Potato Turned Rice Mitigates Colitis through Gut Microbiota-Driven Regulation of SCFAs Production and Bile Acid Homeostasis

Exploring alternative staple foods supports food security, yet fresh potatoes have storage and palatability limitations. Potato turned rice (PTR), a processed potato product to overcome these drawbacks, may benefit gut health, but its anticolitis effects and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated PTR’s physicochemical properties, gut microbiota modulation, and protection against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. PTR retained a stable postcooking V-type crystalline structure of type 5 resistant starch (RS5), distinct from normal rice (NRC). Long-term PTR intake elevated gut microbial α diversity and enriched beneficial genera. In colitis mice, PTR alleviated symptoms, preserved intestinal barrier, promoted short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and restored bile acid metabolism via farnesoid X receptor (FXR) upregulation. Antibiotic-induced microbiota depletion abolished PTR’s benefits, while fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from PTR-fed donors transferred colitis protection. Collectively, PTR alleviates colitis through the gut microbiota–SCFAs–bile acid axis, showing potential as a gut-beneficial functional staple.