Spermidine and Voluntary Activity Exert Differential Effects on Sucrose- Compared with Fat-Induced Systemic Changes in Male Mice.

BACKGROUND

Excess dietary fat and sugar are linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome. Polyamines such as spermidine are implicated in fat accumulation and may support activity-induced weight loss.

OBJECTIVE

This study tested interventional spermidine supplementation and voluntary activity against fat- and sucrose-induced systemic and gut microbiota changes.

METHODS

A 3-factorial study design (3 × 2 × 2) was used to test the factors diet, activity, and spermidine. Male 6-wk-old C57BL/6N mice were fed a control diet (CD; carbohydrate:protein:fat, 70%:20%:10% of energy; 7% sucrose), a high-fat diet (HFD; carbohydrate:protein:fat, 20%:20%:60% of energy; 7% sucrose), or a high-sucrose diet (HSD; carbohydrate:protein:fat, 70%:20%:10% of energy; 35% sucrose). Diet groups were left untreated (+0) or had unlimited access to running wheels (+A) or were supplemented with 3 mM spermidine via drinking water (+S) or a combination of both (+A+S) for 30 wk (n = 7-10).

RESULTS

In comparison to the CD, the HFD enhanced body weights (by 36%, P < 0.001), plasma lipids (cholesterol by 24%, P < 0.001; triglycerides by 27%, P = 0.004), and glucose concentrations (by 18%, P < 0.001), whereas the HSD increased weight by 13% (P < 0.001) and fasting glucose by 17% (P < 0.001) but did not increase plasma lipids. Microbiota taxonomic composition changed upon the HFD and HSD (both P < 0.001); however, only the HSD increased microbial diversity (P < 0.001) compared with the CD. Activity influenced microbiota composition (P < 0.01) and reduced glucose concentrations in HSD-fed (P = 0.021) and HFD-fed (P < 0.001) mice compared with nonactive mice. The combination of activity and spermidine affected energy intake (P-interaction = 0.037) and reduced body weights of HSD+A+S mice compared with HSD+0 mice (P = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONS

In male C57BL/6N mice, dietary sucrose and fat caused diverse metabolic and microbiota changes that were differentially susceptible to physical exercise. Spermidine has the potential to augment activity-induced beneficial effects, particularly for sucrose-induced obesity.