The use of β-glucans and other polysaccharides from edible fungi for improving obesity: A review.

Obesity, primarily driven by long-term high-calorie diets, has become a major global public health issue and a key contributor to metabolic diseases. Current obesity treatments often have significant side effects and socioeconomic burdens. In contrast, bioactive β-glucans and other polysaccharides from edible fungi show obesity prevention effects with few adverse effects, making them potential candidates for obesity prevention and treatment. Although many studies have explained obesity development mechanisms, primarily through gut microbiota and intestinal barrier modulation. Moreover, several reviews have not mentioned the correlations between the weight loss mechanisms of polysaccharides and their complications. This review aims to discuss recent literature on various β-glucans and other polysaccharides from edible fungi, which exhibit anti-obesity activity, and whose mechanisms extend beyond gut microbiota regulation and intestinal barrier enhancement to encompass energy metabolism modulation and oxidative-inflammatory crosstalk suppression. It highlights their mechanisms of action and complications including hyperlipidemia and type 2 diabetes by influencing liver and kidney functions. In addition, this review also explores the structural relationships between obesity and the polysaccharides from edible fungi. Meanwhile, the application of β-glucans and other polysaccharides from edible fungi in functional foods and clinical medicine can be realized, so as to promote their exploration in low-weight healthy foods or clinical medicine for obesity prevention and treatment.