Abstract
Seaweeds are potentially sustainable crops and are receiving significant interest because of their rich bioactive compound content; including fatty acids, polyphenols, carotenoids, and complex polysaccharides. However, there is little information on the in vivo effects on gut health of the polysaccharides and their low-molecular-weight derivatives. Herein, we describe the first investigation into the prebiotic potential of low-molecular-weight polysaccharides (LMWPs) derived from alginate and agar in order to validate their in vivo efficacy. We conducted a randomized; placebo-controlled trial testing the impact of alginate and agar LWMPs on faecal weight and other markers of gut health and on composition of gut microbiota. We show that these LMWPs led to significantly increased faecal bulk (20–30%). Analysis of gut microbiome composition by sequencing indicated no significant changes attributable to treatment at the phylum and family level, although FISH analysis showed an increase in Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in subjects consuming agar LMWP. Sequence analysis of gut bacteria corroborated with the FISH data, indicating that alginate and agar LWMPs do not alter human gut microbiome health markers. Crucially, our findings suggest an urgent need for robust and rigorous human in vivo testing—in particular, using refined seaweed extracts.
Highlights
Human consumption of seaweeds is relatively limited in Western societies [1]
The low-molecular-weight polysaccharides (LMWPs) contribution was excluded from the habitual dietary assessment, as fibre intake was on average ~11 g for all groups, the addition of LMWP
While greater amounts of plant fibre contributed to greater bulking, the increases observed at 8 g p.d. are broadly in line with what we observed in the current work with seaweed-derived LMWP
Summary
Human consumption of seaweeds (macroalgae) is relatively limited in Western societies [1]. By contrast, they are a dietary staple in Asia, with seaweed consumed at up to. It is broadly accepted that Western populations fail to meet the recommended daily dietary fibre intake of 25–38 g/day proposed by the European Food Safety Authority [6]. The viscous properties of fibre contribute to delayed gastric emptying and slow the rate of nutrient absorption in the small intestine. This leads to improvements in glycaemic control, in addition to reducing appetite, increasing satiation and lowering food intake [9]. Seaweed has a high fibre content (up to 75% of dry mass) and contains high levels of hydrocolloid fibres with gel-forming and emulsifying properties, such as alginate, agar and carrageenan [1]
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