Lycium barbarum polysaccharide attenuates myocardial injury in high-fat diet-fed mice through manipulating the gut microbiome and fecal metabolome

High-fat diets (HFDs) can induce health problems including gut microbiota dysbiosis and cardiac dysfunction. In this study, we modulated the gut microbiota in mice to investigate whether Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP), a potential prebiotic fiber, could alleviate HFD-induced myocardial injury. Mice fed a HFD were given LBP (HFPD group) by gavage once/day for 2 months. Left ventricular function and serum trimethylamine N-oxide were significantly improved in HFPD mice compared with HFD mice. HFD increased the abundances of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Romboutsia, while LBP increased the abundances of Gordonibacter, Parabacteroides, and Anaerostipes. Fecal metabolic profiling revealed significant increases in metabolites involved in nicotinate, nicotinamide and purine metabolism pathways, as well as indole derivatives of tryptophan metabolites in the HFPD group. LBP reduced intestinal permeability and inflammatory cytokine levels, maintained a healthy intestinal microenvironment, and alleviated myocardial injury. Modulating the gut microbiota is a potential treatment for cardiovascular diseases.