title: Alleviation of high fat diet-induced obesity by oligofructose in gnotobiotic mice is independent of presence of Bifidobacterium longum.
abstract: METHODS
  Diet-induced obesity is associated with changes in the gut microbiota and low-grade inflammation. Oligofructose was reported to ameliorate high fat diet-induced metabolic disorders in mice by restoring the number of intestinal bifidobacteria. However, this has not been experimentally demonstrated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We fed conventional mice, germfree mice, mice associated with a simplified human gut microbiota composed of eight bacterial species including Bifidobacterium longum (SIHUMI), and mice associated with SIHUMI without B. longum a low fat diet (LFD), a high fat diet (HFD), or a HFD containing 10% oligofructose (HFD + OFS) for five weeks. We assessed body composition, bacterial cell numbers and metabolites, markers of inflammation, and gut permeability. Conventional mice fed HFD or HFD + OFS did not differ in body weight gain and glucose tolerance. The gnotobiotic mouse groups fed LFD or HFD + OFS gained less body weight and body fat, and displayed an improved glucose tolerance compared with mice fed HFD. These differences were not affected by the presence of B. longum. Mice fed HFD showed no signs of inflammation or increased intestinal permeability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ability of oligofructose to reduce obesity and to improve glucose tolerance in gnotobiotic mice fed HFD was independent of the presence of B. longum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany.
authors.forename: Anni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Woting
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany.
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hanske
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany.
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.affiliation: Group of Physiology of Energy Metabolism, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klaus
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blaut
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000818:Animals; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009844:Oligosaccharides; C120489:oligofructose
keywords: Bifidobacterium longum; Diet-induced obesity; Glucose tolerance; Metabolic endotoxemia; Oligofructose