IMPACT OF LACTIC ACID BACTERIA ON METABOLIC, ENDOCRINE AND IMMUNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS, IN AN ANIMAL MODEL OF CALORIC RESTRICTION

FABERSANI, E; RUSSO, M; ROSS, GR; SAAVEDRA, L; GONZALEZ, S; GAUFFIN CANO, PAOLA

Congreso; XI congreso Argentino de Microbiología SAMIGE; 2015

Caloric restriction (CR) is defined as areduction in energy intake below the amount of calories that would be consumed adlibitum. CR induces changes in gut microbiota composition and the immuneresponse, which affect the host health. Leptin, a pleiotropic hormone mainlyproduced by the adipose tissue, regulates multiple homeostatic functions suchas food intake, reproductive and immune functions, besides basal metabolism. Theaim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a CR diet and lactic acidbacteria (LAB) administration on leptin levels, metabolic and immunologicalparameters in a murine model of mild CR. Animals were daily fed with arestricted diet (25% less than the daily ration) for 45 days, in order to reacha degree of mild malnutrition (10-25% body weight loss compared to controlgroup). Different groups of mice received Lactobacillus (L.) fermentum CRL1446,Lactococcus (Lc.) lactis CRL1434, and L. casei CRL431 strainsresuspended in the drinking water at the dose of 108 cells / mL / day /mouse. We determined leptin, glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels andserum cytokines (TNFa, IL-6 e IL-10) at 0, 20 and 45 days. Body and fat weightas well as adipocyte area were also determined. The studied strains haddifferent effects on leptin levels. L. casei CRL431 induced significantincrease in leptin levels, reaching values similar to control. By contrast, L.fermentum CR1446 and Lc. lactis CRL1434 produced a significantdecrease in leptin levels. There is a positive correlation between leptinconcentration and pro-inflammatory cytokines and fat weight. The effects of LABadministration on metabolic parameters were more evident at 45 days of CR diet.L. fermentum CRL1446 showed hypocholesterolemic and hypoglycemicproperties. Our results suggest that different strains may have differentfunctional roles and applications in diverse pathologies. LAB that induceincrease in leptin levels could have positive influence on caloric-restrictedindividuals. Therefore, modulation of circulating leptin levels may beconsidered as a promising novel strategy to intervene on nutritional status.