(P06-042-25) Dietary Garlic Polysaccharides Alleviate High-Fat-Diet Induced Metabolic Syndromes and Cognitive Impairment via the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis

Objectives: Dietary garlic polysaccharides have been linked to improved glucose homeostasis and inflammatory disorder, but their effects on the brain health remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the effect of garlic polysaccharides on high-fat-diet induced metabolic syndromes and cognitive impairment in mice.

Methods: C57BL6/J mice were fed a high-fat diet with or without garlic polysaccharides (2% and 4%) for 14 weeks, and their metabolic parameters, cognitive behaviors, intestinal and neurological inflammation, neurotransmitter levels, gut microbiota composition, and metabolites were monitored.

Results: Dietary garlic polysaccharides dose--dependently attenuated high-fat-diet induced metabolic syndromes, including obesity, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. Mice fed with garlic polysaccharides exhibited better performance in the open field, Y-maze, and elevated plus maze test. These effects were involved in the modulation of intestinal inflammation, neuroinflammation, appetite hormones, neurotransmitters, and oxidative homeostasis. Dietary garlic polysaccharides also reshaped the gut microbiota by significantly inhibiting potentially harmful bacteria and expanding potentially beneficial bacteria, as well as promoted the production of short-chain fatty acids. Correlation analysis indicated a strong correlation among gut microbiota composition, microbial metabolites, gut health, and brain function.

Conclusions: These results demonstrated that garlic polysaccharides attenuated high-fat-diet induced metabolic syndromes and cognitive impairment via the microbiota-gut-brain axis, highlighting their potential as a nutritional strategy to prevent metabolic syndrome-induced cognitive impairment.

Funding Sources: USDA and NIFA