The effect of xanthan gum-based fluid thickener in gut microbiome.. Rattus

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a fluid thickener composed of xanthan gum on the regulation of gene expression in the gastrointestinal tract and the gut microbiome. Six-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: with or without the administration of a xanthan gum-based fluid thickener for 5 weeks, named Th and Co groups, respectively. Gene expression in the ileum was comprehensively analyzed by RNA sequencing. The gut microbial composition was evaluated based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that the cholesterol homeostasis and fatty acid metabolism gene sets were enriched in the Th group. The bacterial network structure was altered by administering the fluid thickener. Metagenome prediction indicated that fatty acid biosynthesis and butanoate metabolism were more enriched in the Th group than in the Co group.