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A Low-Protein, High-Carbohydrate Diet Exerts a Neuroprotective Effect on Mice with 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-Induced Parkinson's Disease by Regulating the Microbiota-Metabolite-Brain Axis and Fibroblast Growth Factor 21.

Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
June 14, 2023
Chuanqi Chu et al. (10 authors)
Journal ArticleAnimal Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine whether a low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diet could mitigate motor deficits and dopaminergic neuronal damage in MPTP-induced Parkinson’s disease (PD) mice, while exploring potential mechanisms involving gut microbiota and metabolic pathways.

Results Summary

The LPHC diet improved motor deficits, reduced dopaminergic neuronal death, and increased striatal dopamine and serotonin levels in PD mice. It also modulated gut microbiota composition, elevated FGF-21 levels, and increased aromatic amino acids and bile acids, suggesting a protective role via the gut-microbiota-brain axis.

Population

MPTP-induced Parkinson’s disease mice (animal model).

Effective Dosage

Not specified.

Duration

Not specified.

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (12)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diet
decrease
1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrathydropyridine (MPTP)-induced motor deficits
PD mice
-
ameliorated
#1
low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diet
decrease
dopaminergic neuronal death
PD mice
-
decreased
#2
low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diet
increase
levels of striatal dopamine, serotonin, and their metabolites
PD mice
-
increased
#3
low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diet
increase
Levels of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21)
PD mice
-
elevated
#4
FGF-21
decrease
MPTP-induced PC12 cells
MPTP-induced PC12 cells
-
exerted a protective effect
#5
low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diet
no change
gut bacterial composition imbalance
PD mice
-
normalized
#6
low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diet
increase
genera Bifidobacterium, Ileibacterium, Turicibacter, and Blautia
PD mice
-
increased abundance
#7
low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diet
decrease
Bilophila, Alistipes, and Bacteroides
PD mice
-
decreased abundance
#8
low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diet
decrease
lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and the citrate cycle (TCA cycle), biosynthesis of ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinones, and oxidative phosphorylation pathways
PD mice
-
suppressed
#9
low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diet
increase
biosynthesis of amino acids, carbohydrate metabolism, and biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites
PD mice
-
enhanced
#10
low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diet
increase
levels of aromatic amino acids (AAAs), including tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine
-
-
significantly increased
#11
low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diet
increase
serum concentrations of bile acids (BAs), particularly tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) and taurine
-
-
elevated
#12
Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is closely linked to lifestyle factors, particularly dietary patterns, which have attracted interest as potential disease-modifying factors. Eating a low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diet is a promising dietary intervention against brain aging; however, its protective effect on PD remains elusive. Here, we found that an LPHC diet ameliorated 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrathydropyridine (MPTP)-induced motor deficits, decreased dopaminergic neuronal death, and increased the levels of striatal dopamine, serotonin, and their metabolites in PD mice. Levels of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21), a member of the fibroblast growth factor family, were elevated in PD mice following LPHC treatment. Furthermore, the administration of FGF-21 exerted a protective effect on MPTP-induced PC12 cells, similar to the effect of an LPHC diet in MPTP-induced mice. Sequencing of the 16S rDNA from fecal microbiota revealed that an LPHC diet normalized the gut bacterial composition imbalance in PD mice, as evidenced by the increased abundance of the genera Bifidobacterium, Ileibacterium, Turicibacter, and Blautia and decreased abundance of Bilophila, Alistipes, and Bacteroides. PICRUSt-predicted fecal microbiome function revealed that an LPHC diet suppressed lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and the citrate cycle (TCA cycle), biosynthesis of ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinones, and oxidative phosphorylation pathways caused by MPTP, and enhanced the biosynthesis of amino acids, carbohydrate metabolism, and biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites. A nonmetabolomic analysis of the serum and feces showed that an LPHC diet significantly increased the levels of aromatic amino acids (AAAs), including tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine. In addition, an LPHC diet elevated the serum concentrations of bile acids (BAs), particularly tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) and taurine. Collectively, our current findings point to the potential mechanism of administering an LPHC diet in attenuating movement impairments in MPTP-induced PD mice, with AAAs, microbial metabolites (TUDCA and taurine), and FGF-21 as key mediators along the gut-microbiota-brain axis.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AnimalsMiceParkinson Disease1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridineNeuroprotective AgentsFibroblast Growth FactorsTaurochenodeoxycholic AcidBrainDopamineMicrobiotaDietMice, Inbred C57BLDisease Models, Animal
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality78/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations14
Citations/Year7.0
Relative Citation Ratio2.32
NIH Percentile78.9%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score2.14
Normalized Score0.70
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