Plant protein reduces serum cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemia hamsters by modulating the compositions of gut microbiota and metabolites

Li-Tao Tong; Tianzhen Xiao; Lili Wang; Cong Lu; Liya Liu; Xianrong Zhou; Aixia Wang; Wanyu Qin; Fengzhong Wang

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2021.103435

Plant protein reduces serum cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemia hamsters by modulating the compositions of gut microbiota and metabolites

iScience. 2021 Nov 15;24(12):103435. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103435. eCollection 2021 Dec 17.

Authors

Li-Tao Tong¹, Tianzhen Xiao¹, Lili Wang¹, Cong Lu¹, Liya Liu¹, Xianrong Zhou¹, Aixia Wang¹, Wanyu Qin¹, Fengzhong Wang¹

Affiliation

¹ Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Agro-Products Processing Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100193, China.

Abstract

Plant proteins exert effects of reducing cardio-cerebrovascular disease-related mortality partly via cholesterol-lowering, which was associated with gut microbiota. Here, we verify that there are significant differences in cholesterol levels among hamsters consuming different proteins. The decisive roles of gut microbiota in regulating host cholesterol are illustrated by the fact that the difference in serum cholesterol levels between hamsters feeding with pea protein and pork protein disappeared when treated with antibiotics. The results of cross-over intervention of pea and pork protein show that serum cholesterol levels are reversed with dietary exchange. The corresponding changes in microbiota suggest that Muribaculaceae are responsible for the inhibitory effect of pea protein on serum cholesterol level, whereas the opposite effect of pork protein is due to Erysipelotrichaceae. Moreover, pea protein supplement alters cecal metabolites including arginine/histidine pathway, primary bile acid biosynthesis, short-chain fatty acids, and other lipid-like molecules involved in cholesterol metabolism.

Keywords: Biological science; Endocrinology; Microbiology.