Dietary Defatted rice bran supplementation modulates blood cholesterol and gut microbiota in rats

Aim: In this study, we used next-generation sequencing approach to investigates the effect of defatted rice bran (DRB) supplementation on gut microbiota composition in rats.Method and results: Rats randomly divided into three groups of 6 males and 6 females were fed with two different amounts of DRB and standard diet for 90 days. Colon mucosa tissue and feces bacterial communities were identified using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The results showed significant increase in microbiome diversity in rats fed with DRB and microbiota variation between control and experimental diets. The microbiomes in experimental diet groups showed enrichment in Bacteroidetes, and Verrucomicrobia phyla and reduced Firmicutes. At the genus level, relative abundances of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producing bacteria (Akkermansia, Blautia, Bifidobacterium, Allopretovella, and Ruminiclostridium) was significantly increased in rats fed with DRB. The effect of DRB in lowering blood cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose in the rats was also observed.Conclusion: DRB can influence total blood cholesterol and glucose levels and modification of the gut microbiota compositionSignificant and Impact of the study: Theses findings provide new insights into potential use of a waste product of rice milling process, defatted rice bran, as a prebiotic supplement.