Dietary enrichment of resistant starches or fibers differentially alter the feline fecal microbiome and metabolite profile
Abstract Background Cats are strict carnivores but possess a complex gastrointestinal (GI) microbial community that actively ferments dietary substrates that are not digested and reach the colon. The GI microbiota responses to dietary inclusion of resistant starches versus fibers have not been teste...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2022-12-01
|
| Series: | Animal Microbiome |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42523-022-00213-9 |
| _version_ | 1811204159283658752 |
|---|---|
| author | Anne H. Lee Aashish R. Jha Sungho Do Elisa Scarsella Justin Shmalberg Amy Schauwecker Andrew J. Steelman Ryan W. Honaker Kelly S. Swanson |
| author_facet | Anne H. Lee Aashish R. Jha Sungho Do Elisa Scarsella Justin Shmalberg Amy Schauwecker Andrew J. Steelman Ryan W. Honaker Kelly S. Swanson |
| author_sort | Anne H. Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Cats are strict carnivores but possess a complex gastrointestinal (GI) microbial community that actively ferments dietary substrates that are not digested and reach the colon. The GI microbiota responses to dietary inclusion of resistant starches versus fibers have not been tested in cats. Thus, our objective was to evaluate the effects of diets enriched in resistant starch or fibers on the fecal characteristics, microbiome, and metabolite profiles of cats. Twelve healthy adult domestic shorthair cats (age = 9.6 ± 4.0 year; body weight = 3.9 ± 1.0 kg) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design to test diets that were enriched with: (1) resistant starch (ERS), (2) a fiber-prebiotic-probiotic blend (FPPB), or (3) a fiber-prebiotic-probiotic blend + immune-modulating ingredients (iFPPB). In each 28-day period, 22 days of diet adaptation was followed by fecal and blood sample collection. Fecal samples were used for shotgun metagenomic sequencing. In addition, fecal and blood metabolite measurements and white blood cell stimulation was performed to assess immune function. Results A total of 1690 bacterial species were identified, with 259 species differing between fiber-rich and ERS treatments. In comparison with fiber-rich treatments that increased diversity and promoted Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes populations, resistant starch reduced microbial diversity and fecal pH, led to a bloom in Actinobacteria, and modified Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes orthology (KO) terms pertaining to starch and sucrose metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism, epithelial cell signaling, among others. Resistant starch also differentially modified fecal metabolite concentrations with relevance to GI and overall host health (increased butyrate; decreased propionate and protein catabolites - branched-chain fatty acids; phenols and indoles; ammonia) and reduced blood cholesterol, which correlated strongly with microbial taxa and KO terms, and allowed for a high predictive efficiency of diet groups by random forest analysis. Conclusion Even though domestic cats and other carnivores evolved by eating low-carbohydrate diets rich in protein and fat, our results demonstrate that the feline microbiome and metabolite profiles are highly responsive to dietary change and in directions that are predictable. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:07:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-daf8e27bf7ef4ca9a1992729face902b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2524-4671 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:07:43Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal Microbiome |
| spelling | doaj.art-daf8e27bf7ef4ca9a1992729face902b2022-12-22T03:50:28ZengBMCAnimal Microbiome2524-46712022-12-014111810.1186/s42523-022-00213-9Dietary enrichment of resistant starches or fibers differentially alter the feline fecal microbiome and metabolite profileAnne H. Lee0Aashish R. Jha1Sungho Do2Elisa Scarsella3Justin Shmalberg4Amy Schauwecker5Andrew J. Steelman6Ryan W. Honaker7Kelly S. Swanson8Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignGenetic Heritage Group, Program in Biology, New York University Abu DhabiDepartment of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignDepartment of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignNomNomNow, Inc.PetSmart Proprietary Brand Product DevelopmentDepartment of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignNomNomNow, Inc.Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignAbstract Background Cats are strict carnivores but possess a complex gastrointestinal (GI) microbial community that actively ferments dietary substrates that are not digested and reach the colon. The GI microbiota responses to dietary inclusion of resistant starches versus fibers have not been tested in cats. Thus, our objective was to evaluate the effects of diets enriched in resistant starch or fibers on the fecal characteristics, microbiome, and metabolite profiles of cats. Twelve healthy adult domestic shorthair cats (age = 9.6 ± 4.0 year; body weight = 3.9 ± 1.0 kg) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design to test diets that were enriched with: (1) resistant starch (ERS), (2) a fiber-prebiotic-probiotic blend (FPPB), or (3) a fiber-prebiotic-probiotic blend + immune-modulating ingredients (iFPPB). In each 28-day period, 22 days of diet adaptation was followed by fecal and blood sample collection. Fecal samples were used for shotgun metagenomic sequencing. In addition, fecal and blood metabolite measurements and white blood cell stimulation was performed to assess immune function. Results A total of 1690 bacterial species were identified, with 259 species differing between fiber-rich and ERS treatments. In comparison with fiber-rich treatments that increased diversity and promoted Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes populations, resistant starch reduced microbial diversity and fecal pH, led to a bloom in Actinobacteria, and modified Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes orthology (KO) terms pertaining to starch and sucrose metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism, epithelial cell signaling, among others. Resistant starch also differentially modified fecal metabolite concentrations with relevance to GI and overall host health (increased butyrate; decreased propionate and protein catabolites - branched-chain fatty acids; phenols and indoles; ammonia) and reduced blood cholesterol, which correlated strongly with microbial taxa and KO terms, and allowed for a high predictive efficiency of diet groups by random forest analysis. Conclusion Even though domestic cats and other carnivores evolved by eating low-carbohydrate diets rich in protein and fat, our results demonstrate that the feline microbiome and metabolite profiles are highly responsive to dietary change and in directions that are predictable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s42523-022-00213-9Feline gastrointestinal healthFeline microbiomeFeline nutritionPet health |
| spellingShingle | Anne H. Lee Aashish R. Jha Sungho Do Elisa Scarsella Justin Shmalberg Amy Schauwecker Andrew J. Steelman Ryan W. Honaker Kelly S. Swanson Dietary enrichment of resistant starches or fibers differentially alter the feline fecal microbiome and metabolite profile Animal Microbiome Feline gastrointestinal health Feline microbiome Feline nutrition Pet health |
| title | Dietary enrichment of resistant starches or fibers differentially alter the feline fecal microbiome and metabolite profile |
| title_full | Dietary enrichment of resistant starches or fibers differentially alter the feline fecal microbiome and metabolite profile |
| title_fullStr | Dietary enrichment of resistant starches or fibers differentially alter the feline fecal microbiome and metabolite profile |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dietary enrichment of resistant starches or fibers differentially alter the feline fecal microbiome and metabolite profile |
| title_short | Dietary enrichment of resistant starches or fibers differentially alter the feline fecal microbiome and metabolite profile |
| title_sort | dietary enrichment of resistant starches or fibers differentially alter the feline fecal microbiome and metabolite profile |
| topic | Feline gastrointestinal health Feline microbiome Feline nutrition Pet health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42523-022-00213-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annehlee dietaryenrichmentofresistantstarchesorfibersdifferentiallyalterthefelinefecalmicrobiomeandmetaboliteprofile AT aashishrjha dietaryenrichmentofresistantstarchesorfibersdifferentiallyalterthefelinefecalmicrobiomeandmetaboliteprofile AT sunghodo dietaryenrichmentofresistantstarchesorfibersdifferentiallyalterthefelinefecalmicrobiomeandmetaboliteprofile AT elisascarsella dietaryenrichmentofresistantstarchesorfibersdifferentiallyalterthefelinefecalmicrobiomeandmetaboliteprofile AT justinshmalberg dietaryenrichmentofresistantstarchesorfibersdifferentiallyalterthefelinefecalmicrobiomeandmetaboliteprofile AT amyschauwecker dietaryenrichmentofresistantstarchesorfibersdifferentiallyalterthefelinefecalmicrobiomeandmetaboliteprofile AT andrewjsteelman dietaryenrichmentofresistantstarchesorfibersdifferentiallyalterthefelinefecalmicrobiomeandmetaboliteprofile AT ryanwhonaker dietaryenrichmentofresistantstarchesorfibersdifferentiallyalterthefelinefecalmicrobiomeandmetaboliteprofile AT kellysswanson dietaryenrichmentofresistantstarchesorfibersdifferentiallyalterthefelinefecalmicrobiomeandmetaboliteprofile |