Xylo-oligosaccharides ameliorate high cholesterol diet induced hypercholesterolemia and modulate sterol excretion and gut microbiota in hamsters.

• Xylo-oligosaccharides reduced plasma total cholesterol levels. • Xylo-oligosaccharides increased fecal outputs of neutral and acidic sterols. • Xylo-oligosaccharides increased fecal outputs of short chain fatty acids. • Xylo-oligosaccharides influenced gut microbiota composition. The present study investigated the cholesterol-lowering activity of xylo- oligosaccharides and its associated underlying mechanisms in hamsters. Twenty-four hamsters were randomly divided into three groups and fed one of three diets, namely a low cholesterol diet, a high cholesterol diet (HCD), and an HCD diet with supplementation of 5% xylo -oligosaccharides for 6 weeks. The changes in gut microbiota, fecal neutral and acidic sterols were examined. Results exhibited that xylo- oligosaccharides could significantly reduce plasma total cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total triacylglycerol by 11.24%, 24.89% and 38.72%, respectively (p < 0.05). Such benefits were associated with an increase in fecal outputs of neutral and acidic sterols as well as SCFAs. Furthermore, dietary supplementation with xylo -oligosaccharides could change the composition of gut microbiota. It was therefore concluded that xylo -oligosaccharides supplementation could reduce plasma cholesterol levels, enhance the excretion of neutral and acidic sterols, and promote the production of SCFAs via changing the gut microbiota composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]