Effect of Selenium-Rich Konjac Glucomannan on Intestinal Microbial Diversity in Mice

Abstract

Background: Known for its myriad health benefits, konjac glucomannan (KGM), a fermentable fiber, has alleviated constipation and enhanced the population of beneficial gut bacteria. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different concentrations of KGM on the intestinal microorganisms of mice. Methods: We utilized the Illumina HiSeq high-throughput sequencing platform to scrutinize mouse gut bacterias 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) V3+V4 region, investigating the effects of feeding low, medium and high KGM doses on the intestinal flora. The multi-faceted analysis included species composition, alpha, and beta diversity analysis, Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) flora differential analysis, correlation of flora correlation, and predictive functional analysis, offering comprehensive insights into the varying impacts of KGM dosages. Results: The investigation revealed intriguing distinctions in gut microbiota between KGM and control groups. A phylum-level breakdown showed that Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes as the primary microflora across all samples. Notably, the high-dose KGM group exhibited an increased abundance of Firmicutes compared to the control group, coupled with a contrasting decrease in Bacteroidetes. Furthermore, Actinobacteria proliferation was markedly enhanced within the high-dose KGM group. Compared with the control group, all KGM dose groups (low, medium and high) displayed a decline in Deferribacteres, Verrucomicrobia and Proteobacteria. Moreover, mice treated with high-dose KGM showed significantly increased gut populations of Coriobacteriales, Eggerthellaceae, Enterorhabdus, Lactobacillales, Lactobacillaceae, Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and others. Interestingly, at the genus level, a positive correlation was observed among Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium and Jeotgalicoccus. In the medium-dose KGM group, amino acid metabolism surged noticeably compared to the control group. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that KGM significantly influences gut microbiota composition in mice. Key shifts include the enhancement of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, decreasing Deferribacteres, Verrucomicrobia and Proteobacteria, and augmented amino acid metabolism. These findings underline KGMs potential as a prebiotic agent.