title: Calcium supplementation modulates gut microbiota in a prebiotic manner in dietary obese mice.
abstract: METHODS
  Dietary calcium has been inversely associated with body fat and energy balance. The main scope of this study has been to assess the potential contribution of gut microbiota on energy regulation mediated by calcium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gut microbiota in C57BL/6J mice receiving calcium supplementation under a high-fat (HF) diet were analysed by PCR and their relationships with host metabolic parameters were determined. Calcium conferred a prebiotic-like effect on gut microbiota, and animals presented lower plasmatic endotoxin levels, increased expression of angiopoietin-like 4 in intestine and lower hepatic lipid content, although increased expression of stress markers in adipose tissue and of inflammation in liver was also found. To determine whether slimming effects could be transferred to obese mice, a faecal microbial transplant (FMT) was carried out, showing that host bacteria grown under a HF diet could not be superseded by those from calcium-fed animals. Therefore, FMT was not able to transfer the beneficial effects of calcium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, calcium modulated gut microbiota in a prebiotic manner, establishing a host cross-talk and promoting a healthier metabolic profile. However, lack of effectiveness of FMT suggests the need of further appropriate dietary factors in addition to the bacteria per se.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology, University of the Balearic Islands and CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaplin
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology, University of the Balearic Islands and CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parra
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Calorimetry and Materials, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Tétouan, Morocco.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laraichi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology, University of the Balearic Islands and CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology, University of the Balearic Islands and CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Andreu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palou
mesh_terms: D000075803:Angiopoietin-Like Protein 4; D042682:Angiopoietins / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000187:drug effects; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D000069467:Fecal Microbiota Transplantation; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D056692:Prebiotics
chemical_list: D000075803:Angiopoietin-Like Protein 4; D042682:Angiopoietins; C407088:Angptl4 protein, mouse; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D056692:Prebiotics
keywords: Angptl4; Calcium supplementation; Conjugated linoleic acid; Microbiota