Supplemental <i>Aspergillus</i> Lipase and Protease Preparations Display Powerful Bifidogenic Effects and Modulate the Gut Microbiota Community of Rats

Abstract

Aspergillus-derived protease and lipase, which are involved in the production of Aspergillus-fermented foods, are consumed as digestive enzyme supplements. A marked bifidogenic effect of supplemental Aspergillus protease preparation (AP) in rats fed with a high-fat diet was identified. This study was conducted to examine whether the consumption of Aspergillus-derived lipase exerts similar bifidogenic effect. Rats were fed diets supplemented with either an Aspergillus-derived lipase preparation (AL) or AP at 0.1% for two weeks. 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis indicated that supplemental AL and AP markedly influenced cecal microbial community. At the phylum level, treatment with AL and AP resulted in a lower relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, but a higher relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria than the control rats (p Bifidobacterium, Collinsella, and Enterococcus, but significantly reduced those of Oscillospira, Dorea, and Coprobacillus (p Aspergillus-derived preparations, AL and AP, have strong bifidogenic effects and can change the microbiota’s composition.

Keywords

• <i>Aspergillus</i>
• lipase
• protease
• bifidogenic effect
• prebiotics
• 16S rRNA gene sequencing