Healthy dietary choices are associated with higher serum propionate and PGC1α expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in adult humans

Obesity is a preventable multifactorial condition with negative risks to health. Gut microbiota can potentially affect host body weight through their mediators, as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). To assess the diet-associated changes in SCFAs, LPS and related downstream mediators, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1 alpha (PGC1α) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1α). We hypothesized that consumed diet might be corresponding to serum levels of SCFAs and LPS and accompanied with analogous changes in their downstream effectors. Dietary intake of 31 participants was evaluated using 24-h recall, food frequency questionnaire and a Mediterranean diet scale (MDS). Serum SCFAs and LPS levels were estimated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and ELISA, respectively. PGC1α and HIF1α gene expression in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells was detected by Real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Lean subjects showed higher dietary-fiber intake, MDS scores, propionate levels, PGC1α and HIF1α expression (P