Phytic Acid Improves Hepatic Steatosis, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in High-Fat Diet (HFD)-Fed Mice by Modulating the Gut-Liver Axis.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by obesity is a grave threat to human health. Phytic acid (PA) is a natural compound found in high-fiber diets, such as soybeans. This study investigated the effects and mechanisms of PA on obesity, hepatic lipid metabolism, and gut-liver axis homeostasis in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. PA was observed to significantly inhibit obesity and alleviate liver steatosis in mice. PA improved HFD-induced liver inflammation, oxidative stress and fibrosis. Moreover, PA improved HFD-induced colonic inflammation, gut barrier damage and systemic inflammation in mice. Furthermore, PA effectively ameliorated the decreased diversity and gut microbiota composition in HFD-fed mice. Additionally, PA decreased the abundance of harmful bacteria Proteobacteria and Desulfovibrionaceae and increased the abundance of probiotic bacteria Muribaculaceae and Lachnospiraceae . Thus, PA is effective in restoring the homeostasis of the gut-liver axis. It further provides a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD in patients with obesity by the rational intake of foods containing PA.