| Intestinal microbiota is modulated by dietary intake and can have a profound impact on systemic health through initiation of systemic inflammation (via bacterial products like lipopolysaccharide [LPS; endotoxin]) and promotion of inflammation-associated disorders such as metabolic syndrome. Whether specific dietary components are related to markers of gut and systemic health, in particular, lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP; low level is a measure of systemic endotoxin exposure) is currently unknown.. Plasma LBP was measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using bloods acquired from 30 obese (BMI > 30kg/m2) participants. Additional blood was analyzed for metabolic markers, and three-day food records were completed to assess dietary intake. Participants were (mean+/-SD) 47+/-10.7 years of age, most were African American (60.0%), female (83.3%), and 33.3% had metabolic syndrome. Participants had a median (IQR) waist circumference of 111.8 (106.7-125.7) cm and systolic/diastolic blood pressures of 130+/-16/78 +/-13 mmHg. Baseline LBP was 16.7+/-15.2 microg/mL. Daily dietary intakes were as follows: 2143+/- 626 kcal, 12.9+/-3.3% kcal from saturated fat, 17.5+/-6.6 g fiber, and 82.5+/-53.7 g sugar. There was an inverse association between LBP and the following parameters: systolic blood pressure (p = -0.48, p=0.007), percent kcal from saturated fat (p =-0.38, p=0.04), and total dietary cholesterol (p =-0.42 p=0.02). Calcium (p =-0.42, p=0.02), phosphorus (p = -0.16 p=0.04), and sodium (p =-0.37 p=0.04) intakes were all also inversely related to plasma LBP_ When looking at the specific dietary components and their relationship to LBP concentrations, it is possible that those consuming foods high in these components (e.g. high fat diary, meat) may impact systemic inflammation through a gut-mediated mechanism and should be further elucidated. |
