n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) exhibit critical regulatory functions in physiological metabolism, yet their concentrations in conventional pork remain scant. This study systematically investigated the comparative effects of long-term consumption of conventional pork (CP) versus n-3 PUFAs-rich pork (n-3 P) on metabolic homeostasis, employing a murine model to delineate mechanisms underlying lipid regulation, trimethylamine (TMA)/ trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) modulation, and gut microbiota restructuring. The results showed that, compared with the consumption of CP, n-3 P significantly inhibited the body weight gain (P < 0.05). Moreover, n-3 P improved dyslipidemia by regulating signaling molecules such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)α/γ and fatty acid synthase (FAS), and restored bile acid metabolism disorders by regulating signaling molecules such as farnesoid x receptor (FXR) and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1). n-3 P could reduce the content of TMA/TMAO by regulating the choline-TMA-TMAO axis. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed n-3 P reshaped the gut microbiota, significantly increasing α and β diversities (P < 0.05) and simultaneously reducing the abundances of Lachnospiraceae and Lachnoclostridium. These findings highlight the potential value of n-3 P in body weight control, prevention of metabolic disorders and inflammation, enhancement of intestinal barrier function, reduction of TMA/TMAO levels, and amelioration of gut microbiota.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of arabinoxylan and its blend with β-glucan on fecal metabolites in mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity. Sixteen male ICR/KM mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal diet (CON), high-fat diet (HFD), high-fat diet supplemented with arabinoxylan (HFAX) and high-fat diet supplemented with arabinoxylan + β-glucan (HFAβ). The composition and content of fecal metabolites in each group of mice were investigated by ¹H-NMR-based metabolomics. The results showed that a total of 67 small molecule metabolites, including amino acids, peptides, organic acids, carbohydrates, nucleosides, nucleotides and their derivatives, were identified. Compared with the normal diet group, the HFD group had significantly higher levels of fecal cholate, xanthine and pyroglutamate (P < 0.05) and significantly lower levels of valine, acetoacetate, 4-hydroxyphenylacetate, 3,4-dihydroxybenzeneacetate, phenylacetate, glutamine, isoleucine and asparagine (P < 0.05). Compared with the HFD group, the concentrations of glutamine, acetate, 4-hydroxyphenylacetate, glucose, asparagine, isobutyrate and threonine increased significantly in the arabinoxylan supplement group (P < 0.05), while the concentrations of nicotinate, pyroglutamate and cholate decreased significantly (P < 0.05). In particular, compared with the HFAX group, the amount of pyroglutamate increased significantly (P < 0.05), while the levels of acetate, butyrate, glucose, glutamine, isobutyrate and propionate decreased significantly in the HFAβ group (P < 0.05). The metabolic pathway and enrichment analysis revealed that the major pathways included the synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, butanoate metabolism, and alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism. In conclusion, arabinoxylan and its mixture with β-glucan supplementation could improve fecal metabolomic profiles in mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity.