Metabolic syndrome is the pathological basis of cardiovascular and
cerebrovascular diseases and
type 2 diabetes. With the prevalence of modern lifestyles, the incidence of
metabolic syndrome has risen rapidly. In recent years, marine
sulfate polysaccharides (MSPs) have shown positive effects in the prevention and treatment of
metabolic syndrome, and they mainly come from seaweeds and marine animals. MSPs are rich in
sulfate and have stronger
biological activity compared with terrestrial
polysaccharides. MSPs can alleviate
metabolic syndrome by regulating
glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism. In addition, MSPs prevent and treat
metabolic syndrome by interacting with gut microbiota. MSPs can be degraded by gut microbes to produce metabolites such as
short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and free
sulfate and affect the composition of gut microbiota. The difference between MSPs and other
polysaccharides lies in the sulfation pattern and
sulfate content, therefore, which is very important for anti-
metabolic syndrome activity of MSPs. This review summarizes the latest findings on effects of MSPs on
metabolic syndrome, mechanisms of MSPs in treatment/prevention of
metabolic syndrome, interactions between MSPs and gut microbiota, and the role of
sulfate group and sulfation pattern in MSPs activity. However, more clinical trials are needed to confirm the potential preventive and
therapeutic effects on human body. It may be a better choice to develop new functional foods containing MSPs for dietary intervention in
metabolic syndrome.