Policosanol alleviates chronic stress-induced growth impairment via gut microbiota-metabolite interactions: insights from 16S rRNA sequencing and LC-MS metabolomics

Policosanol mitigates stress-induced growth impairment by modulating gut microbiota (e.g., reducing p_Verrucomicrobiota and <i>g_Akkermansia</i> abundances) and restoring metabolite levels (e.g., increasing PAGln). The coregulation of the gut microbiota and metabolome was highlighted by a strong correlation between <i>g_Bacteroides</i> and Phenylacetylglutamine (PAGln), suggesting a potential functional interaction that may contribute to the anti-stress effects of policosanol, though causality remains to be established.