title: Lingonberries reduce atherosclerosis in Apoe(-/-) mice in association with altered gut microbiota composition and improved lipid profile.
abstract: To investigate the efficacy of lingonberries in prevention of atherosclerosis, using atherosclerosis-prone Apoe(-/-) mice and to clarify whether effects were associated with changes in the gut microbiota, gut metabolites, and lipid metabolism.
  
  
  
  Male Apoe(-/-) mice were fed either low-fat diet, high-fat diet, or high-fat diet with 44% lingonberries for 8 weeks. Blood lipid profiles, hepatic gene expression, atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic root region of the heart, bacterial 16S rRNA gene profiles, and cecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were analyzed. Triglyceride levels and amount of atherosclerotic plaques decreased in the group fed lingonberries in comparison to the high-fat group. Hepatic expression of the bile acid synthesis gene Cyp7a1 was significantly upregulated in the lingonberry group. Lingonberries increased the cecal relative abundance of bacterial genera Bacteroides, Parabacteroides and Clostridium. The cecal levels of total SCFAs were significantly lower in the lingonberry group, while the cecal proportion of propionic acid was higher in mice fed lingonberries.
  
  
  
  Intake of lingonberries resulted in decreased triglyceridemia and reduced atherosclerosis. The altered gut microbiota composition and SCFA profile was associated with increased hepatic bile acid gene expression in mice fed lingonberries.
authors.affiliation: Food for Health Science Centre, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Chrysoula
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matziouridou
authors.affiliation: Food for Health Science Centre, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Nittaya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marungruang
authors.affiliation: Food for Health Science Centre, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Thao Duy
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Food for Health Science Centre, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nyman
authors.affiliation: Food for Health Science Centre, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Frida
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fåk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D041963:Bacteroidetes / Q000187:drug effects; D002432:Cecum / Q000382:microbiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003013:Clostridium / Q000187:drug effects; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000187:drug effects*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D000074085:Mice, Knockout, ApoE; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013253:Steroid 12-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D029801:Vaccinium vitis-idaea / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D028321:Plant Preparations; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014280:Triglycerides; C099713:nuclear receptor subfamily 0, group B, member 2; D002784:Cholesterol; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase; C502772:Cyp7a1 protein, mouse; D013253:Steroid 12-alpha-Hydroxylase
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Gut microbiota; Lingonberries; Short-chain fatty acids