Sulfated polysaccharides from pacific abalone reduce diet-induced obesity by modulating the gut microbiota

Abstract Sulfated polysaccharides from abalone (Haliotis discus hannai Ino) gonad (AGSP) is shown to have various bioactivities, but it remains unknown whether AGSP produces any effect on high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. This study indicated that AGSP inhibited weight gain and improved body composition in HFD-fed mice without reducing food consumption. Moreover, AGSP reduced fat accumulation in the liver and epididymal fat tissues of HFD-fed mice via the modulation of lipid metabolism. Such effects could be associated with the improvement of the gut microbiota as indicated by a decreased ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes and overall structure changes of the gut microbiota. Butyrate as the end product of bacterial fermentation was significantly increased in AGSP-fed mice, and thus may inhibit lipid-related gene expressions via G protein-coupled receptors-dependent pathways. In short, it suggested that AGSP can be used as beneficial polysaccharides to improve obesity and its associated disorders.