Exercise and/or Genistein Treatment Impact Gut Microbiota and Inflammation after 12 Weeks on a High-Fat, High-Sugar Diet in C57BL/6 Mice

Abstract

Genistein (Gen) and exercise (Exe) have been postulated as potential strategies to ameliorate obesity, inflammation, and gut microbiota (GM) with promising results. However, the impact of the combination of both Exe and Gen is yet to be investigated. We aimed to analyze the impacts of Exe, Gen, and their combined effects on GM and inflammation in mice after a 12-week high-fat, high-sugar diet (HFD). Eighty-three C57BL/6 mice were randomized to control, HFD, HFD + Exe, HFD + Gen, or HFD + Exe + Gen. The V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was analyzed with Illumina MiSeq. Serum samples were used to analyze interleukin (Il)-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-alpha). The HFD + Exe and HFD + Exe + Gen treatments resulted in significantly greater microbial richness compared to HFD. All the treatments had a significantly different impact on the GM community structure. Ruminococcus was significantly more abundant after the HFD + Exe + Gen treatment when compared to all the other HFD groups. Exe + Gen resulted in serum Il-6 concentrations similar to that of controls. TNF-alpha concentrations did not differ by treatment. Overall, Exe had a positive impact on microbial richness, and Ruminococcus might be the driving bacteria for the GM structure differences. Exe + Gen may be an effective treatment for preventing HFD-induced inflammation.

Does the gut microbiota contribute to the antiobesity effect of exercise? A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Six animal studies reported energy intake (37,38,43,45,49,51) and two studies reported energy expenditure (38,43), respectively. Besides, 18 (23,35‐45,47,49‐53) of the 21 animal studies were randomized studies, whereas the other 3 were longitudinal intervention and nonrandom control studies (24,46,48).…”

“…In contrast, 14 of the 21 animal studies reported a significant weight‐lowering effect of exercise (23,24,35,37,38,40,42‐44,47‐51). Five animal studies reported unchanged body weight (36,39,41,46,53), and two reported increased body weight (45,52).…”

“…one longitudinal study (32), and two nonrandom crossover studies (33,34). A HFD was used to model obesity in mice (23,(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42) or rats (24,(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50)(51), whereas leptin receptor-deficient (db/db) mice fed a HFD and administered a streptozotocin injection were used as animal models of T2D (52,53) (Table 2). For energy balance (energy intake and expenditure), four human studies described energy intake (20,30,32,33), and one study described energy expenditure (30), respectively.…”

“…Six animal studies reported energy intake (37,38,43,45,49,51) and two studies reported energy expenditure (38,43), respectively. Besides, 18 (23,(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)47,(49)(50)(51)(52)(53) of the 21 animal studies were randomized studies, whereas the other 3 were longitudinal intervention and nonrandom control studies (24,46,48). (23,35,37,42,43), and swimming (47,52) were the major forms of exercise intervention in these studies.…”

The Relationship among Physical Activity, Intestinal Flora, and Cardiovascular Disease

“…Therefore, it has long been speculated that exercise is linked to an altered GM. Recent animal studies have shown that exercise training can modify the gut of rodents and their associated gut microbiome [ 9 ] [ 10 ]. A study also found that exercise training can alter GM of those with an obese and hypertensive phenotype.…”