In Vivo Colonic Fermentation of Sorghum (<i>Sorghum bicolor</i> L.): Important Correlations Observed among the Physiological Parameters of Cecum, Liver, Adipose Tissue and Fasting Serum Lipid Profile

Abstract

High amylose corn starch (HAS), whole grain sorghum (S-Wh), refined sorghum (S-Rf) and acorn starch (CON) diets were fed to animals for 1 mo aiming to examine the physiological effects of resistant starch inclusion in the diet from grains. HAS exhibited significantly lower feed intake, final body weight, serum lipid profile with significantly higher cecal parameters and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) contents. S-Wh group exhibited significantly higher body weight, feed intake and serum lipid parameters compared to other 3 groups. Cecal fermentation was not seemed to be prominent in the CON, S-Wh and S-Rf groups with respect to lower cecal parameters and SCFA contents. The cecal microbial compositions in HAS, S-Wh and CON/S-Rf exhibited 3 distinct clusters suggesting a significant effect of the cecal microbial composition on cecal parameters, SCFA contents and physiological parameters. .

Frozen Autoclaved Sorghum Enhanced Colonic Fermentation and Lower Visceral Fat Accumulation in Rats

“…In a previous study by the authors, raw sorghum fed rats exhibited contrasting results to the current study, where body weight, visceral fat mass and cecal SCFA profile were similar to the CON group, while the major microbial members were found to be involved in resistant amino acid metabolism instead of RS [ 15 ]. In contrast, in this study genus Ruminococcus was found to be a key player in the sorghum fed rat cecal microbiota, well known to be able to utilize RS and dietary fiber [ 37 ].…”

“…Sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is the fifth most cultivated cereal in the world and is known for its higher native RS content (12–21%) compared to other cereals [ 12 , 13 ]. Raw sorghum exhibited moderate colonic fermentation potential under in vitro and in vivo conditions as previously reported by the authors [ 14 , 15 ]. Cooking of sorghum has shown to increase the RS content due to decreased protein digestibility and enhanced strength of the amylose-lipid complex according to previous studies [ 13 , 16 , 17 ].…”

“…The improved availability and/or accessiblity of RS by heat treatment coupled with freezing could be the reason behind the higher abundance of Ruminococcus spp. compared to the previous study that used raw sorghum [ 15 ] and lower adiposity might implicate their beneficial physiological effects mediated through the production of SCFA. Further, Bifidobacterium and Akkermansia are also identified to negatively correlate with the incidence in obesity [ 36 , 43 ].…”