# Fabrication of Fructooligosaccharide‐Larimichthys crocea Peptide Copolymer by Wet‐Heating for Enhanced Calcium Delivery and Bone‐Lipid Metabolism Regulation

## TL;DR

A new food-based copolymer improves calcium absorption and helps balance bone and fat metabolism in cells.

## Contribution

A novel fructooligosaccharide-Larimichthys crocea peptide copolymer was fabricated for enhanced calcium delivery and bone-lipid regulation.

## Key findings

- FOS-LCP showed improved calcium-binding and intestinal uptake in vitro.
- FOS-LCP promoted osteogenesis and suppressed adipogenesis in bone marrow cells.
- FOS-LCP modulated Wnt/β-catenin signaling and reduced lipogenesis.

## Abstract

Calcium delivery systems based on food‐derived peptides and polysaccharides offer a promising strategy for improving calcium bioavailability while preserving peptide bioactivity. In this study, a fructooligosaccharide‐
Larimichthys crocea
peptide (FOS‐LCP) copolymer was fabricated by wet‐heating and evaluated as a multifunctional calcium carrier. FOS‐LCP showed improved calcium‐binding capacity, digestive stability, and resistance to dietary inhibitors, thus increasing Ca2+ uptake and transport in intestinal models in vitro. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells isolated from calcium–deficient mice were used to assess bone‐lipid regulation in vitro. In the presence of Ca2+, FOS‐LCP promoted osteogenic differentiation and osteogenic marker expression, suppressed adipogenic differentiation, activated the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway, inhibited PPARγ/C/EBPα‐driven lipogenesis, reduced adipokine secretion, and enhanced lipolytic gene expression. These findings indicate that FOS‐LCP coordinately enhances calcium absorption and rebalances bone‐lipid metabolism at the cellular level, supporting wet‐heating‐derived peptide‐polysaccharide copolymers as promising functional calcium delivery systems.

A food‐derived fructooligosaccharide‐
Larimichthys crocea
peptide (FOS‐LCP) copolymer was prepared by wet‐heating and exhibited high calcium‐binding capacity and enhanced intestinal calcium uptake compared with native peptides. In bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from calcium‐deficient mice, FOS‐LCP was found to promote osteogenesis while suppressing adipogenesis in vitro. These effects were associated with modulation of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling, supporting the potential of FOS‐LCP as a functional ingredient to improve calcium utilization and maintain bone‐lipid balance.