Flaxseed- and Buckwheat-Supplemented Diets Altered Enterobacteriaceae Diversity and Prevalence in the Cecum and Feces of Obese Mice.

ABSTRACT

Dietary intake may cause variable bacterial prevalence in the gastrointestinal tract. The objective of this research was to determine the prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae in the cecum and feces and its relationship to weight changes following flaxseed-, health-promoting compounds of flaxseed-, or buckwheat-supplemented diets. Seventy-two C57BL/6J male mice were randomly assigned to a diet group and fed for 8 weeks: high fat (45% kcal fat); 10% whole flaxseed (45% kcal fat); 6% defatted flaxseed (45% kcal fat); 4% flaxseed oil (45% kcal fat); 10% buckwheat (45% kcal fat); and low fat (16% kcal fat) diet groups. Significant differences in the prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae in the cecum (p < .0348) and feces at posttreatment (p < .0033) were observed. The prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae affected posttreatment weight (p < .0001). Our results indicate that there may be a relationship between an increase in Enterobacteriaceae prevalence and weight gain.