | increased | #3 |
TC supplementation | decrease | the Proteobacteria and Deferribacteres phyla | C57BL/6 male mice fed a western diet | - | reduced | #4 |
TC supplementation | no change | gut histological parameters and expression of genes related to gut integrity | C57BL/6 male mice fed a western diet | - | unaffected | #5 |
TC supplementation | no change | body weight, serum cholesterol, triglyceride, leptin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and resistin | C57BL/6 male mice fed a western diet | - | had no effect | #6 |
TC supplementation (5% dose) | decrease | fasting blood glucose and the surrogate marker of insulin resistance, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) | C57BL/6 male mice fed a western diet | - | improved | #7 |
western diet (WD) | increase | body weight, serum cholesterol, triglyceride, leptin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and resistin | C57BL/6 male mice | - | increased | #8 |
western diet (WD) | increase | fasting blood glucose and the surrogate marker of insulin resistance, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) | C57BL/6 male mice | - | significantly increased | #9 |
The gut microbiota plays an important role in the pathophysiology of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Emerging evidence suggests that anthocyanin-rich foods such as US Montmorency tart cherry (TC) can promote health by influencing the gut microbiota and maintaining gut integrity. This study investigated the effects of TC supplementation on the gut microbiota, markers of gut health, and metabolic parameters in mice fed a western diet (WD). Seventy-two C57BL/6 male mice were assigned to dietary treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial design with diet (control, WD) and TC (0, 5, 10% wt/wt) as factors. After 12 weeks of dietary treatment, tissues were collected to evaluate metabolic parameters and markers of gut health including cecal content microbiota and fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). TC supplementation significantly increased the bacterial phylum, Actinobacteria, cecal weight, and fecal SCFAs and reduced the Proteobacteria and Deferribacteres phyla. However, gut histological parameters and expression of genes related to gut integrity were unaffected by TC. Body weight, serum cholesterol, triglyceride, leptin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and resistin were increased with WD and TC had no effect on these parameters. Fasting blood glucose and the surrogate marker of insulin resistance, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), was significantly increased by WD which was improved by TC particularly the 5% dose. In conclusion, TC supplementation, particularly the 5% dose, improved markers of glucose homeostasis but has modest effects on gut microbial population and SCFAs production. The mechanism by which TC improved markers of glucose homeostasis needs to be further investigated.