Rice Kefiran Ameliorates Obesity and Hepatic Steatosis Through the Change in Gut Microbiota

Obesity is a global epidemic and a significant risk factor for various diseases. Obesity and dysbiosis are associated, drawing attention to the mechanisms that regulate the gut microbiota. In this study, we focused on the postbiotic effects of rice kefiran (Kef), a functional product of <i>Lac...

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Main Authors: Takuto Kurakawa, Koudai Kani, Seita Chudan, Miyu Nishikawa, Yoshiaki Tabuchi, Kazuichi Sakamoto, Yoshinori Nagai, Shinichi Ikushiro, Yukihiro Furusawa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/12/2495
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author Takuto Kurakawa
Koudai Kani
Seita Chudan
Miyu Nishikawa
Yoshiaki Tabuchi
Kazuichi Sakamoto
Yoshinori Nagai
Shinichi Ikushiro
Yukihiro Furusawa
author_facet Takuto Kurakawa
Koudai Kani
Seita Chudan
Miyu Nishikawa
Yoshiaki Tabuchi
Kazuichi Sakamoto
Yoshinori Nagai
Shinichi Ikushiro
Yukihiro Furusawa
author_sort Takuto Kurakawa
collection DOAJ
description Obesity is a global epidemic and a significant risk factor for various diseases. Obesity and dysbiosis are associated, drawing attention to the mechanisms that regulate the gut microbiota. In this study, we focused on the postbiotic effects of rice kefiran (Kef), a functional product of <i>Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens</i> cultured in a rice-based medium, on obesity and its complications. Although Kef has the potential to improve obesity, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying changes in gut microbiota. The administration of Kef significantly suppressed diet-induced body weight gain, reduced liver fat accumulation, and modestly improved insulin resistance. Among the gut bacteria, <i>Lachnospiraceae</i> and <i>Lachnoclostridium</i>, which were positively correlated with obesity, decreased in mice administered Kef. In contrast, <i>Bacteroides</i> and <i>Alistipes</i>, both reported to ameliorate obesity, were increased. Consistent with the changes in the gut microbiota, Kef increased fecal acetate levels, which ameliorated obesity and hepatic steatosis. Predictive metagenomic analysis suggested that Kef administration increased the abundance of KEGG orthologs, associated with carbohydrate metabolism and improvements in insulin resistance. In conclusion, Kef improves diet-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance by regulating the gut microbiota’s composition.
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spelling doaj-art-455e24d1840d48f8bbaba5dd7e54e8a02025-08-20T02:01:15ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072024-12-011212249510.3390/microorganisms12122495Rice Kefiran Ameliorates Obesity and Hepatic Steatosis Through the Change in Gut MicrobiotaTakuto Kurakawa0Koudai Kani1Seita Chudan2Miyu Nishikawa3Yoshiaki Tabuchi4Kazuichi Sakamoto5Yoshinori Nagai6Shinichi Ikushiro7Yukihiro Furusawa8Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu 939-0398, Toyama, JapanDepartment of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu 939-0398, Toyama, JapanDepartment of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu 939-0398, Toyama, JapanDepartment of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu 939-0398, Toyama, JapanDivision of Molecular Genetics Research, Life Science Research Center, University of Toyama, Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Toyama, JapanCollege of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1. Chuo, Ami-cho, Ami-machi 300-0393, Ibaraki, JapanDepartment of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu 939-0398, Toyama, JapanDepartment of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu 939-0398, Toyama, JapanDepartment of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu 939-0398, Toyama, JapanObesity is a global epidemic and a significant risk factor for various diseases. Obesity and dysbiosis are associated, drawing attention to the mechanisms that regulate the gut microbiota. In this study, we focused on the postbiotic effects of rice kefiran (Kef), a functional product of <i>Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens</i> cultured in a rice-based medium, on obesity and its complications. Although Kef has the potential to improve obesity, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying changes in gut microbiota. The administration of Kef significantly suppressed diet-induced body weight gain, reduced liver fat accumulation, and modestly improved insulin resistance. Among the gut bacteria, <i>Lachnospiraceae</i> and <i>Lachnoclostridium</i>, which were positively correlated with obesity, decreased in mice administered Kef. In contrast, <i>Bacteroides</i> and <i>Alistipes</i>, both reported to ameliorate obesity, were increased. Consistent with the changes in the gut microbiota, Kef increased fecal acetate levels, which ameliorated obesity and hepatic steatosis. Predictive metagenomic analysis suggested that Kef administration increased the abundance of KEGG orthologs, associated with carbohydrate metabolism and improvements in insulin resistance. In conclusion, Kef improves diet-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance by regulating the gut microbiota’s composition.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/12/2495rice kefiranobesityfatty liver diseasegut microbiota<i>Bacteroides</i><i>Alistipes</i>
spellingShingle Takuto Kurakawa
Koudai Kani
Seita Chudan
Miyu Nishikawa
Yoshiaki Tabuchi
Kazuichi Sakamoto
Yoshinori Nagai
Shinichi Ikushiro
Yukihiro Furusawa
Rice Kefiran Ameliorates Obesity and Hepatic Steatosis Through the Change in Gut Microbiota
Microorganisms
rice kefiran
obesity
fatty liver disease
gut microbiota
<i>Bacteroides</i>
<i>Alistipes</i>
title Rice Kefiran Ameliorates Obesity and Hepatic Steatosis Through the Change in Gut Microbiota
title_full Rice Kefiran Ameliorates Obesity and Hepatic Steatosis Through the Change in Gut Microbiota
title_fullStr Rice Kefiran Ameliorates Obesity and Hepatic Steatosis Through the Change in Gut Microbiota
title_full_unstemmed Rice Kefiran Ameliorates Obesity and Hepatic Steatosis Through the Change in Gut Microbiota
title_short Rice Kefiran Ameliorates Obesity and Hepatic Steatosis Through the Change in Gut Microbiota
title_sort rice kefiran ameliorates obesity and hepatic steatosis through the change in gut microbiota
topic rice kefiran
obesity
fatty liver disease
gut microbiota
<i>Bacteroides</i>
<i>Alistipes</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/12/2495
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