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Ulva lactuca is poorly fermented but alters bacterial metabolism in rats inoculated with human faecal flora from methane and non‐methane producers
Author(s) -
Andrieux Claude,
Hibert Anne,
Houari AnneMarie,
Bensaada Martine,
Popot Françoise,
Szylit Odette
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0010(199805)77:1<25::aid-jsfa989>3.0.co;2-c
Subject(s) - ulva lactuca , lactuca , fermentation , biology , inoculation , food science , flora (microbiology) , microbiology and biotechnology , metabolism , botany , bacteria , biochemistry , horticulture , genetics
In vivo fermentation of Ulva lactuca was studied in previously germ‐free rats inoculated with human flora obtained from non‐, low‐ and high‐methane producers (groups NMP, LMP and HMP, respectively), in comparison to germ‐free rats. Rats were fed either a control diet or a diet containing 4% of dried Ulva lactuca . Production of metabolites varied according to the flora and diet. Ulva lactuca induced a specific high production of methane in the HMP group. With the three human flora, Ulva diet induced a similar increase in caecal pH. In the NMP and HMP groups, this increase was associated with a fall of lactic acid caecal concentration. In the LMP group it was related to a decrease in the concentration of short‐chain fatty acids. Ulva lactuca appeared to be able to regulate the β‐glucuronidase and β‐glucosidase activities, reducing the relatively high levels observed in groups NMP and HMP and increasing the low levels obtained in the LMP group. Results show that, although it was poorly fermented, Ulva induced significant effects on the gut microflora metabolism. The methanogenic status of the human donor appeared to be an important factor. © 1998 SCI.