Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) flour modulates the intestinal microbiota in Wistar rats fed a high-fat and high-fructose diet

• Published in: Food research international Vol. 172; p. 113095
• Main Authors: Morais, Violeta Nunes de, Gomes, Mariana Juste Contin, Grancieri, Mariana, Moreira, Luiza de Paula Dias, Toledo, Renata Celi Lopes, Costa, Neuza Maria Brunoro, da Silva, Bárbara Pereira, Martino, Hércia Stampini Duarte
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-10-2023
• Subjects: Bioactive compounds; Cecal pH content; Chia flour; Diversity analysis; Functionality analysis; Immunoglobulin A; Intestinal morphology; Short-chain fatty acids; HFHF + CF; PCoA; Short-chain fatty acids; PICRUSt2; IgA; Functionality analysis; OTUs; Diversity analysis; Chia flour; Cecal pH content; AIN-93M; Immunoglobulin A; SCFA; PERMANOVA; LEfSe; Bioactive compounds; ALA; Intestinal morphology; NCBI; KEGG; ω-6; HFHF; HPLC; BMI
• ISSN: 0963-9969; 1873-7145
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.113095

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•Chia improves colon morphology and increase IgA levels, and cecum weight.•Chia increases acetic and butyric acids content.•Chia decreases intraluminal pH in vivo.•Chia flour increases the genera Monoglobus sp., Lachnospiraceae sp. and Prevotellaceae sp.
A diet rich in sugar and fat can promote metabolic disorders development, especially in the intestine. Chia flour (Salvia hispanica. L) is a source of dietary fiber, alpha-linolenic fatty acid (ALA), bioactive peptides, and phenolics, promoting health benefits. This study aimed to analyze chia flour’s effect on gut microbiota modulation and intestinal health in adult male Wistar rats fed a high-fat and high-fructose (HFHF) diet. Male Wistar rats (n = 10/group) were fed the diets standard (AIN-93M) or HFHF (31% saturated fat and 20% fructose) in the first phase to induce metabolic disorders. In the second phase, the rats were fed AIN-93M, HFHF, or HFHF plus 14.7% chia flour (HFHF + CF) for 10 weeks. The consumption of chia flour increased the ALA (3.24 ± 0.24) intake and significantly improved immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels (1126.00 ± 145.90), goblet cells number (24.57 ± 2.76), crypt thickness (34.37 ± 5.86), crypt depth (215.30 ± 23.19), the longitudinal muscle layer (48.11 ± 5.04), cecum weight (4.39 ± 0.71), Shannon index (p < 0.05), and significantly increased the production of acetic (20.56 ± 4.10) and butyric acids (5.96 ± 1.50), Monoglobus sp., Lachnospiraceae sp., and Prevotellaceae sp. abundance. Furthermore, chia significantly reduced the cecal pH content (7.54 ± 1.17), body mass index (0.62 ± 0.03) and weight (411.00 ± 28.58), and Simpson index (p < 0.05). Therefore, chia intake improved intestinal health parameters and functionality in rats with metabolic disorders, which demonstrates to be an effective strategy for gut microbiota modulation.