Determining the effect of seaweed intake on the microbiota: a systematic review

The human gut microbiota is dominated by bacteria, and the host dietary intake is one factor that can modulate the diversity of the gut microbiota to health or diseases.  According to the FAO, there is an annual steady decline in agricultural practices of over one percent. There has been an anticipation that algae production will be increased to supplement the use of vegetables from terrestrial land. Seaweed is a sustainable crop that offers a rich source of bioactive compounds, yet its potential is not fully exploited. Seaweeds) has been part of the staple diets of East Asian populations for a long time, and their bioactive compounds have the potential to be functional foods. As such, it has become pertinent to explore how seaweed can modulate gut microbial composition and function to improve host health. The purpose of the study is to conduct an extensive literature review to ascertain what is known about the effects of seaweed on the microbiota. A systematic search was conducted using relevant databases to find studies looking at the effects of green seaweed on the microbiota. From all 8,951 search results, 7 publications were included in this systematic review. The result showed that seaweed has a prebiotic effect in vitro digestive systems and a significant increase in SCFA production. Studies indicated that oligosaccharides and polysaccharides gotten from seaweed can regulate intestinal metabolism and could manage inflammatory bowel disease. The results of this review showed that consumption of seaweed is beneficial to the host and the gut microbiota.Keywords: Seaweed, algae, marine algae, flora, microbiota