In vitro fermentation characteristics of fucoidan and its regulatory effects on human gut microbiota and metabolites

Dietary polysaccharides affect the intestinal microorganisms and their metabolites in the host. Clarifying the relationship among polysaccharides, intestinal microflora, and their metabolites is helpful to formulate dietary nutrition intervention strategies. Thus, we explored the regulatory effects of fucoidan on the human gut microbiota and its metabolites. After 48 h of fermentation, fucoidan significantly reduced the pH value in the broth, accompanied by an increase in total short-chain fatty acids, acetic acid, and propanoic acid contents. Fucoidan significantly reduced the relative abundance of Escherichia_shigella and Blebsiella and increased the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Concurrently, fucoidan altered the composition of intestinal microbial metabolites. These results indicate that fucoidan can regulate the metabolism of the intestinal flora and host, which may contribute to the intestinal health of the host.