A synbiotic consisting of Lactobacillus plantarum S58 and hull-less barley β-glucan ameliorates lipid accumulation in mice fed with a high-fat diet by activating AMPK signaling and modulating the gut microbiota

The synergistic effects of Lactobacillus plantarum S58 (LP.S58) and hull-less barley β-glucan (β-G) on lipid accumulation in mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) were investigated. The body weight, serum lipid levels and lipid accumulation of adipose and liver tissues in the HFD-fed mice were inhibited after synergistic treatment with LP.S58 and β-G. In liver and adipose tissues, LP.S58 and β-G synergistically activated AMPK, reduced the expression of PPARγ, C/EBPα, SREBP-1c, FAS, SCD1 and LPL, and increased the expression of CPT-1 and HSL. The HFD-induced decreases in lipid metabolism-related hormones were reversed by LP.S58 and β-G. LP.S58 and β-G synergistically also increased the expression of colon tight junction proteins while suppressing systematic inflammation. LP.S58 and β-G ameliorated gut microbiological dysbiosis in HFD-fed mice. Correlations between serum parameters and gut microbiota were revealed. LP.S58 and β-G synergistically attenuated the HFD-induced lipid accumulation by activating AMPK signaling and regulating the gut microbiota.