The effect of a seaweed sulfated xylorhamnoglucuronan extract on gut, metabolic and skin health outcomes

The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is high in Australia and new and innovative strategies are required to address these health concerns. Furthermore, a dysbiosis in the gut microbiota is linked to many of these metabolic and inflammatory conditions. Seaweeds and seaweed glycans have been identified as an effective treatment for metabolic and gut health issues evidenced mostly by animal and in vitro trials and need to be confirmed in human trials. Therefore, the central aim of this thesis was to determine the effect of a seaweed derived Ulva Sp. sulfated xylorhamnoglucuronan extract (SXRG) on metabolic and inflammatory markers and assess the impact on gut microbiota composition in humans.