Beneficial Effect of Dietary Wheat Glycolipids on Cecum Short-Chain Fatty Acid and Secondary Bile Acid Profiles in Mice

Abstract

In the present study, to explore the beneficial effect of dietary galactoglyc-erolipids on the lower digestive tract environment, male BALB/c mice were fed a 5% wheat glycolipid, fiber-free diet, or the standard AIN diet for 3 wk. The wheat glycolipid composi-tion was digalactosyldiacylglycerol 51.6%, ceramide monohexoside 6.6%, acylated steryl-glucoside 3.4%, and other lipids 22.2% (mostly phospholipids). Cecum and colon weights and colonic crypt depth were significantly greater in the glycolipid-diet mice relative to groups fed the other two diets. Furthermore, in the cecum, propionate, butyrate, and total short-chain fatty acids, concentrations were significantly greater in the glycolipid-diet mice than others were, and correlated with the observed increased lower digestive tract (cecum and colon) weights and colonic crypt depth. The cecal lithocholic acid/deoxycholic acid ratio, a risk index for colorectal cancer, was significantly lower in the glycolipid-diet mice than in the other two dietary groups. These results suggest that the dietary supplementa-tion of plant-source galactoglycerolipids may contribute to improving the lower digestive tract environment.