Extraction, characterization, and impact of Tartary buckwheat husk dietary fiber on metabolic functions and gut microbiota composition in obese mice

Tartary buckwheat dietary fiber (TBDF) was extracted from Tartary buckwheat husks via enzymatic hydrolysis, and the extraction process was optimized by response surface methodology. The optimal conditions were as follows: pH of 4.5, 16% enzyme concentration, and 10.5-h hydrolysis. To study its effects on metabolic health, different TBDF concentrations were added to mice’s drinking water for 5 weeks. Results showed that TBDF significantly inhibited weight gain in obese mice, reduced liver index and fat-to-body ratio, alleviated hepatic steatosis, and prevented excessive fat accumulation. Higher-concentration TBDF had more hypoglycemic effects. After the intervention, Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing was used to analyze gut microbiota. Comparing fecal samples from four groups, TBDF supplementation was found to enrich gut microbiota, increasing the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes. At the genus level, beneficial bacteria, such as Roseburia, Enterococcus, and Lactobacillus, were promoted. In conclusion, TBDF improves metabolic parameters and gut microbiota, offering a new dietary fiber-based strategy for obesity and metabolic disorders.