The Effects of Gelatinized Wheat Starch and High Salt Diet on Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Disorder

Diets high in gelatinized starch and high in gelatinized starch supplemented with salt-induced metabolic disorders and changes in gut microbiota have scarcely been studied. In this study, mice on wheat starch diets (WD) exhibited significantly higher body weight, white adipose tissue (WAT), and gut permeability compared to those on normal diet (ND). However, gelatinized wheat starch diet (GWD) and NaCl-supplemented gelatinized wheat starch diet (SGW) mice did not increase body and WAT weights or dyslipidemia, and maintained consistent colon pH at ND levels. WD mice showed higher levels of Desulfovibrio, Faecalibaculum, and Lactobacillus and lower levels of Muribaculum compared to ND mice. However, GWD and SGW mice showed a significantly different gut microbial composition, such as a lower proportion of Lactobacillus and Desulfovibrio, and higher proportion of Faecalibaculum and Muribaculum compared to WD mice. High starch diet-induced dysbiosis caused increase of lipid accumulation and inflammation-related proteins’ expression, thereby leading to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, GWD and SGW showed lower levels than that, and it might be due to the difference in the gut microbial composition compared to WD. Taken together, diets high in gelatinized starch and high in gelatinized starch supplemented with salt induced mild metabolic disorders compared to native starch.