Prebiotic Diet Enhances Suppression of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Production in Response to Lipopolysaccharide after Exhaustive Exercise

INTRODUCTION: Although it is well known that severe exercise induces temporary immunosuppression, it remains unclear the effect of gut microbiota on this phenomenon. METHODS: In this study, to investigate the effect of gut microbiota on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production immediately after the exhaustive exercise, C3H/HeN male mice were (1) treated with or without antibiotic (AB), (2) transplanted cecal content from a 5% partially hydrolyzed guar-gum (PHGG) diet, which is classified as low viscous in dietary fiber, fed mice, and (3) intake PHGG diet for 6 weeks. The mice were stimulated by LPS administration immediately after loaded forced exhaustive exercise. RESULTS: After the exhaustive exercise, plasma TNF-α concentration in AB mice prior to response from LPS was significantly higher than that in control mice (p < 0.01). On the other hand, differences in transplanted cecal contents did not affect TNF-α production by exercise prior to LPS administration. Direct intake of PHGG, however, attenuated the increase in plasma TNF-α concentration in response to LPS, compared with both non-fiber and control diet groups (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that LPS-induced TNF-α production immediately after intense exercise is regulated depending on both the composition of the gut microbiota and the material being fermented.