Long-term effects of western diet consumption in male and female mice

Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 7;10(1):14686. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-71592-9.

Abstract

Long-term consumption of a diet with excessive fat and sucrose (Western diet, WD) leads to an elevated risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome in both males and females. However, there are sexual dimorphisms in metabolism which are apparent when considering the prevalence of complications of metabolic syndrome, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of a WD on the metabolome and the gut microbiota of male and female mice at 5, 10, and 15 months to capture the dynamic and comprehensive changes brought about by diet at different stages of life. Here we show that there are important considerations of age and sex that should be considered when assessing the impact of diet on the gut microbiome and health.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diet, Western* / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
  • Male
  • Metabolic Syndrome / etiology
  • Metabolic Syndrome / metabolism
  • Metabolome*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / etiology
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / metabolism
  • Obesity / etiology
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Sex Factors