Whey and Buttermilk based formulas modulate gut microbiome in mice with antibiotic-induced dysbiosis

The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of whey and buttermilk to reverse the effects of clindamycin on the intestinal microbiota in a murine model. Male C57BL/6 mice were treated with clindamycin (Clin), F1, F2, clindamycin + F1 (Clin+F1), and clindamycin+F2 (Clin+F2), and their microbiome profiles were compared with those of controls. Our results showed that clindamycin induces alterations in both the composition and metabolic functions of the mice intestinal microbiota. The treatment with F1 or F2 reversed the decrease caused by clindamycin administration on the Rikenellaceae and Lactobacillaceae families, and also in certain pathways related to SCFA production and tetrahydrofolate biosynthesis. These results suggest that whey and buttermilk can be used in functional foods to prevent microbiota alterations caused by antibiotic-induced dysbiosis.