Fucoidan alleviates dyslipidemia and modulates gut microbiota in high-fat diet-induced mice

Fucoidan is a functional food that possesses various biological activities. This study aims to determine the effects of fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida on gut microbiota and dyslipidemia in BALB/c mice. In vitro, fucoidan could support the growth of three lactic acid bacteria strains. The test groups with high fat diet (HFD) were gavaged with fucoidan at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day or 100 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks. Fucoidan decreased total serum cholesterol (P < 0.05), LDL-C (P < 0.05) and liver cholesterol levels (P < 0.05). The steatosis of liver was improved in fucoidan-supplemented groups. Fucoidan also decreased the expression of cholesterol related proteins (HMGCR, SREBP-2) in liver (P < 0.05). The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of gut microbiota showed that fucoidan increased abundance of Bacteroidetes and Alloprevotella, whereas decreased abundance of Firmicutes, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. Taken together, the results suggest fucoidan alleviates dyslipidemia and modulates gut microbiota in HFD-fed mice.