posted on 2024-06-10, 12:05authored byPan Wang, Jing Sun, Wenting Zhao, Dan Wang, Yue Ma, Yuanyuan Zhao, Yubin Wang, Xiaoyan Zhao
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a worldwide
public
health issue. Changes in the gut microbiota structure and composition
are closely related to host pathophysiology processes. Pectin is associated
with several beneficial health effects. In the present study, we aimed
at investigating the effect of tomato pectin (TP) on hepatic steatosis
and exploring the underlying mechanisms by focusing on the regulation
of the gut microbiota-bile acid axis. Our results showed that TP attenuated
high-fat diet (HFD)-induced liver steatosis and inflammation. TP administration
increased the diversity of gut microbiota, enhancing the abundance
of beneficial bacteria and suppressing the abundance of harmful or
conditional pathogenic bacteria. Further antibiotic-caused microbiome
depletion confirmed that the anti-NAFLD activities of TP were dependent
on the regulation of gut microbiota. Besides, TP intervention affected
feces bile acid metabolism and caused significant changes in functional
conjugated bile acids, which in turn inhibited the ileum FXR/FGF15
signaling, leading to stimulation of the hepatic bile acid (BA) production.
Furthermore, TP treatment accelerated BA excretion, promoted BA transportation,
inhibited BA reabsorption, and facilitated cholesterol efflux to relieve
HFD-induced hyperlipidemia. These findings provide a potential dietary
intervention strategy for TP against NAFLD via modulation of cross-talk
between BAs and gut bacteria.