Gut microbiota regulate wheat starch‐induced metabolic disorders via control of colonic SCD1

Abstract

AbstractUnbalanced carbohydrate diets are linked to metabolic disorders; however, there is limited information on the role of gut microbiota. We explored differences in mice gut microbiota and metabolic phenotypes resulting from diets with different carbohydrate sources. To investigate the metabolic dysfunction and mechanism of the wheat flour and starch on metabolic disorders, we analyzed the changes of phenotype and biomarkers in rice and wheat flour diet in C57BL/6 mice (specific pathogen‐free) and fecal transplantation from antibiotic‐treated or germ‐free (GF) mice model. Rice‐fed mice presented normal metabolic reactions, whereas wheat‐fed mice exhibited increased body weight, insulin resistance, serum triglycerides, and fasting glucose levels. Wheat starch‐fed mice displayed lower fecal microbiota alpha diversity, with a reduced abundance of Bacteroidetes, than high‐fat diet (HFD)‐fed and chow‐fed mice. Fecal transplantation from antibiotic‐treated or GF mice revealed that metabolic disruption induced by wheat diet feeding was mediated through gut microbiota and stearoyl‐CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) signaling in the colon. Taken together, wheat‐based diets induce gut microbiota alterations, causing obesity and metabolic diseases through molecular activity linked to colonic SCD1. Therefore, colonic SCD1 could be a therapeutic target for patients with metabolic diseases who consume high‐carbohydrate diets.