Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry· 2026Q1
Sulfate Groups Modulate the Protective Effects of Laminaria japonica Fucoidan against High-Fat Diet-Induced Intestinal Mucus Layer Injury via Gut Microbiota Regulation and Metabolic Profiling
- 0citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Native fucoidan (26.6% sulfate) from Laminaria japonica offered superior protection against high-fat diet-induced intestinal mucus injury compared to desulfated fucoidan (2.2% sulfate) in mice, demonstrating better lipid regulation, mucin restoration, and gut microbiota modulation.
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Key points
- Native fucoidan (26.6% sulfate) showed greater protective effects than desulfated fucoidan (2.2% sulfate) against high-fat diet-induced intestinal mucus injury in mice.
- Both fucoidans improved weight gain, fat accumulation, mucin ratio, and reduced colon inflammation, but native fucoidan was more effective in hepatic lipid regulation and triglyceride reduction.
- Native fucoidan significantly reduced the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio and enriched specific bacteria like Parabacteroides, Desulfovibrio, and Akkermansia.
- Metabolomic analysis showed native fucoidan activated tryptophan metabolism, while desulfated fucoidan enhanced arginine and proline metabolism.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract Sulfate groups are key to fucoidan’s protection against intestinal mucus barrier damage, but their exact mechanisms remain unclear. This study compared native fucoidan (Fud, sulfate content 26.6%) and desulfated fucoidan (dsFud, sulfate content 2.2%) in a high-fat diet-induced colonic mucus-layer injury mouse model. Both interventions mitigated weight gain, fat accumulation, and dyslipidemia, increased the neutral/acidic mucin ratio and upregulated Muc2 expression, and alleviated colon inflammation as well as NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Compared with dsFud, Fud showed better hepatic lipid regulation and serum triglyceride reduction, upregulated Fut2 more significantly, and more potently inhibited NLRP3 signaling. Fud also markedly reduced the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio and enriched Parabacteroides, Desulfovibrio, and Akkermansia. Metabolomic profiling revealed that they both suppressed primary bile acid metabolism and activated the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Notably, Fud activated tryptophan metabolism, while dsFud mainly enhanced arginine and proline metabolism. Collectively, sulfation is important for fucoidan’s protective potency on the intestinal mucus layer.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Aquatic Science
Aquatic ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences