Dietary Supplements

Propionyl-Fructooligosaccharide Alleviates DSS-Induced Colitis in Association with Changes in Gut Microbiota, Inflammatory Responses, and Intestinal Barrier Function.

Tan D, Lou Y, et al. • Journal of agricultural and food chemistry • 2026

PubMed 42980446 DOI 10.1021/acs.jafc.6c08347
TL;DR

In a DSS-induced colitis mouse model, propionyl-fructooligosaccharide (P-FOS) showed protective effects, being associated with lower disease activity, less colon shortening and histological injury, preserved goblet cells, reduced inflammatory markers, increased barrier-related expression, and altered gut microbiota and colonic SCFA profiles, and it warrants further investigation as an esterified prebiotic.

Key Findings

Background

P-FOS is an esterified prebiotic synthesized from fructooligosaccharides and propionic acid that was tested in a DSS-induced colitis mouse model.

  • The compound combines a fructooligosaccharide with propionic acid via esterification.
  • Evaluation was done in mice with colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS).
Results

P-FOS treatment was associated with improved clinical and macroscopic disease outcomes in DSS colitis mice.

  • The abstract reports lower disease activity with P-FOS treatment.
  • Colon shortening was attenuated.
  • Specific numerical values and p-values are not given in the abstract.
Results

P-FOS reduced histological injury and preserved goblet cells in the colon.

  • Histological injury was reduced with P-FOS treatment.
  • Goblet cells were preserved relative to the colitis condition.
Results

P-FOS decreased the expression of several inflammation-associated markers.

  • The abstract states reduced expression of 'several inflammation-associated markers'.
  • The specific markers are not named in the abstract.
Results

P-FOS increased intestinal barrier-related gene and protein expression, including Muc2 mRNA and occludin protein.

  • Muc2 mRNA expression was increased.
  • Occludin protein expression was increased.
  • These changes accompanied preserved goblet cells.
Results

P-FOS treatment was associated with changes in gut microbial diversity and composition and altered colonic short-chain fatty acid profiles.

  • Changes in both diversity and composition of the gut microbiota were observed.
  • Colonic SCFA profiles differed with P-FOS treatment.
  • The findings are described as associations.
Conclusions

The study did not establish a colon-targeted release mechanism for P-FOS.

  • Gastrointestinal stability, ester bond cleavage, and direct propionate release from P-FOS were not determined.
  • The authors state the findings should not be interpreted as direct evidence of colon-targeted release.

What This Means

This study tested a modified dietary fiber called propionyl-fructooligosaccharide (P-FOS), made by chemically attaching propionic acid to a prebiotic fiber, in mice with colitis (gut inflammation) induced by a chemical called DSS. Mice given P-FOS had milder disease, less shortening of the colon (a sign of inflammation), less tissue damage, and kept more of the mucus-producing goblet cells that protect the gut lining. P-FOS was also linked to lower levels of several inflammation-related markers and higher levels of genes and proteins that support the gut barrier, including Muc2 (a mucus component) and occludin (a protein that seals gaps between gut cells). The gut bacteria community and the short-chain fatty acids in the colon also differed in treated mice, though these are associations and do not prove how the benefit occurred. The authors caution that they did not test whether P-FOS survives digestion, whether its chemical bond is broken, or whether it releases propionate in the colon, so the results do not show it works by delivering propionate there. This research suggests P-FOS may be worth further study as a prebiotic, but it is an animal study and does not show effects in people.

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Citation

Tan D, Lou Y, Chen W, Wang Q, Bai W, Tian L. (2026). Propionyl-Fructooligosaccharide Alleviates DSS-Induced Colitis in Association with Changes in Gut Microbiota, Inflammatory Responses, and Intestinal Barrier Function.. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.6c08347