Soybean carbohydrate improved blood vessel function in aged mice
In 20-month-old mice, 12 weeks of supplementation restored blood vessel relaxation controlled by the vessel lining and reduced signs of inflammation.
Limit: The abstract does not report the supplement dose
Edited by Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News
In an animal experiment, 20-month-old naturally aged mice received soybean polysaccharide, a complex carbohydrate, for 12 weeks. The supplement restored blood vessel relaxation controlled by the endothelium, the vessels’ inner lining. It also reduced chemically reactive oxygen molecules in the aorta, the body's main artery, improved the gut barrier and reduced signs of inflammation.
The supplement enriched gut bacteria that produce butyrate and increased butyrate levels in the gut and blood. Giving butyrate itself reproduced the blood vessel and gut benefits. Butyrate activated signaling through PPARγ, a protein that regulates gene activity, and reduced p21, a protein that halts cell division. The authors concluded that their findings supported a pathway linking gut bacteria, butyrate and these proteins through which the supplement protected against age-related blood vessel dysfunction.
Why it matters
Age-related problems in the lining of blood vessels contribute to cardiovascular disease. The authors see the connection between gut microbes and blood vessels as a potential nutritional target in cardiovascular aging.
Caveats
These mouse experiments do not show whether the supplement benefits people. The abstract does not report the number of animals or the supplement dose.
The paper
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Oct 28, 2026
