High-fat diet feeding alters gut microbiota and results in endotoxemia in mice. (A) Body weights of mice fed a HFD or RD for up to 12 weeks and (B) fasting blood glucose level after 12 weeks. (C) PCR analyses of gut microbiota in stool from HFD- and RD-fed mice stool showing the relative amount of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, E coli, and Bifidobacteria. (D) Serum endotoxin levels and (E) stool LPS levels in RD- and HFD-fed mice. Results are means ± SEM; n = 12 per group. *P < .05, **P < .01, and ***P < .001.