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Nutrients
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Recent Advances in Dietary Polysaccharides for Human Health and Diseases
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Recent Advances in Dietary Polysaccharides for Human Health and Diseases

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Carbohydrates".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 April 2026 | Viewed by 3360

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Peter Chi Keung Cheung

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Interests: chemical structure and biological functions of food polysaccharides; fungal and plant non-starch polysaccharides; gut health and prebiotics; dietary fiber and human health
Dr. Nelson Kei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Interests: health benefits of dietary fiber, prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics; role of gut microbiome in metabolic diseases

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The intake of food carbohydrates, particularly complex ones such as starch and non-starch polysaccharides, is a significant component of the human diet. Recent research in food and nutritional sciences has provided a more in-depth understanding of why and how dietary polysaccharides impact human health and diseases beyond their conventional nutritional roles. Due to their diverse chemical structure and physical characteristics, dietary polysaccharides (both native and modified ones), exhibit multifunctional properties in the direct and indirect prevention and treatment of various human health problems such as metabolic diseases and cancer. Some dietary polysaccharides also possess prebiotic properties, potentially improving gut microbiome composition and function.

This Special Issue will focus on recent advances in investigating dietary polysaccharides including, but not limited to, both starch and non-starch polysaccharides (dietary fiber) on human health and diseases. It aims to particularly emphasize the mechanistic correlation of the chemical structure and biological/physiological functions of dietary polysaccharides and their application in our diet as a functional food ingredient.

This Special Issue of Nutrients, “Recent Advances in Dietary Polysaccharides for Human Health and Diseases”, welcomes original research and reviews of the literature pertaining to this important topic.

Prof. Dr. Peter Chi Keung Cheung
Guest Editor

Dr. Nelson Kei
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bioactive carbohydrates
  • dietary fiber
  • non-starch polysaccharides
  • prebiotic polysaccharides
  • resistant starch
  • starch
  • chronic diseases
  • gut health
  • gut microbiome
  • physiological functions

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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19 pages, 3379 KB  
Article
Anti-Obesity Potential of Modified Pomelo-Peel Dietary Fiber-Based Pickering Emulsion
by Kaitao Peng, Shiyi Tian, Shuang Bi, Xian Cui, Kaili Gao and Yuhuan Liu
Nutrients 2025, 17(19), 3036; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17193036 - 23 Sep 2025
Viewed by 119
Abstract
Objectives: In response to the high prevalence of global obesity and associated metabolic diseases, this study aimed to investigate the effects of Pickering emulsions stabilized by cellulase-hydrolyzed pomelo peel insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), namely EPI and its octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA)-modified form (OSA-EPI), [...] Read more.
Objectives: In response to the high prevalence of global obesity and associated metabolic diseases, this study aimed to investigate the effects of Pickering emulsions stabilized by cellulase-hydrolyzed pomelo peel insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), namely EPI and its octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA)-modified form (OSA-EPI), on alleviating high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic disorders in mice. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to an HFD-induced obesity model. Biochemical index determination, histopathological examination, gut microbiota analysis, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) analysis were used to study the potential efficacy of pomelo peel IDF-based emulsion (EPI and OSA-EPI) in alleviating obesity and related metabolic diseases. Results: The findings demonstrated that both emulsions effectively mitigated HFD-induced health impairments: reduced weight gain, improved blood glucose and lipid profiles, attenuated tissue steatosis and inflammation, and lowered oxidative stress. Furthermore, both EPI and OSA-EPI restored gut microbiota diversity, promoted the proliferation of beneficial bacterial taxa (e.g., Akkermansia), and inhibited the growth of harmful genera (e.g., Muribaculum, Faecalibaculum). These changes were accompanied by increased production of SCFAs. Conclusions: This study confirms that modified pomelo peel IDF can effectively exert the health intervention effect of IDF on obesity when used as an emulsion stabilizer, providing a robust scientific foundation for the application of emulsified dietary fibers in combating obesity and related metabolic disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Dietary Polysaccharides for Human Health and Diseases)
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14 pages, 1924 KB  
Article
Effects of Prebiotics Inulin and Oat β-Glucan on Colonic Architecture and Hepatic Proteome in Mice with Circadian-Disruption-Aggravated Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis
by Nelson Kei, Kam Kuen Cheung, Ka Lee Ma, Tsz Kwan Yau, Susana Lauw, Xing Kang, Kiwi Wai Yan Sun, Yu Wang, Vincent Wai Sun Wong, Sunny Hei Wong and Peter Chi Keung Cheung
Nutrients 2025, 17(13), 2245; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17132245 - 7 Jul 2025
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Abstract
Background: Circadian disruption (CD) aggravates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), but supplementation with prebiotics inulin and oat β-glucan may mitigate its effects. However, their impact on colonic architecture and hepatic proteome remains unclear. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the effects of prebiotics inulin and [...] Read more.
Background: Circadian disruption (CD) aggravates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), but supplementation with prebiotics inulin and oat β-glucan may mitigate its effects. However, their impact on colonic architecture and hepatic proteome remains unclear. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the effects of prebiotics inulin and oat β-glucan on colonic architecture and hepatic proteome in mice with CD-aggravated MASH. Methods: CD was induced by weekly reversal of the light–dark cycle to simulate shift work. Male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to non-shifted chow, non-shifted fructose, palmitate, cholesterol, and trans-fat (FPC) diet, shifted chow, or shifted FPC diet (SFPC) for 26 weeks. Prebiotics inulin and oat β-glucan supplementation were provided to the SFPC group in the final 10 weeks. Distal colon and serum samples were collected for histological examination and endotoxemia evaluation, respectively. Liver samples were collected for proteomic mass spectrometry analysis. Results: Mice with CD-aggravated MASH were found with colonic crypt loss and a distinct hepatic proteome structure compared to mice with non-CD MASH. Notably, inulin showed better effects than oat β-glucan in preserving colonic crypts in mice with CD-aggravated MASH. Furthermore, inulin supplementation restored the hepatic proteome structure similar to that of non-CD MASH mice, a benefit not observed with oat β-glucan. Conclusions: Given our prior findings showing oat β-glucan’s superior ability to enrich gut bacterial species associated with MASH improvement under CD, this study highlights inulin’s unique benefits for colonic architecture and hepatic proteome regulation in CD-aggravated MASH. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Dietary Polysaccharides for Human Health and Diseases)
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20 pages, 2842 KB  
Systematic Review
Impact of Arabinoxylan Consumption on Glycemic Control: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Preclinical and Clinical Studies
by Yujing Xu, Yuxin Liang and Jung Eun Kim
Nutrients 2025, 17(17), 2840; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17172840 - 31 Aug 2025
Viewed by 989
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Arabinoxylan (AX) has shown potential benefits in glycemic control; however, findings remain inconclusive. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of AX intake on glycemic control in preclinical and clinical studies. Methods: A database search was conducted [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Arabinoxylan (AX) has shown potential benefits in glycemic control; however, findings remain inconclusive. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of AX intake on glycemic control in preclinical and clinical studies. Methods: A database search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL. A total of 133 studies were included for systematic review and extracted data from 46 clinical studies and 25 preclinical studies were further analyzed for meta-analysis. Results: The AX consumption improved overall postprandial glycemic control in clinical studies, as evidenced by reductions in glucose iAUC (SMD: −0.41; 95% CI: [−0.57, −0.25]), insulin iAUC (SMD: −0.28; 95% CI: [−0.44, −0.12]), glucose iPeak (SMD: −0.52; 95% CI: [−0.80, −0.25]), and insulin iPeak (SMD: −0.24; 95% CI: [−0.41, −0.06]) compared to the control. For chronic glycemic control, fasting glucose (Hedges’ g: −1.18; 95% CI: [−1.56, −0.80]), insulin (Hedges’ g: −1.07; 95% CI: [−1.92, −0.23]), HbA1c (Hedges’ g: −2.93; 95% CI: [−5.48, −0.38]), and HOMA-IR (Hedges’ g: −2.44; 95% CI: [−3.66, −1.22]) reduced in preclinical studies, while improvements were limited to fasting glucose (MD: −0.10; 95% CI: [−0.16, −0.03]) in clinical studies. Subgroup analyses revealed that AX exerted a greater glycemic-lowering effect in metabolically impaired animals and individuals compared to healthy counterparts. Furthermore, extracted AX was found to be more effective than intrinsic AX in optimizing glycemic control. Conclusions: The consumption of AX improves glycemic control, particularly in metabolically impaired animals and human participants. Moreover, the benefit appears more pronounced with extract AX interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Dietary Polysaccharides for Human Health and Diseases)
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