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Effects of kiwifruit and mixed dietary fibre on faecal properties and microbiota in rats: a dose–response analysis
Author(s) -
Monro John A.,
Paturi Gunaranjan,
Mishra Suman
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international journal of food science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.831
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1365-2621
pISSN - 0950-5423
DOI - 10.1111/ijfs.13491
Subject(s) - food science , fermentation , dietary fibre , gut flora , chemistry , design for manufacturability , composition (language) , biochemistry , linguistics , philosophy , mechanical engineering , engineering
Summary In this study, a rat model was used to explore the interaction of kiwifruit with co‐consumed mixed dietary fibre. Rats were used in three consecutive trials in which faecal properties and composition, and bacterial populations were examined. In trial 1 diets, content of a dietary fibre mixture ( DFM ; Raftiline–citrus fibre–wheat fibre) was increased from 0% to 20%. In trial 2, dried kiwifruit pulp ( KFP ) content was increased from 0% to 20%. In trial 3, KFP was increased from 0% to 20% in a diet containing a 20% basal content of the DFM . The KFP caused a small dose‐dependent increase in faecal bulk and water‐holding capacity and had much less effect than the DFM . Faecal bacterial populations examined were stable across all diets and intakes of DFM and KFP . The disappearance of fermentable fibre during hind gut passage was not reduced with increasing KFP . Therefore, kiwifruit may not only have the beneficial effect of extending fermentation distally in the colon through gut activation, but may do so without disrupting the bacterial ecosystem and its functions.