Benefits of Sea Cucumber Viscera on Gut Microbiota and Their Implications for Health

Sea cucumber viscera, the primary by-product of processing, are generated in increasing quantities annually, leading to significant environmental pollution and resource wastage. Nevertheless, they are rich in nutrients and possess diverse bioactivities. This review provides a detailed elucidation of the bioactive components found in sea cucumber viscera, such as peptides, sulfated polysaccharides, saponins, and lipids. It further elaborates on how these visceral bioactives reshape the gut microbial ecosystem-notably by increasing the abundance of beneficial genera, such as Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium, and promoting the production of beneficial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids and indole derivatives. Through these mechanisms, the components demonstrate potential, either directly or indirectly, to improve glucose and lipid metabolic disorders, enhance immune function, alleviate inflammation-related diseases, exert anti-aging effects, and reduce uric acid levels. However, the molecular mechanisms through which individually extracted bioactive components from sea cucumber viscera exert their health benefits by modulating the gut microecology in animal models or clinical trials remain to be fully elucidated. This review aims to offer a scientific foundation for the high-value application of sea cucumber viscera.