Effects of Modified Dietary Fiber from Fresh Corn Bracts on Obesity and Intestinal Microbiota in High-Fat-Diet Mice

Molecules. 2023 Jun 23;28(13):4949. doi: 10.3390/molecules28134949.

Abstract

The effects of insoluble dietary fiber from fresh corn bracts modified by dynamic high-pressure micro-fluidization (DHPM) on the pathological characteristics of obesity, intestinal microflora distribution and production of short-chain fatty acids in high-fat-diet C57BL/6 mice were evaluated. The results show that the DHPM-modified dietary fiber from fresh corn bracts significantly reduces weight gain, insulin resistance and oxidative damage caused by a high-fat diet, and promotes the production of SCFAs, especially acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid. These modified dietary fibers also change the proportion of different types of bacteria in the intestinal microflora of mice, reduce the ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota and promote the proliferation of Bifidobacteriales. Therefore, the DHPM-modified dietary fiber from fresh corn bracts can be used as a good intestinal microbiota regulator to promote intestinal health, thereby achieving the role of preventing and treating obesity.

Keywords: fresh corn bracts; intestinal microbiota; modified dietary fiber; obese mice.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Butyric Acid / pharmacology
  • Diet, High-Fat* / adverse effects
  • Dietary Fiber / pharmacology
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Obesity / prevention & control
  • Zea mays

Substances

  • Butyric Acid
  • Dietary Fiber

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Key Research and Development Program (Modern Agriculture) of Dantu District, Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province, grant number NY2021001.