Dietary Equisetum arvense Polysaccharides Alleviate Obesity in Aged Mice Associated with Altered Gut Microbiota

Abstract

Equisetum arvense polysaccharides (EAP) represent promising functional nutrients with anti-obesity properties. Using a high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese aging mouse model, this study investigated the anti-obesity efficacy and underlying mechanisms of EAP from the perspective of intestinal microbiota and systemic metabolic networks. Histological assays, biochemical measurements, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and untargeted metabolomics were adopted to comprehensively detect inflammatory factors, oxidative stress markers, lipid profiles, intestinal flora, and metabolites. The results demonstrated that EAP reduced body weight, alleviated lipid accumulation in hepatic and epididymal adipose tissues, restored lipid homeostasis, recovered the gut microbial diversity impaired by high-fat feeding, and modulated intestinal metabolites. In conclusion, EAP may represent a potential functional dietary ingredient for obesity management.