Bile acid metabolism, involved with the digestion and absorption of nutrients in the gut, is linked to the gut microbiota community, greatly impacting the host’s metabolism. We examined the hypothesis that the modulation of
bile acid metabolism by
dietary fat contents, gallbladder removal (GBX;
cholecystectomy), and
bile acid sequestrant (BAS;
cholestyramine) treatment could alter energy,
glucose, and lipid metabolism through the changes in the gut microbiota. Mice were randomly assigned to the following six groups: (1)
Sham GBX surgery (
Sham) + low fat/high
carbohydrate diet (LFD), (2)
Sham + high fat diet (HFD), (3)
Sham + HFD + BAS, (4) GBX + LFD, (5) GBX + HFD, and (6) GBX + HFD + BAS. BAS groups received 2%
cholestyramine. After an 8-week intervention, energy,
glucose, and lipid metabolism, and the gut microbiota community were measured. HFD groups exhibited higher
body weight gain than LFD, and GBX increased the
weight gain comped to
Sham groups regardless of BAS in HFD (p < 0.05). Homeostatic model assessment for
insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was higher in HFD than LFD, and GBX increased it regardless of BAS. Serum
lipid profiles were worsened in GBX + HFD compared to
Sham + LFD, whereas BAS alleviated them, except for serum
HDL cholesterol. Hepatic
tumor-necrosis-factor-α (TNF-α)
mRNA expression and
lipid peroxide contents increased with GBX and BAS treatment compared to
Sham and no BAS treatment (p < 0.05). Hepatic
mRNA expression of
sterol regulatory
element-binding
transcription factor 1c (SREBP1c) and
peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (
PPAR-γ) exhibited the same trend as that of
tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The α-diversity of gut bacteria decreased in GBX + HFD and increased in GBX + HFD + BAS. Akkermentia, Dehalobacterium, SMB53, and Megamonas were high in the
Sham + LFD, and Veillonella and Streptococcus were rich in the
Sham + HFD, while Oscillospira and Olsenella were high in
Sham + HFD + BAS (p < 0.05). GBX + LFD increased Lactobacillus and Sutterella while GBX + HFD + BAS elevated Clostridium, Alistipes, Blautia, Eubacterium, and Coprobacillus (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the modulation of
bile acid metabolism influences energy,
glucose, and
lipid metabolisms, and it might be linked to changes in the gut microbiota by
bile acid metabolism modulation.