The Influence of Gut Microbiota on the Fecundity of Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

The gut microbiota of insects usually plays an important role in the development and reproduction of their hosts. The fecundity of Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Fabricius) varies greatly when they develop on different host plants. Whether and how the gut microbiota regulates the fecundity of H. vigintioctopunctata was unknown. To address this question, we used 16S rRNA sequencing to analyze the gut microbiomes of H. vigintioctopunctata adults fed on two host plant species (Solanum nigrum and Solanum melongena) and one artificial diet. The development of the ovaries and testes was also examined. Our results revealed that the diversity and abundance of gut microorganisms varied significantly in insects reared on different diets. The gut microbiota of H. vigintioctopunctata raised on the two host plants was similar, with Proteobacteria being the dominant phylum in both groups, whereas Firmicutes was the dominant phylum in the group reared on the artificial diet. The predominant microbiota in the S. nigrum group were Acinetobacter soli and Acinetobacter ursingii (Acinetobacter, Moraxellaceae); Moraxella osloensis (Enhydrobacter, Moraxellaceae); and Empedobacter brevis (Empedobacter, Weeksellaceae). The microbiota in this group are associated with high lipid metabolism. In addition, the beetles’ ovaries and testes were more highly developed in the S. nigrum group than in the other two groups. These findings provide valuable information for elucidating the complex roles the gut microbiota play in the fecundity of H. vigintioctopunctata, and may also contribute to developing future novel control strategies involving this economically important pest.     

Microbiota,a New Playground for the Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Cardiovascular Diseases

Several cardioprotective mechanisms attributed to Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been studied and widely documented. However, in recent years, studies have supported the concept that the intestinal microbiota can play a much larger role than we had anticipated. Microbiota could contribute to several pathologies, including cardiovascular diseases. Indeed, an imbalance in the microbiota has often been reported in patients with cardiovascular disease and produces low-level inflammation. This inflammation contributes to, more or less, long-term development of cardiovascular diseases. It can also worsen the symptoms and the consequences of these pathologies. According to some studies, omega-3 PUFAs in the diet could restore this imbalance and mitigate its harmful effects on cardiovascular diseases. Many mechanisms are involved and included: (1) a reduction of bacteria producing trimethylamine (TMA); (2) an increase in bacteria producing butyrate, which has anti-inflammatory properties; and (3) a decrease in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, omega-3 PUFAs would help maintain better integrity in the intestinal barrier, thereby preventing the translocation of intestinal contents into circulation. This review will summarize the effects of omega-3 PUFAs on gut micro-biota and the potential impact on cardiac health.     

普洱茶中没食子酸及其改善饮食诱导的糖脂代谢紊乱研究进展

糖脂代谢紊乱是引发心血管疾病、糖尿病和脂肪肝的重要原因之一。普洱茶中的没食子酸能够通过调节能量代谢和脂肪细胞分化、促进葡萄糖吸收与利用、提高胰岛素敏感性,进而改善饮食诱导引起的葡萄糖和脂质代谢紊乱。没食子酸通过AMPK途径、IR-Akt途径以及PPAR-γ受体调节线粒体能量代谢、胰岛素敏感性和葡萄糖吸收,从而维持糖脂代谢稳态。本文综述了普洱茶中的没食子酸及其改善饮食诱导的糖脂代谢紊乱作用和作用机制的研究进展。     

茶叶中EGCG对非酒精性脂肪肝大鼠的调脂保肝作用研究

非酒精性脂肪肝是以肝实质细胞发生脂肪堆积和脂肪变性为主要特征,并伴随机体脂质代谢紊乱的一种获得性代谢疾病。以高脂饲料喂养大鼠,建立非酒精性脂肪肝大鼠模型;以低、中、高剂量（10、50、100 mg·kg^-1）表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯（EGCG）分别灌胃模型大鼠,探讨茶叶中EGCG对非酒精性脂肪肝大鼠的调脂保肝作用。结果表明,与模型组相比,EGCG能显著降低血清中甘油三酯（TG）、总胆固醇（TC）和低密度脂蛋白-胆固醇（LDL-C）含量,降低丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）和天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）活性水平,提高高密度脂蛋白-胆固醇（HDL-C）的含量,改善大鼠肝脏氧化应激状态。此外,肝脏病理切片显示,EGCG能减少肝细胞中脂滴的形成,同时脂质代谢相关基因表达量分析显示,EGCG能调理肝脏的脂质代谢。综合以上实验结果表明,EGCG能显著改善非酒精性脂肪肝大鼠的脂质代谢紊乱和脂肪性肝损伤。     

Soluble Polysaccharide Derived from Laminaria japonica Attenuates Obesity-Related Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Associated with Gut Microbiota Regulation

In this study, the effects of a polysaccharide derived from Laminaria japonica (LJP) on obesity were investigated in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). LJP significantly attenuated obesity-related features, lowering serum triglycerides, glucose, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. HFD-induced liver steatosis and hepatocellular ballooning were significantly attenuated by LJP. Additionally, LJP was found to significantly modulate hepatic gene expressions of AMPK and HMGCR, which are key regulators of lipid and cholesterol metabolism. We further found that LJP ameliorated HFD-induced gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis by significantly reducing the obesity-related Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio, meanwhile promoting the growth of Verrucomicrobia at the phylum level. At the genus level, propionate-producing bacteria Bacteroides and Akkermansia were elevated by LJP, which might explain the result that LJP elevated fecal propionate concentration. Taken together, these findings suggest that dietary intake of LJP modulates hepatic energy homeostasis to alleviate obesity-related nonalcoholic fatty liver disease associated with GM regulation.     

Beneficial Effect of Virgin Coconut Oil on Alloxan-Induced Diabetes and Microbiota Composition in Rats

The gut microbiota is composed of a diverse population of obligate and facultative anaerobic microorganisms which are shown to influence host metabolism and immune homeostasis. This study investigated the effects of virgin coconut oil on the weekly fasting glycaemia, daily food and water intake and weekly body mass gain over 16 weeks, as well as the changes in composition of gut microbiota in both non-diabetic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Although the intake of virgin coconut oil did not decrease the diabetes-induced hyperglycemia, it affected the secondary parameters, such as food and water intake and average body mass gain. Furthermore, its potential to positively affect the fecal microbiome was proved, since it significantly increased the abundance of probiotic bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, Allobaculum and Bifidobacterium species.     

Dietary flaxseed oil regulate lipid metabolism associated with modulation of gut microbiota in high-fat-diet fed mice

Accumulating data suggest that consuming dietary flaxseed oil(FSO)was a potential strategy for treating diet-induced lipid metabolism disorder(LMD).Effects of FSO on high-fat-diet(HFD)induced LMD and gut microbiota were studied in C57/BL6J mice.Results showed that FSO remarkably suppressed body weight gain induced by HFD and also attenuated LMD by decreasing levels of total cholesterol(TC),total triglyceride(TG),lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),non-esterified fatty acid(NEFA)and fasting bloodglucose(FBG)in serum.FSO treatment modulated mRNA expression level of genes associated with glucose and lipid metabolism.It regulated gut microbiome at different taxonomic levels by increasing proportions of beneficial Alistipes,Anaeroplasma,Bifidobacterium and inhibiting the growth of insulin resistance or obesity-associated bacteria such as Adlercreutzia,Dorea and Sporosarcina,compared with HFD group.Spearman's correlation analysis suggested that modulation of gut microbiota by FSO were closely related with LMD parameters.These findings might help us to better understand FSO impact on human health.     

茯茶水提物对Ⅱ型糖尿病小鼠糖代谢紊乱的干预作用

采用高脂高糖饲料联合链脲佐菌素诱导Ⅱ型糖尿病小鼠模型,研究茯砖茶水提物对Ⅱ型糖尿病小鼠的降糖功效。结果表明,茯茶水提取物干预能显著改善糖尿病小鼠多食、多饮、多尿、消瘦症状,降低空腹血糖浓度,提高机体对糖负荷的耐受性,提升胰岛素和胰岛素敏感水平,降低胰岛素抵抗水平。同时,q RT-PCR分析发现,茯茶水提物通过增强PPAR-α、GLUT2和GLUT4基因表达,促进了葡萄糖转运和肝脏内脂质代谢,从而改善糖尿病小鼠体内糖代谢紊乱。综上所述,茯茶能显著改善Ⅱ型糖尿病小鼠糖代谢紊乱症状,其中中、高剂量茯茶效果最为显著。     

Dietary Supplementation of Astaxanthin Improved the Growth Performance,Antioxidant Ability and Immune Response of Juvenile Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) Fed High-Fat Diet

High-fat diet (HFD) usually induces oxidative stress and astaxanthin is regarded as an excellent anti-oxidant. An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary astaxanthin supplementation on growth performance, lipid metabolism, antioxidant ability, and immune response of juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fed HFD. Four diets were formulated: the control diet (10.87% lipid, C), high-fat diet (18.08% lipid, HF), and HF diet supplemented with 75 and 150 mg kg⁻¹ astaxanthin (HFA1 and HFA2, respectively). Dietary supplementation of astaxanthin improved the growth of fish fed HFD, also decreased hepatosomatic index and intraperitoneal fat ratio of fish fed HFD, while having no effect on body fat. Malondialdehyde content and superoxide dismutase activity were increased in fish fed HFD, astaxanthin supplementation in HFD decreased the oxidative stress of fish. The supplementation of astaxanthin in HFD also reduced the mRNA levels of Caspase 3, Caspase 9, BAD, and IL15. These results suggested that dietary astaxanthin supplementation in HFD improved the growth performance, antioxidant ability and immune response of largemouth bass.     

Anti-Obesity and Gut Microbiota Regulation Effects of Phospholipids from the Eggs of Crab,Portunus Trituberculatus,in High Fat Diet-Fed Mice

There are resourceful phospholipids in the eggs of the crab, Portunus trituberculatus (Pt-PL). However, their components and bioactivities regarding obesity were unclear. Here, we investigated the composition of Pt-PL and their fatty acids. Moreover, its effects on obesity and gut microbiota were also evaluated in high fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. The results showed that Pt-PL contained 12 kinds of phospholipids, mainly including phosphatidylcholine (PC, 32.28%), phosphatidylserine (PS, 26.51%), phosphatidic acid (PA, 19.61%), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE, 8.81%), and phosphatidylinositol (PI, 7.96%). Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) predominated in the fatty acids components of Pt-PL, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Animal experiments demonstrated that Pt-PL significantly alleviated body weight gain, adipose gain, hepatic gain, fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, lipid levels in serum and the liver, and systematic inflammation in HFD-fed mice. Furthermore, Pt-PL regulated gut microbiota, especially in a dramatic reduction in the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes at phylum level, as well as significant amelioration in their subordinate categories. Pt-PL reduced fecal lipopolysaccharide and total bile acids, and elevated fecal short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations, particularly acetate and butyrate. These findings suggest that Pt-PL possesses anti-obesity effects and can alter gut microbiota owing to the abundance of PUFAs. Therefore, Pt-PL may be developed as an effective food supplement for anti-obesity and regulation of human gut health.     

饮用金花香橼茶3个月对小样本高脂血症人群糖脂代谢的改善效果研究

探讨一款用黑茶工艺、经冠突散囊菌发花的乌龙茶——金花香橼茶饮用3个月对小样本高脂血症人群糖脂代谢的临床改善效果。招募38名志愿者,试饮金花香橼茶3个月,通过检测和对比试饮前后的体成分（体重、体脂百分比等）、血液生化指标（空腹血糖、血尿酸、血脂四项）、肝脏超声、肠道菌群等,探讨金花香橼茶的健康功效。结果表明,试饮金花香橼茶3个月后,志愿者体重、体质指数、体脂百分比、内脏脂肪等级、血清总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、空腹血糖显著降低（P<0.05）,脂肪肝严重程度减轻,肠道菌群均匀性和多样性增加,考拉杆菌属（Phascolarctobacterium）、瘤胃球菌属（Ruminococcus）、嗜血杆菌属（Haemophilus）、韦荣球菌属（Veillonella）等丰度升高,戴阿利斯特杆菌属（Dialister）、丁酸蓖麻单胞菌属（Butyricimonas）丰度降低。提示金花香橼茶具有辅助降血糖、降血脂、改善非酒精性脂肪肝的作用,可能通过增加产短链脂肪酸菌属的丰度,增加短链脂肪酸,改善胰岛素抵抗,进而改善糖脂代谢。本研究所得结果仍需更加严谨的长期试验进一步加以确证。     

Seaweed Components as Potential Modulators of the Gut Microbiota

Macroalgae, or seaweeds, are a rich source of components which may exert beneficial effects on the mammalian gut microbiota through the enhancement of bacterial diversity and abundance. An imbalance of gut bacteria has been linked to the development of disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, immunodeficiency, hypertension, type-2-diabetes, obesity, and cancer. This review outlines current knowledge from in vitro and in vivo studies concerning the potential therapeutic application of seaweed-derived polysaccharides, polyphenols and peptides to modulate the gut microbiota through diet. Polysaccharides such as fucoidan, laminarin, alginate, ulvan and porphyran are unique to seaweeds. Several studies have shown their potential to act as prebiotics and to positively modulate the gut microbiota. Prebiotics enhance bacterial populations and often their production of short chain fatty acids, which are the energy source for gastrointestinal epithelial cells, provide protection against pathogens, influence immunomodulation, and induce apoptosis of colon cancer cells. The oral bioaccessibility and bioavailability of seaweed components is also discussed, including the advantages and limitations of static and dynamic in vitro gastrointestinal models versus ex vivo and in vivo methods. Seaweed bioactives show potential for use in prevention and, in some instances, treatment of human disease. However, it is also necessary to confirm these potential, therapeutic effects in large-scale clinical trials. Where possible, we have cited information concerning these trials.     

Marine Chitooligosaccharide Alters Intestinal Flora Structure and Regulates Hepatic Inflammatory Response to Influence Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

In this study, C57BL/6 mice were given an HFHSD diet for 8 weeks to induce hepatic steatosis and then given COSM solution orally for 12 weeks. The study found that the HFHSD diet resulted in steatosis and insulin resistance in mice. The formation of NAFLD induced by HFHSD diet was related to the imbalance of intestinal flora. However, after COSM intervention, the abundance of beneficial bacteria increased significantly, while the abundance of harmful bacteria decreased significantly. The HFHSD diet also induced changes in intestinal bacterial metabolites, and the content of short-chain fatty acids in cecal contents after COSM intervention was significantly higher than that in the model group. In addition, COSM not only improved LPS levels and barrier dysfunction in the ileum and colon but upregulated protein levels of ZO-1, occludin, and claudin in the colon and downregulated the liver LPS/TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory pathway. We concluded that the treatment of marine chitooligosaccharide COSM could improve the intestinal microflora structure of the fatty liver and activate an inflammatory signaling pathway, thus alleviating the intrahepatic lipid accumulation induced by HFHSD.     

Influence of the Form of Administration of Chlorogenic Acids on Oxidative Stress Induced by High fat Diet in Rats

Green coffee is one of health-promoting supplements of the diet, applied in the form of either preparations or enriched food products. Its positive impact is manifested by mitigation of the development of certain tumors, e.g., in the colon and liver, and type 2 diabetes. Many studies proved that chlorogenic acids are the main active substances in green coffee. The bioavailability of these compounds depends among others on their interactions with other components of the diet, mainly proteins. When they are used as food ingredients, their bioavailability is additionally decreased because of the decomposition or interactions with other ingredients during food processing. The undesirable changes may be limited among others by microencapsulation, for example with β-cyclodextrin. In this study, rats were fed the pro-oxidative high fat diet, which was supplemented with chlorogenic acids from green coffee that were used in four forms such as: a purified extract, complexes of chlorogenic acids and β-cyclodextrin, and bread supplemented with either the extract or the β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex. Chlorogenic acids added to bread because of the reduced absorption from the crumb in the small intestine and increased passage to the colon, contributed to the beneficial modification of enzymatic activities of intestinal microbiota. When added directly to the diet, they contributed to the improved antioxidant status in the liver and kidneys, lowered glucose level and increased HDL level. A high ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione in the liver and a high concentration of antioxidants in the blood serum were observed after administration of chlorogenic acids in the form of inclusion complexes with β-cyclodextrin, indicating that microencapsulation increased their bioaccessibility due to the limited interactions with other components of the diet.     

Inhibition of Intestinal Lipid Absorption by Cyanobacterial Strains in Zebrafish Larvae

Obesity is a complex metabolic disease, which is increasing worldwide. The reduction of dietary lipid intake is considered an interesting pathway to reduce fat absorption and to affect the chronic energy imbalance. In this study, zebrafish larvae were used to analyze effects of cyanobacteria on intestinal lipid absorption in vivo. In total, 263 fractions of a cyanobacterial library were screened for PED6 activity, a fluorescent reporter of intestinal lipases, and 11 fractions reduced PED6 activity > 30%. Toxicity was not observed for those fractions, considering mortality, malformations or digestive physiology (protease inhibition). Intestinal long-chain fatty acid uptake (C16) was reduced, but not short-chain fatty acid uptake (C5). Alteration of lipid classes by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) or lipid processing by fluorescent HPTLC was analyzed, and 2 fractions significantly reduced the whole-body triglyceride level. Bioactivity-guided feature-based molecular networking of LC-MS/MS data identified 14 significant bioactive mass peaks (p < 0.01, correlation > 0.95), which consisted of 3 known putative and 11 unknown compounds. All putatively identified compounds were known to be involved in lipid metabolism and obesity. Summarizing, some cyanobacterial strains repressed intestinal lipid absorption without any signs of toxicity and could be developed in the future as nutraceuticals to combat obesity.     

Impact of Phlorotannin Extracts from Fucus vesiculosus on Human Gut Microbiota

Recent studies indicate that plant polyphenols could be pointed as potential prebiotic candidates since they may interact with the gut microbiota, stimulating its growth and the production of metabolites. However, little is known about the fate of brown seaweeds’ phlorotannins during their passage throughout the gastrointestinal tract. This work aimed to evaluate the stability and bioaccessibility of Fucus vesiculosus phlorotannins after being submitted to a simulated digestive process, as well as their possible modulatory effects on gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids production following a fermentation procedure using fecal inoculates to mimic the conditions of the large intestine. The stability of phlorotannins throughout the gastrointestinal tract was reduced, with a bioaccessibility index between 2 and 14%. Moreover, slight alterations in the growth of certain commensal bacteria were noticed, with Enterococcus spp. being the most enhanced group. Likewise, F. vesiculosus phlorotannins displayed striking capacity to enhance the levels of propionate and butyrate, which are two important short-chain fatty acids known for their role in intestinal homeostasis. In summary, this work provides valuable information regarding the behavior of F. vesiculosus phlorotannins along the gastrointestinal tract, presenting clear evidence that these compounds can positively contribute to the maintenance of a healthy gastrointestinal condition.     

Polyphenol-Rich Fraction of Ecklonia cava Improves Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in High Fat Diet-Fed Mice

Ecklonia cava (E. cava; CA) is an edible brown alga with beneficial effects in diabetes via regulation of various metabolic processes such as lipogenesis, lipolysis, inflammation, and the antioxidant defense system in liver and adipose tissue. We investigated the effect of the polyphenol-rich fraction of E. cava produced from Gijang (G-CA) on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. C57BL6 mice were fed a HFD for six weeks and then the HFD group was administered 300 mg/kg of G-CA extracts by oral intubation for 10 weeks. Body weight, fat mass, and serum biochemical parameters were reduced by G-CA extract treatment. MRI/MRS analysis showed that liver fat and liver volume in HFD-induced obese mice were reduced by G-CA extract treatment. Further, we analyzed hepatic gene expression related to inflammation and lipid metabolism. The mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and hepatic lipogenesis-related genes were decreased in G-CA-treated HFD mice. The mRNA expression levels of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase 1 (CYP7A1), the key enzyme in bile acid synthesis, were dramatically increased by G-CA treatment in HFD mice. We suggest that G-CA treatment ameliorated hepatic steatosis by inhibiting inflammation and improving lipid metabolism.     

Corrective role of chickpea intake on a dietary-induced model of hypercholesterolemia

A feeding trial was conducted in order to evaluate the potential effect on the lipid profile in a experimentally induced situation of hypercholesterolemia of a previously uninvestigated legume (Cicer aretinum L.) widely included in Mediterranean and Latinamerican human diets. Rats fed on a hypercholesterolemic diet containing saturated fat, cholesterol and cholic acid (H) had 123 percent higher serum cholesterol and 62 percent greater triacylglycerols levels than the animals receiving casein (C) protein. The LDL and VLDL cholesterol levels were 1330 percent and 35 percent higher, respectively, and HDL cholesterol 34 percent lower in the group of animals given the H diet as compared to controls. Further feeding of the hypercholesterolemic rats with animal protein (HC) resulted in a significant decrease of triacylglycerols (–70 percent), which reflected the decrease in the VLDL fraction. These effects on the lipid metabolism were more marked when the legumeCicer aretinum L. was present in the diet (HL). Significantly decreased concentrations of total cholesterol (–54 percent) and triacylglycerols (–70 percent) as well as the levels of LDL (–54 percent) and VLDL (–70 percent) were seen in rats fed chickpeas. In conclusion, a differential hypocholesterolemic effect between dietary casein and chickpea intake in a model of hypercholesterolemia induced by the diet was found, with beneficial effects on the lipid metabolism when legume was included in the diet as compared to casein. This suggests, for apparently the first time, that chickpea consumption may have a corrective effect in some alterations of the lipid profile.Abbreviations ANF Antinutritional factors - CD Cardiovascular disease - C Casein diet (Control diet) - H Hypercholesterolemic diet - L Legume diet - SD standard deviation     

Root Endophyte Shift and Key Genera Discovery in Rice under Barnyardgrass Stress

Despite increasing knowledge of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) interference with rice, relatively little is known how endophytes improve the ability of rice against barnyardgrass stress. Here, we provided a detailed temporal characterization of rice root-associated microbiomes during co-cultivation with barnyardgrass and a comparison with the microbiomes of weed-free rice plants. Alpha diversity analysis indicated that barnyardgrass had the opposite effects on endophytic bacteria and fungi in rice roots, in terms of the community diversity, richness and coverage at the rice seedling stage. Principal coordinate analysis showed that barnyardgrass had only a minor effect on the community composition of endophytes in rice roots at the rice seedling stage, but showed a significant and maximum interference at the heading stage. Rice recruited many endophytes to resist biotic stress from barnyardgrass, especially for fungi. PICRUSt (phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states) predictive analysis indicated that 23 metabolic pathways of bacteria were overrepresented in rice. In addition, the main trophic mode of fungi was pathotroph according to FUNGuild analysis. A positive correlation between bacteria and fungi in rice roots was found via network analysis. Anaeromyxobacter, Azospira and Pseudolabrys were the vital bacteria, Phaeosphaeria and Funneliformis were the dominant fungi in maintaining the stability of the ecological network. These results provided data and a theoretical basis for the in-depth understanding of what role endophytes play in rice resistance to barnyardgrass stress and will have implications on improving the resistance of rice against biotic stress using root microbiota.     

Changes in Gut Microbiota Linked to a Reduction in Systolic Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats Fed an Extra Virgin Olive Oil-Enriched Diet

Fat type in diet is responsible for specific changes in gut microbiota (GM). Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) has been shown to be beneficial for blood pressure and to produce effects on GM. To analyze the cause-effect relationship between intestinal microbial changes and blood pressure, we studied the effect of EVOO on fecal microbiota and systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). SHR were fed either an enriched EVOO diet or a standard diet for a period of 12 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, the microbial profiles in the feces were studied in both groups by using PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Real-time PCR was used to quantify the selected bacterial groups. The results demonstrated significant differences when using Lactobacillus (p<0.05), clostridia XIV (p<0.01) and universal (p<0.05) primers. A significant (r=?0.475; p=0.04) inverse correlation between the abundance of clostridia XIV and SBP, which depends on the type of diet, was also observed. Finally, the results suggested an increase in the microbial diversity of the feces of the animals fed the EVOO diet. These results strongly connect the pattern of GM in SHR fed a diet enriched with EVOO to the lower levels of SBP observed in these animals at the end of the feeding period.