High-Molecular-Weight Pectin Alleviates Fiber-Free High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity by Regulating the Colonic...

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Microbiology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Obesity is linked to high-fat, fiber-deficient diets disrupting the gut microbiome.
• Pectin, a dietary fiber, may mitigate these effects, but its efficacy might depend on molecular weight.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if pectin molecular weight influences its efficacy in a fiber-free, high-fat diet (FF-HFD) mouse model.
• To compare the effects of high-molecular-weight apple pectin (HAP) versus low-molecular-weight pectin (LAP) on metabolic health and gut parameters.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a fiber-free, high-fat-diet (FF-HFD) mouse model (young and aged C57BL/6J mice).
• Administered HAP and LAP and assessed body weight, glucose homeostasis, lipid profiles, barrier markers, inflammation, and brain LPS.
• Analyzed fecal microbiota and fermentation outputs, including segment-resolved profiling.

Main Results:

• HAP significantly improved body weight gain, glucose homeostasis, and lipid abnormalities compared to LAP in young mice.
• HAP enhanced barrier markers, reduced systemic inflammation and brain LPS, and partially normalized gut microbiota and fermentation.
• HAP alleviated hepatic steatosis and behavioral deficits in aged mice on FF-HFD.

Conclusions:

• Pectin molecular weight is a critical factor determining its efficacy in mitigating adverse effects of fiber-deficient, high-fat diets.
• HAP demonstrates superior benefits over LAP for metabolic health, gut barrier function, and inflammation reduction.
• Optimizing pectin molecular weight offers a practical strategy for dietary interventions in high-fat feeding conditions.