Stachyose alleviates high-fat diet-induced obesity via browning of white adipose tissue and modulation of gut microbiota

Obesity is closely associated with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other long-term health complications. The indication of browning in white adipose tissue (WAT) has emerged as a promising strategy to combat obesity. This study investigates the effect of stachyose (STA) on WAT browning in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Our findings demonstrated that STA significantly inhibited body weight gain, improved glucose tolerance, and reduced serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers in HFD-induced overweight mice. STA administration promoted WAT browning and enhanced brown adipose tissue activity, as evidenced by increased protein levels of uncoupling protein 1 and other browning markers. Additionally, STA treatment modulated gut microbiota composition, regulated hepatic bile acids levels, and maintained intestinal barrier integrity. These results suggest that STA alleviates obesity by inducing WAT browning and modulating gut microbiota.