Lactobacillus rhamnosus Ameliorates Dyslipidemia and Liver Steatosis in a Rat Model Fed High-Fat Diet.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progression may be associated with dysbiosis of gut microbiota. Therefore, probiotics that can modulate gut dysbiosis are a potential strategy to reverse NAFLD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus TCELL (TCELL), a strain of probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus, on a rat model fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Materials and Methods: We used a rat model fed an HFD for 3 weeks. TCELL (109 colony-forming units/day) were administered orally at the end of the third week for another 3 weeks. Body weights were measured, and serum, stool, and liver tissues were collected and analyzed after the animals were euthanized at the end of the sixth week. Serum samples were examined for lipid and metabolome profiles. Stool samples were examined for changes in the gut microbiota composition. Liver samples were examined to assess the lipid content. Results: After TCELL supplementation, the body weight and serum cholesterol levels decreased (p = 0.0088 and p = 0.0286, respectively). Additionally, the serum high-density lipoprotein/low-density lipoprotein ratio increased (p = 0.0177), and triglyceride lipid droplets decreased in the liver tissue (p = 0.0054). At the phylum level, TCELL supplementation increased the abundance of Firmicutes and the Firmicutes/Bacteroides ratio. At the species level, TCELL supplementation increased the abundance of Allobaculum stercoricanis, Blautia glucerasea, Erysipelatoclostridium ramosum, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Blautia schinkii, and Anaerostipes caccae. Based on the metabolome assay, the levels of acetic, propionic, butyric, and pentanoic acids decreased after feeding with HFD, and supplementation of TCELL significantly increased the level of isovaleric acid compared with that in the HFD group (p = 0.0418). Conclusions: TCELL supplementation decreased body weight gain, reversed serum lipid profiles, and lowered triglyceride lipid droplets in the liver tissue in a rat model. The beneficial effects of TCELL may be associated with the modulation of the gut microbiota composition and SCFA profiles.