Abstract:The degrees to which the polysaccharide fucoidan (FUC) and its acid (AFUC) and oxidative degradation products (OFUC) are metabolized in the gut of BALB/c mice were investigated, and their effects on the gut metabolites were compared. High-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry measurement revealed the proportions of FUC, AFUC, and OFUC excreted in the mouse feces to be 48.85%, 40.78%, and 40.99%, respectively. Although the relative molecular mass of FUC did not have a significant effect on its excretion rate, there were large inter-individual differences. Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis of the rates of FUC, AFUC, and OFUC metabolism in the gut revealed that AFUC was metabolized mainly by the Muribaculaceae, whereas FUC and OFUC were mainly utilized by the Lachnospiraceae, Muribaculaceae, and Bacteroidaceae. FUC, AFUC, and OFUC affected the metabolic activities of the gut microflora and jointly affected the D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolic pathways in the host. OFUC and AFUC both significantly affected the pathway for biotin metabolism, indicating significant differences in gut microbiota interactions between FUC and its degradation products. This study reveals the mechanism by which FUC carries out its effects through the gut microbiota and provides data supporting further application of this polysaccharide and its degradation products in the food industry.
