Chlorogenic Acid-Induced Gut Microbiota Improves Metabolic Endotoxemia

BackgroundCoffee can regulate glucose homeostasis but the underlying mechanism is unclear. This study investigated the preventive and therapeutic effects of chlorogenic acid (CGA), a polyphenol that is found in coffee, on obesity and obesity-related metabolic endotoxemia.MethodMale 4-week-old C57BL/6 mice were fed either normal chow or a high-fat diet or 20 weeks and half the mice in each group were gavaged with CGA. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) and insulin tolerance tests (ITTs) were performed. Markers of inflammation and intestinal barrier function were assayed. The composition of the gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA high-throughput pyrosequencing. The role of CGA-altered microbiota in metabolic endotoxemia was verified by fecal microbiota transplantation.ResultsCGA protected against HFD-induced weight gain, decreased the relative weight of subcutaneous and visceral adipose, improved intestinal barrier integrity, and prevented glucose metabolic disorders and endotoxemia (P