Butyric-lauric acid structural lipid relieves liver inflammation and small intestinal microbial disturbance: In obese male C57BL/6 mice

Butyric acid and lauric acid are short chain and medium chain fatty acids, respectively. Their anti-inflammatory and lipid metabolism regulating functions are reported, while their structural lipid functional activity still needs to be verified. In this study, obese mice induced by high-fat diet (HFD) were used to investigate the effects of butyric-lauric acid structural lipid (SBL) on inflammation and small intestinal microbes. In vivo, although SBL did not significantly reduce body weight (P > 0.05), it might have a positive effect on mouse liver health. Compared to the corresponding physical mixture (MBL), SBL treatment could better downregulate hepatic TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 expression and stimulate IL-10 expression. Similarly, compared with the HF group, the liver IL-1β and TNF-α levels in the LSBL treatment group decreased by 15.2% and 22.9%, respectively (P < 0.05). In addition, HSBL treatment increased the content of IL-10 in the liver of obese mice (increased by 26.8%, P < 0.05). Moreover, SBL more significantly upregulated Bifidobacterium abundance and inhibited the high-fat diet-induced increase in Faecalibaculum abundance. In all, SBL ameliorated HFD-induced liver inflammation and these improvements are closely associated with its positive effects on small intestinal microbiota. This study aimed to provide support and new perspectives for the development and functional exploration of short-and medium-chain fatty acid structural lipids.