Natural plant polysaccharides drive multidimensional metabolic homeostasis via the "gut microbiota-metabolite-host"...

The gut microbiota is often regarded as a crucial "metabolic organ," profoundly influencing host metabolic health through various mechanisms. Natural plant polysaccharides are complex biomolecules composed of monosaccharides linked by glycosidic bonds. They have a wide range of potential applications for host health due to their diverse structure and physicochemical properties. They serve as prebiotics, selectively promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria while inhibiting the proliferation of harmful bacteria. They metabolize the gut microbiota, producing active metabolites significantly influencing host metabolism, immunity, and inflammatory responses. This study aimed to systematically review the interaction mechanisms between natural plant polysaccharides, gut microbiota, and host metabolism. Additionally, it systematically summarized and emphasized the mechanisms by which natural plant polysaccharides influence the metabolism of fatty acids, bile acids, amino acids, and so forth, by regulating the gut microbiota. Moreover, the study provided an overview of the crucial role of the gut microbiota in maintaining the metabolic balance of the host and the effects of its dysregulation on metabolic diseases. It elucidated the mechanisms through which natural plant polysaccharides regulate the gut microbiota to enhance host metabolic health, thus providing essential theoretical foundations and practical guidance for precision nutritional interventions as well as the prevention and treatment of chronic metabolic diseases.