RESUMEN
Chitooligosaccharides (COS) have garnered great attention in the field of human healthcare. The prebiotic activities and antiglycation of COS were investigated using a combination of in vitro and in vivo studies. COS supplementation dramatically increased the levels of acetic acid, while reducing the concentrations of propionic and butyric acids. It also decreased the total bacterial population; however, it did not affect diversity and richness of the gut microbiota. In addition, COS modulated the gut microbiota composition by increasing Bacteroidetes, decreasing Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, and lowering the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. COS promoted the generation of beneficial Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium genera, while suppressing the pathogenic Klebsiella genus. The antiglycation activity of COS and acetic acid was dose-dependent. Furthermore, COS prevented the decrease of serum Nε-(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML) level caused by CML ingestion in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity. To improve host health, COS could be potential prebiotics in food products.