AUTHOR=Sun Siyuan , Zhang Qi , Li Dongdong , Li Hongliang , Ma Hairan , Wu Xiuying , Li Yixuan , Wang Pengjie , Liu Rong , Feng Haihong , Zhang Yongxiang , Sang Yue , Fang Bing , Wang Ran 

TITLE=Heat-killed Bifidobacterium longum BBMN68 and inulin protect against high-fat diet-induced obesity by modulating gut microbiota

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1406070

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2024.1406070

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Obesity, a pervasive global epidemic, has heightened susceptibility to chronic ailments and diminished the overall life expectancy on a global scale. Probiotics and inulin (IN) have been documented to mitigate obesity by exerting an influence on the composition of the gut microbiota. Whether heat-killed <italic>Bifidobacterium longum</italic> BBMN68 (MN68) and IN have an anti-obesity effect remains to be investigated.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>In this study, Wistar rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD), and orally administered heat-killed MN68 (2 × 10<sup>11</sup> CFU/kg) and/or inulin (0.25 kg/kg) for 12 weeks. Histological analysis, serology analysis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were performed.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Heat-killed MN68 + IN treatment showed an enhanced effect on preventing weight gain, diminishing fat accumulation, and regulating lipid metabolism, compared to either heat-killed MN68 treatment or inulin treatment. Gut microbiota results showed that heat-killed MN68 + IN treatment significantly increased the relative abundance of <italic>Bacteroidota</italic>, <italic>Oscillospira</italic>, <italic>Intestinimonas</italic>, <italic>Christensenella</italic>, and <italic>Candidatus_Stoquefichus</italic>, and reduced the relative abundance of <italic>Enterococcus</italic>. Furthermore, heat-killed MN68 + IN significantly increased the SCFA levels, which were correlated with changes in the gut microbiota.</p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>This research provides support for the application of heat-killed MN68 and IN in the treatment of obesity, and highlights the combination of heat-killed BBMN68 and IN as functional food ingredients.</p></sec>