Comparing the effects of nano-sized sugarcane fiber with cellulose and psyllium on hepatic cellular signaling in mice

Zhong Q Wang,^1,2 Yongmei Yu,^1,2 Xian H Zhang,^1,2 Z Elizabeth Floyd,³ Anik Boudreau,² Kun Lian,⁴ William T Cefalu<sup>1,2

1</sup>Nutrition and Diabetes Research Laboratory, ²Botanical Research Center, ³Ubiquitin Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, LA, USA; ⁴The Center for Energy and Environmental Studies, Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

Aim: To compare the effects of dietary fibers on hepatic cellular signaling in mice.
Methods: Mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 9/group): high-fat diet (HFD) control, cellulose, psyllium, and sugarcane fiber (SCF) groups. All mice were fed a HFD with or without 10% dietary fiber (w/w) for 12 weeks. Body weight, food intake, fasting glucose, and fasting insulin levels were measured. At the end of the study, hepatic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 21, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and insulin signaling protein content were determined.
Results: Hepatic FGF21 content was significantly lowered, but βKlotho, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1, fibroblast growth factor receptor 3, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha proteins were significantly increased in the SCF group compared with those in the HFD group (P < 0.01). SCF supplementation also significantly enhanced insulin and AMPK signaling, as well as decreased hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol in comparison with the HFD mice. The study has shown that dietary fiber, especially SCF, significantly attenuates lipid accumulation in the liver by enhancing hepatic FGF21, insulin, and AMPK signaling in mice fed a HFD.
Conclusion: This study suggests that the modulation of gastrointestinal factors by dietary fibers may play a key role in both enhancing hepatic multiple cellular signaling and reducing lipid accumulation.

Keywords: dietary fiber, FGF21, insulin signaling, AMPK, GLP-1, PI 3K

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