The sweet corn cob selenium polysaccharide alleviates type 2 diabetes via modulation of LPS/IκBα/NFκB and the intestinal microbiota

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. This study explored the effects of sweet corn cob selenium polysaccharide (SeSCP), a complex of selenium and sweet corn cob polysaccharide, on T2D. SeSCP demonstrated significant hypoglycemic effects. This investigation focused on the impact of SeSCP on the intestinal barrier, inflammation, and microbiota in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T2D mice. These findings revealed that SeSCP effectively reduced blood glucose levels and insulin resistance, decreased intestinal barrier permeability, and modulated the LPS/IκBα/NFκB pathway to reduce inflammatory factor production. Additionally, SeSCP corrected intestinal flora imbalances, increasing the relative abundance of Firmicutes in T2D mice. Furthermore, SeSCP enhanced carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in T2D mice, as indicated by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, demonstrating its potential to alleviate T2D through intestinal modulation.