Abstract
The digestion of flaxseed polysaccharides (FSP) in simulated saliva, gastric and small intestine conditions was assessed, as well as in vitro fermentation of FSP by human gut microbiota. FSP was not degraded in the simulated digestive systems (there was no change in molecular weight or content of reducing sugars), indicating that ingested FSP would reach the large intestine intact. Changes in carbohydrate content, reducing sugars and culture pH suggested that FSP could be broken down and used by gut microbiota. FSP modulated the composition and structure of the gut microbiota by altering the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and increasing the relative abundances of Prevotella, Phascolarctobacterium, Clostridium and Megamonas, which can degrade polysaccharides. Meanwhile, FSP fermentation increased the concentration of short-chain fatty acids, especially propionic and butyric acids. Our results indicate that FSP might be developed as a functional food that benefits gut health.
Highlights
The gut microbiota, consisting of numerous microbial species, is considered a vital organ that plays a pivotal role in host health [1]
Digestion of flaxseed polysaccharides (FSP) by human saliva was studied in this work
The contents of reducing sugar (CR) values of FSP solutions had no obvious difference before and after digestion (Table 1), showing that FSP was not hydrolyzed in saliva; this might be attributed to the structure of FSP
Summary
The gut microbiota, consisting of numerous microbial species, is considered a vital organ that plays a pivotal role in host health [1]. Numerous studies have indicated that human gut microbiota can exert numerous benefits to the host health including nutrient absorption, glucose tolerance, and pathogen defense [2,3]. Growing evidence has demonstrated that plant polysaccharides cannot be digested by upper digestive tract, but can reach the distal intestine and be degraded by gut microbiota [4]. The fermentation of polysaccharides and their interaction with gut microbiota are closely related to human health. Polysaccharide fermentation can further improve the intestinal micro-ecosystem by inhibiting certain harmful bacteria in the host [5]. Some scientists have proposed that using polysaccharides as a new therapeutic strategy to regulate gut microbiota for improving human health and preventing diseases [6,7]
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