Combination of dietary fiber and exercise training improves fat loss in mice, but does not ameliorate MASLD more than exercise alone

Background: Lifestyle interventions, such as diet and exercise, are currently the main therapies against metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, not much is known about the combined impact of fiber and exercise on the modulation of gut-liver axis and MASLD amelioration. Here, we studied the impact of the combination of exercise training and a fiber-rich diet on the amelioration of MASLD. Methods: Male APOE*3-Leiden.CETP mice were fed a high-fat high-cholesterol diet with or without the addition of fiber (10% inulin) and exercise trained on a treadmill, or remained sedentary. Results: Exercise training and fiber supplementation reduced fat mass gain and lowered plasma glucose levels. Only the combination treatment, however, induced fat loss, and decreased plasma triglyceride and cholesterol levels compared to sedentary control mice. Exercise training with and without the addition of fiber had a similar ameliorating effect on the MASLD score. Only exercise without fiber decreased the hepatic expression of inflammatory markers. Fiber diet was mainly responsible for remodeling the gut microbial composition, with an increase in the relative abundance of the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing genera Anaerostipes and Muribaculaceae, while, surprisingly, exercise training alone and with fiber resulted in the highest increase of SCFA production. Conclusion: Overall, the combination of exercise training and dietary fiber decreases fat mass and improves glucose and lipid homeostasis, but does not have an additional synergistic positive effect on liver health compared to exercise training alone.