Multi-omics integration reveals the impact of mediterranean diet on hepatic metabolism and gut microbiota in mice with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of the Mediterranean diet (MD) on hepatic metabolism and gut microbiota in mice with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).MethodsC57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks to induce MASLD, with normal chow (NC)-fed mice as contr...

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Main Authors: Zixuan Wang, Ge Chen, Xutong Sun, Jia Xiao, Lingling Kong, Shunshun Jiang, Tingting Xu, Meijiao Wang, Hong Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Nutrition
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1644014/full
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author Zixuan Wang
Zixuan Wang
Ge Chen
Xutong Sun
Jia Xiao
Lingling Kong
Shunshun Jiang
Tingting Xu
Meijiao Wang
Meijiao Wang
Hong Zhao
author_facet Zixuan Wang
Zixuan Wang
Ge Chen
Xutong Sun
Jia Xiao
Lingling Kong
Shunshun Jiang
Tingting Xu
Meijiao Wang
Meijiao Wang
Hong Zhao
author_sort Zixuan Wang
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of the Mediterranean diet (MD) on hepatic metabolism and gut microbiota in mice with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).MethodsC57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks to induce MASLD, with normal chow (NC)-fed mice as controls. Post-modeling, MASLD mice were randomized into three groups: HF (continued high-fat diet), HF-NC (switched to normal chow), and HF-MD (switched to MD). After 18-week interventions, body/liver weights, serum liver enzymes (ALT, AST), hepatic glycolipid markers (glucose, TC, TG, IBIL, DBIL), inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α; ELISA), and histopathology (H&E and Oil Red O staining) were analyzed. Gut microbiota (metagenomic sequencing) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs; targeted metabolomics) were profiled.ResultsHigh-fat diet induced MASLD features including obesity, increased abdominal fat mass, hepatic steatosis with lipid droplets, and inflammation. Both HF-NC and HF-MD groups exhibited reduced body weight, liver index, hepatic cytokines, serum enzymes, and improved glucolipid profiles vs. HF group (p < 0.05), with histopathology confirming attenuated steatosis. HF-MD outperformed HF-NC in lowering ALT, AST, IL-6, and TNF-α (p < 0.05). MASLD mice showed gut dysbiosis characterized by decreased diversity, elevated Alistipes, Helicobacter, Mucispirillum, and Chlamydia, reduced SCFAs, and increased branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) (p < 0.05). Both dietary interventions partially ameliorated gut dysbiosis in MASLD mice, with the HF-MD group uniquely enriching beneficial taxa including Prevotella, Muribaculum, Duncaniella, and Barnesiella.ConclusionMD alleviates MASLD progression by synergistically improving hepatic metabolic homeostasis and gut microbiota composition, demonstrating superior efficacy over NC in mitigating inflammation, enriching beneficial microbes, and regulating microbial metabolism. These findings highlight MD's potential as a targeted dietary intervention for MASLD.
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spelling doaj-art-9c5081036a0342b79503ec36ef28c9cd2025-08-20T03:41:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-08-011210.3389/fnut.2025.16440141644014Multi-omics integration reveals the impact of mediterranean diet on hepatic metabolism and gut microbiota in mice with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver diseaseZixuan Wang0Zixuan Wang1Ge Chen2Xutong Sun3Jia Xiao4Lingling Kong5Shunshun Jiang6Tingting Xu7Meijiao Wang8Meijiao Wang9Hong Zhao10Qingdao Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, ChinaQingdao Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, ChinaObjectiveTo investigate the effects of the Mediterranean diet (MD) on hepatic metabolism and gut microbiota in mice with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).MethodsC57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks to induce MASLD, with normal chow (NC)-fed mice as controls. Post-modeling, MASLD mice were randomized into three groups: HF (continued high-fat diet), HF-NC (switched to normal chow), and HF-MD (switched to MD). After 18-week interventions, body/liver weights, serum liver enzymes (ALT, AST), hepatic glycolipid markers (glucose, TC, TG, IBIL, DBIL), inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α; ELISA), and histopathology (H&E and Oil Red O staining) were analyzed. Gut microbiota (metagenomic sequencing) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs; targeted metabolomics) were profiled.ResultsHigh-fat diet induced MASLD features including obesity, increased abdominal fat mass, hepatic steatosis with lipid droplets, and inflammation. Both HF-NC and HF-MD groups exhibited reduced body weight, liver index, hepatic cytokines, serum enzymes, and improved glucolipid profiles vs. HF group (p < 0.05), with histopathology confirming attenuated steatosis. HF-MD outperformed HF-NC in lowering ALT, AST, IL-6, and TNF-α (p < 0.05). MASLD mice showed gut dysbiosis characterized by decreased diversity, elevated Alistipes, Helicobacter, Mucispirillum, and Chlamydia, reduced SCFAs, and increased branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) (p < 0.05). Both dietary interventions partially ameliorated gut dysbiosis in MASLD mice, with the HF-MD group uniquely enriching beneficial taxa including Prevotella, Muribaculum, Duncaniella, and Barnesiella.ConclusionMD alleviates MASLD progression by synergistically improving hepatic metabolic homeostasis and gut microbiota composition, demonstrating superior efficacy over NC in mitigating inflammation, enriching beneficial microbes, and regulating microbial metabolism. These findings highlight MD's potential as a targeted dietary intervention for MASLD.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1644014/fullmetabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver diseasemediterranean dietdietary interventionhepatic metabolismgut microbiotaomics analysis
spellingShingle Zixuan Wang
Zixuan Wang
Ge Chen
Xutong Sun
Jia Xiao
Lingling Kong
Shunshun Jiang
Tingting Xu
Meijiao Wang
Meijiao Wang
Hong Zhao
Multi-omics integration reveals the impact of mediterranean diet on hepatic metabolism and gut microbiota in mice with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
Frontiers in Nutrition
metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
mediterranean diet
dietary intervention
hepatic metabolism
gut microbiota
omics analysis
title Multi-omics integration reveals the impact of mediterranean diet on hepatic metabolism and gut microbiota in mice with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
title_full Multi-omics integration reveals the impact of mediterranean diet on hepatic metabolism and gut microbiota in mice with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
title_fullStr Multi-omics integration reveals the impact of mediterranean diet on hepatic metabolism and gut microbiota in mice with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
title_full_unstemmed Multi-omics integration reveals the impact of mediterranean diet on hepatic metabolism and gut microbiota in mice with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
title_short Multi-omics integration reveals the impact of mediterranean diet on hepatic metabolism and gut microbiota in mice with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
title_sort multi omics integration reveals the impact of mediterranean diet on hepatic metabolism and gut microbiota in mice with metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease
topic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
mediterranean diet
dietary intervention
hepatic metabolism
gut microbiota
omics analysis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1644014/full
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