Type of diet has no major influence on inflammatory response in a Saddleback pig model

Fermentable carbohydrates and resulting short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) received attention via modifying potential on obesity-associated systemic low-grade inflammation. However, their effects on inflammation remain poorly understood. In this study, the anti-inflammatory properties of pectin or inulin supplementation were investigated in an atherogenic-fed pig obesity model. Pigs were divided into three atherogenic-fed groups with or without 5% pectin/inulin supplementation (AD, ADp, ADi, n = 10) and a conventional-fed group (CD, n = 10) for a 15-week feeding period. We demonstrated that faecal SCFA concentrations decreased and faecal pH increased in all groups over the feeding period (P < 0.05). SCFA concentrations were comparable between colon and faeces in all groups. Liver inflammatory-marker expressions were on average < 1 in all groups, except TNF-α (AD < CD and ADi; P < 0.01). Inflammatory-marker expressions in abdominal adipose tissue exceeded subcutaneous marker expressions in all groups. AD showed significantly lower IL-1β and CD68 mRNA levels than CD (P < 0.03). Comparing the atherogenic diet groups, the IL-1β mRNA levels were higher in ADi versus AD and ADp (P = 0.02). Our data indicated that fermentable carbohydrates added to an atherogenic diet cannot resolve low-grade adipose tissue inflammatory associated with obesity.