{"entity": "researcher", "timestamp": "2026-08-25T13:35:57.079Z", "family": "Liu", "given": "Hao-Yu", "initials": "HY", "orcid": "0000-0002-8529-1147", "affiliations": ["Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 75123, Sweden."], "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/407b4b3d20534e28ade9a40f8e2045c4.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/407b4b3d20534e28ade9a40f8e2045c4"}}, "publications": [{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "9af286d2e52746c59059300664336553", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/9af286d2e52746c59059300664336553.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/9af286d2e52746c59059300664336553"}}, "title": "High-Fat Diet Enriched with Bilberry Modifies Colonic Mucus Dynamics and Restores Marked Alterations of Gut Microbiome in Rats.", "authors": [{"family": "Liu", "given": "Hao-Yu", "initials": "HY", "orcid": "0000-0002-8529-1147", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/407b4b3d20534e28ade9a40f8e2045c4.json"}}, {"family": "Walden", "given": "Tomas B", "initials": "TB"}, {"family": "Ahl", "given": "David", "initials": "D"}, {"family": "Nyman", "given": "Margareta", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Bertilsson", "given": "Stefan", "initials": "S"}, {"family": "Phillipson", "given": "Mia", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Holm", "given": "Lena", "initials": "L"}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2019-10-00", "journal": {"title": "Mol Nutr Food Res", "issn": "1613-4133", "volume": "63", "issue": "20", "pages": "e1900117", "issn-l": null}, "abstract": "Emerging evidence suggests that high-fat diet (HFD) is associated with gut microbiome dysbiosis and related disorders. Bilberry is a prebiotic food component with known health benefits. Herein, the dynamics of the colonic mucus layer and microbiome during HFD and bilberry supplementation are addressed.\n\nThe effects on colonic mucus thickness in vivo and gut microbiota composition (Illumina sequencing, quantitative real-time PCR) are investigated in young rats fed a low-fat diet or HFD with or without bilberries for 8 weeks (n = 8). HFD induced significant local colonic effects, despite no observed weight gain or systemic inflammation, as HFD causes epithelial upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase, which is counteracted by bilberry. The firmly adherent mucus layer becomes thicker and the mRNA levels of Muc2 and Tff3 are increased by HFD with or without bilberry. In parallel, HFD reduced the colonic abundance of mucolytic bacterial species Akkermansia muciniphila and Bacteroides spp. Finally, bilberry prevents HFD-induced microbiota dysbiosis, including expansion of pathobionts, for example, Enterobacteriaceae.\n\nHFD expand firmly adherent mucus thickness and reduce mucus-foraging bacteria populations in the colon prior to obesity. Enriching HFD with bilberry protects against intestinal inflammation and marked microbiota encroachment.", "doi": "10.1002/mnfr.201900117", "pmid": "31336403", "labels": [], "xrefs": [], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T06:34:30.221Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T06:34:30.313Z"}, {"entity": "publication", "iuid": "fb08884608844335a9c735903a0bb13b", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/fb08884608844335a9c735903a0bb13b.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/fb08884608844335a9c735903a0bb13b"}}, "title": "Dietary Fiber in Bilberry Ameliorates Pre-Obesity Events in Rats by Regulating Lipid Depot, Cecal Short-Chain Fatty Acid Formation and Microbiota Composition.", "authors": [{"family": "Liu", "given": "Hao-Yu", "initials": "HY", "orcid": "0000-0002-8529-1147", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/407b4b3d20534e28ade9a40f8e2045c4.json"}}, {"family": "Walden", "given": "Tomas B", "initials": "TB"}, {"family": "Cai", "given": "Demin", "initials": "D"}, {"family": "Ahl", "given": "David", "initials": "D"}, {"family": "Bertilsson", "given": "Stefan", "initials": "S", "orcid": "0000-0002-4265-1835", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/4fd9423637a54230892379a5b50cf47f.json"}}, {"family": "Phillipson", "given": "Mia", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Nyman", "given": "Margareta", "initials": "M", "orcid": "0000-0003-3660-2364", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/879f9cee48e8468fa342ed0f7b5ce101.json"}}, {"family": "Holm", "given": "Lena", "initials": "L"}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2019-06-15", "journal": {"title": "Nutrients", "issn": "2072-6643", "volume": "11", "issue": "6", "issn-l": "2072-6643"}, "abstract": "Obesity is linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and risk factors associated to metabolic syndrome. Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) that contains easily fermentable fiber may strengthen the intestinal barrier function, attenuate inflammation and modulate gut microbiota composition, thereby prevent obesity development. In the current study, liver lipid metabolism, fat depot, cecal and serum short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and gut microbiome were evaluated in rats fed bilberries in a high-fat (HFD + BB) or low-fat (LFD + BB) setting for 8 weeks and compared with diets containing equal amount of fiber resistant to fermentation (cellulose, HFD and LFD). HFD fed rats did not obtain an obese phenotype but underwent pre-obesity events including increased liver index, lipid accumulation and increased serum cholesterol levels. This was linked to shifts of cecal bacterial community and reduction of major SCFAs. Bilberry inclusion improved liver metabolism and serum lipid levels. Bilberry inclusion under either LFD or HFD, maintained microbiota homeostasis, stimulated interscapular-brown adipose tissue depot associated with increased mRNA expression of uncoupling protein-1; enhanced SCFAs in the cecum and circulation; and promoted butyric acid and butyrate-producing bacteria. These findings suggest that bilberry may serve as a preventative dietary measure to optimize microbiome and associated lipid metabolism during or prior to HFD.", "doi": "10.3390/nu11061350", "pmid": "31208043", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC6627426"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "nu11061350"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T13:42:44.484Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T13:42:44.578Z"}]}