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Effect of prebiotics on human colonic bifidobacteria
Author(s) -
Albrecht Julie,
Skar Krista Mendlik,
Giraud David,
Schnepf Marilynn
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a731-a
Subject(s) - flatulence , inulin , washout , prebiotic , feces , crossover study , medicine , food science , bifidobacterium , zoology , gastroenterology , biology , lactobacillus , microbiology and biotechnology , fermentation , alternative medicine , pathology , placebo
Human gastrointestinal health may be improved by the consumption of prebiotic food ingredients such as fructooligosaccharides. A study was initiated to determine the effect of fructooligosaccharides of different chain lengths on gastrointestinal parameters. Nineteen healthy subjects aged 20–57 y took part in a 10 week cross‐over designed study. Subjects consumed either inulin or oligofructose for 3 weeks followed by a 2 week washout period between treatments. Stool samples were collected five times (baseline, 2 treatment, 2 washout) and analyzed for bifidobacteria. Daily records were kept for stool frequency, stool consistency and flatulence frequency. Bifidobacteria counts (cfu/ml) were higher (trending toward significance) during inulin and oligofructose intakes (1.2×10 7 + 4.6×10 7 and 1.9×10 8 + 4.4×10 8 ) and washout periods (3.0×10 6 + 6.5×10 6 and 1.1×10 7 + 1.6×10 7) than baseline counts (2.4×10 5 + 5.5×10 5 and 3.0×10 6 + 6.5×10 6 ), respectively. Inulin and oligofructose treatment periods had a significant effect on stool consistency (watery/very hard) and flatulence frequency, but not stool frequency, when compared to baseline (P<0.05). Further research is needed to confirm these results due to small sample size and the need for a longer washout period between treatments. Supported by the University of Nebraska Agricultural Research Division.