Selenium Enriched Peanut Protein Alleviates Alcohol-Induced Liver Damage in Mice by Modulating the Composition of the Gut Microbiota

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is one of leading external causes of mortality. Selenium-enriched Peanut Protein (SePP) is a type of Se compound present in Se-enriched plants. Our previous studies showed that SePP possesses potential therapeutic properties and could alleviate alcohol-induced AML-12 cytotoxicity. It spurred us to determine the underlying mechanisms and roles of SePP on gut microbiota. Here, ICR mice were fed either standard diet or ethanol (30%, v/v, 10 mL/kg bw/day) intragastric administration for 8 weeks. The intervention groups were divided into different doses of SePP groups and Se compounds groups, like Selenomethionine (SeMet) group, sodium selenite group. The composition of the gut microbiota was investigated by analyzing 16S rRNA gene sequences. Body weight, lipid metabolism markers, serum insulin and oxidative stress were assessed. Treatment with SePP at a certain dosage (25 μg/kg bw/day in Se) and SeMet reversed diversity loss and community alterations in the gut microbiota of the AUD group, as evidenced by an increased abundance of Firmicutes and decreased abundances of Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia in AUD mice. SePP suppressed the relative abundance of the Rikenellaceae_RC9 gut group and increased those of Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae, which are associated with lipid metabolism and Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) production. The study suggested that SePP has the potential to be used as a supplement for alleviating alcohol-induced liver damage.