Preventive Effects and Mechanisms of Garlic on Dyslipidemia and Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis

Nutrients. 2019 May 29;11(6):1225. doi: 10.3390/nu11061225.

Abstract

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) contains prebiotic components, fructans, antibacterial compounds, and organosulfur compounds. The complex ingredients of garlic seem to impart a paradoxical result on the gut microbiome. In this study, we used a mouse model to clarify the effects of whole garlic on the gut microbiome. C57BL/6N male mice were fed with or without whole garlic in normal diet (ND) or in high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. Supplementation with whole garlic attenuated HFD-enhanced ratio of serum GPT/GOT (glutamic-pyruvic transaminase/glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase), levels of T-Cho (total cholesterol) and LDLs (low-density lipoproteins), and index of homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), but had no significant effect in the levels of serum HDL-c (high density lipoprotein cholesterol), TG (total triacylglycerol), and glucose. Moreover, garlic supplementation meliorated the HFD-reduced ratio of villus height/crypt depth, cecum weight, and the concentration of cecal organic acids. Finally, gut microbiota characterization by high throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that whole garlic supplementation increased the α-diversity of the gut microbiome, especially increasing the relative abundance of f_Lachnospiraceae and reducing the relative abundance of g_Prevotella. Taken together, our data demonstrated that whole garlic supplementation could meliorate the HFD-induced dyslipidemia and disturbance of gut microbiome.

Keywords: 16s RRNA genes; fructan; garlic; gut microbiome; high-fat diet.

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed
  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Animals
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Bacteria / growth & development*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Diet, High-Fat
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dysbiosis*
  • Dyslipidemias / blood
  • Dyslipidemias / etiology
  • Dyslipidemias / prevention & control*
  • Garlic*
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Intestines / microbiology*
  • Intestines / pathology
  • Lipids / blood*
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Plant Roots*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose
  • Lipids