Prebiotic effects of white button mushroom feeding on succinate and intestinal gluconeogenesis.. Mouse Gut Microbiome

Edible mushrooms have been reported to have beneficial effects in the gut. However, the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of white button (WB) mushrooms remains unclear. 2 wks WB feeding (1 g/ 100 g diet) resulted in changes to the composition of microbiota in conventional (CV) mice to expand a population of Bacteroidetes subtype Prevotella that produce propionate and succinate. Microbial propionate and succinate production induced expression of genes important for intestinal gluconeogenesis via the gut-brain neural circuit. Reduced hepatic glucose production was a metabolic benefit of intestinal gluconeogenesis that was found in WB fed CV mice. In the absence of microbiota (germfree) or in mice with disruptions in the ability to sense microbiota (MyD88-/- ) there was no WB mediated effect. Daily consumption of WB mushrooms could be a simple way to improve diet quality and the microbiota to improve metabolic fitness and prevent the development of diabetes.