Body weight regulation of a low molecular weight xanthan gum on normal mice via gut microbiota

Properties of thickening, emulsification and suspension make xanthan gum is widely used in foods and other industries, but effects of xanthan oligosaccharide or low molecular weight xanthan gum (LW-XG) on the nutrition of human body are rarely investigated. Presently, body weight regulation effect of a LW-XG on male mice was assayed. Results showed that LW-XG was safe to Caco-2 cells and mice, and increased mice body weight gain from 10.78 +/- 2.15 g to 13.28 +/- 1.97 g. Meanwhile, the acetate, propionate, butyrate and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) contents increased from 25.13 +/- 1.28 mu mol/g, 11.28 +/- 0.81 mu mol/g, 7.85 +/- 0.43 mu mol/g and 44.26 +/- 1.85 mu mol/g to 41.76 +/- 1.08 mu mol/g, 19.84 +/- 0.97 mu mol/g, 12.58 +/- 0.26 mu mol/g and 74.18 +/- 1.72 mu mol/g, respectively. Furthermore, LW-XG increased the abundance and diversity of gut microbiota, and Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was significantly increased from 0.3547 to 1.5371.

Automated summary

The research found that low molecular weight xanthan gum has a positive effect on weight gain in mice, increasing the content of short-chain fatty acids and enhancing the diversity of gut microbiota.