Effect of intake pattern of sulfated polysaccharides on its biological activity in high fat diet-fed mice

Abstract Various beneficial actions of polysaccharides from different sources have shown to be associated with their dosage, active group, and polymerization degree, but it is unclear whether intake pattern affects their activities. This study showed that sulfated polysaccharides of abalone gonad (AGSP) inhibited weight gain and fat accumulation in high fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. AGSP treatment via intragastric gavage exhibited a better inhibitory effect on some obesity-related parameters in comparison with free diet. AGSP via two different patterns improved HFD-induced metabolic syndrome and gut microbiota dysbiosis, but some differences between them at the higher taxonomic levels resulted in a specific gut microbiota, which could affect nutrient utilization and energy metabolism and lead to a slight difference in its beneficial action. Taken together, this study can provide a guidance for the practical application of prebiotic polysaccharides in daily life.