(OR23-01-24) Effects of Supplemental Tart Cherry and Fish Oil on Inflammation and Gut Microbiota in Diet-induced (C57BL/6J) and Genetically (TALLYHO/Jng) Obese Mice Models

Objectives: In obesity, excessive fat accumulation leads to adipose tissue dysfunction and initiates a state of chronic low-grade inflammation. The gut microbiota is a key player in metabolism regulation such that an imbalance in gut microbial diversity and function in obesity is associated with an increased abundance of lipopolysaccharide producing bacteria that contribute to inflammation. Fish oil (FO) and tart cherry (TC) are rich sources of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and anthocyanins, which modulate gut microbiota and reduce inflammation. Thus, we hypothesized that compared to individual supplementation with FO and TC, the combination of them will have greater protective effects in modulating gut microbiota and ameliorating diet-induced and genetic obesity and inflammation.

Methods: Four-week-old male and female B6 and TALLYHO/Jng (TH) mice were fed for 14 weeks a high fat (HF), HF supplemented with TC, FO, or TC+ FO. During the intervention, body weights were recorded and blood and cecal samples were collected at the study termination. Plasma interleukin 6 (IL-6) was measured by ELISA, and cecal DNA was isolated for 16S rRNA Seq to determine gut microbiota composition.

Results: No differences were observed in body weight across treatments, regardless of sex or genotype. In B6 and TH females, but not males, all supplements reduced plasma IL-6 levels, compared to HF diet (P < 0.05). Moreover, TH mice, both sexes, on TC or TC+FO, showed more abundance of Lachnospiraceae and less Helicobacteriaceae compared to the HF group. Similar trends were observed in B6 mice when comparing TC+FO groups to HF groups. Also, in B6 female mice, alpha diversity was significantly increased by FO or TC+FO compared to HF (p < 0.05), not seen in B6 male and TH mice. Lastly, principal coordinate analysis (PCOA) indicated a great difference in cecal bacteria between the TC and TC+FO compared to the HF, evident in both B6 males and females and TH male mice.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that changes in gut microbiota may contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects of TC, FO, or their combination, especially in female mice. Further research is warranted to investigate the role of the microbiome and other mechanisms mediating the metabolic effects of these bioactive compounds.

Funding Sources: USDA NIFA AFRI award # 2019-67017-29247