This study investigated the influence of chitosan oligosaccharides
(COSs) on a thioacetamide-induced hepatic encephalopathy (HE) Wistar
rat model. COS treatment statistically reduced the false neurotransmitters
and blood ammonia in HE rats, along with the suppression of oxidative
stress and inflammation. The disbalanced gut microbiota was detected
in HE rats by 16S rDNA sequencing, but the abundance alterations of
some intestinal bacteria at either the phylum or genus level were
at least partly restored by COS treatment. According to metabolomics
analysis of rat feces, six metabolism pathways with the greatest response
to HE were screened, several of which were remarkably reversed by
COS. The altered metabolites might serve as a bridge for the alleviated
HE rats treated with COS and the enhanced intestinal bacterial structure.
This study provides novel guidance to develop novel food or dietary
supplements to improve HE diseases due to the potential beneficial
effect of COS on gut–liver axis.