Food additive glycerol monocaprylate modulated systemic inflammation and gut microbiota without stimulating metabolic dysfunction in high-fat diet fed mice.

[Display omitted] • GMC significantly ameliorated visceral fat accumulation in HFD-fed mice. • GMC improved systemic inflammation in HFD-fed mice. • GMC modulated gut microbiota dysbiosis with increased beneficial bacteria and promoted SCFAs production. • GMC-induced metabolic improvements were closely related to gut microbiota regulation. • Not all of the food preservatives and emulsifiers would drive gut microbiota dysbiosis. Recent findings imply that great consideration should be given to the potential health risks of food additives on gut microbiota. Glycerol monocaprylate (GMC) is a widely consumed food preservative and emulsifier. Our results indicated that GMC significantly ameliorated visceral fat accumulation and systemic inflammation in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Furthermore, GMC induced improvements on the composition and function of gut microbiota, resulting in increased beneficial gut bacteria (Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus) and promoted production of short chain fatty acids. Notably, GMC-induced metabolic amelioration is closely related to the regulation in gut microbiota. Overall, our findings supported that unlike the emulsifiers previously reported to damage intestinal health, GMC performed the potential on attenuating HFD-induced metabolic disorders and gut microbiota dysbiosis, which also refined on the safety evaluation of GMC on gut microbiota. Our findings suggest that when evaluating the safety of food additives with regards to gut microbiota, it is important to take into account the specific characteristics of the additive in question, rather than simply relying on its classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]