Effects of four food hydrocolloids on colitis and their regulatory effect on gut microbiota

Hydrocolloids are important food additives and have potential regulatory effects on gut microbiota. The development of colitis is closely related to changes in gut microbiota. Food hydrocolloids have potential microbial-modulating effects, but their impact on colitis is not well studied. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of four hydrocolloids (carrageenan, guar gum, xanthan gum, and pectin) on colitis, and explored their regulatory effects on gut microbiota. The results indicated that pectin and guar effectively alleviated body weight loss and disease activity index, reduced inflammatory cytokine levels, and promoted short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production. They increased the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, Oscillospira, and Lactobacillus, and Akkermansia abundance had a negative correlation with the severity of colitis. In contrast, carrageenan and xanthan gum did not significantly improve colitis, and carrageenan reduced the production of SCFAs. Both carrageenan and xanthan gum increased the abundance of Ruminococcus gnavus, and Ruminococcus abundance was positively correlated with the severity of colitis. These findings suggest that food additives have an impact on host health and provide guidance for the diet of patients with colitis.