Yeast β-glucan reduces obesity-associated Bilophila abundance and modulates bile acid metabolism in healthy and high-fat diet mouse models

Abstract

<p>Emerging evidence links dietary fiber with altered gut microbiota composition and bile acid signaling in maintaining metabolic health. Yeast β-glucan (Y-BG) is a dietary supplement known for its immunomodulatory effect, yet its impact on the gut microbiota and bile acid composition remains unclear. This study investigated whether dietary forms of Y-BG modulate these gut-derived signals. We performed 4-wk dietary supplementation in healthy mice to evaluate the effects of different fiber composition (soluble vs. particulate Y-BG) and dose (0.1% vs. 2%). We found that 2% particulate Y-BG induced robust gut microbiota community shifts with elevated liver <em>Cyp7a1</em> mRNA abundance and bile acid synthesis. These diet-induced responses were notably different when compared with the prebiotic inulin, and included a marked reduction in fecal <em>Bilophila</em> abundance which we demonstrated as translatable to obesity in population-scale American Gut and TwinsUK clinical cohorts. This prompted us to test whether 2% Y-BG maintained metabolic health in mice fed 60% HFD over 13 wk. Y-BG consistently altered the gut microbiota composition and reduced <em>Bilophila</em> abundance, with trends observed in improvement of metabolic phenotype. Notably, Y-BG improved insulin sensitization and this was associated with enhanced ileal <em>Glpr1r</em> mRNA accumulation and reduced <em>Bilophila</em> abundance. Collectively, our results demonstrate that Y-BG modulates gut microbiota community composition and bile acid signaling, but the dietary regime needs to be optimized to facilitate clinical improvement in metabolic phenotype in an aggressive high-fat diet animal model.</p><p><strong>NEW & NOTEWORTHY</strong> The study shows that dietary Y-BG supplementation modulated gut microbiota, bile acid metabolism and associated signaling pathways. Y-BG significantly reduced <em>Bilophila</em> abundance which is associated with obesity in human cohorts. Correlation analysis confirmed functional interactions between bile acid composition, gut microbiota, and metabolic phenotype, although clinical benefit did not reach significance in an aggressive obesity model. Gut microbiota and bile acids correlated with metabolic parameters, indicating future potential of dietary Y-BG modulation of metabolic pathways.</p>