Microbiome‐metabolomic analyses of the impacts of dietary stachyose on fecal microbiota and metabolites in infants intestinal microbiota‐associated mice

Abstract BACKGROUND The intestinal microbiota and metabolites play an important role in human health and immunity. However, few studies have investigated the long‐term effects of stachyose on the human intestinal microbiota and metabolism. Therefore, in this study, the feces of infants were transplanted into germ‐free mice, and the effect of long‐term stachyose intake on intestinal metabolism was examined by comparing the results of microbiome and metabolome analyses. Ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) was used to study the effects of stachyose intake on the metabolites and metabolic pathways of the transplanted human intestinal microbiota. RESULTS We observed that stachyose significantly altered the composition of the intestinal microbiota and metabolites, up‐regulated production of the metabolite taurocholic acid, down‐regulated amino acid metabolism, and significantly regulated the metabolism of taurine and hydroxytaurine, pantothenate and coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis, and other signaling pathways. CONCLUSION These findings may provide a basis for elucidating the mechanism by which stachyose promotes host health. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry