The effect of arabinoxylooligosaccharides on gastric sensory‐motor function and nutrient tolerance in man

Background Intestinal microbiota regulates gastrointestinal sensory‐motor function. Prebiotics such as arabinoxylan‐oligosaccharide ( AXOS ) are non‐digestible, fermentable food ingredients beneficially affecting intestinal microbiota, colon activity, and improving human health. We wanted to investigate whether acute AXOS or maltodextrin (placebo) administration may alter gastric sensitivity ( GS ), accommodation ( GA ), nutrient tolerance ( NT ) in man. Methods Thirteen HV (6 M, 32.2 ± 1.8 years; BMI 22.3 ± 0.2) underwent two 48 h treatment periods with oral 4 × 9.4 g AXOS or 4 × 10 g maltodextrin (at least 1 week wash‐out) for gastric barostat assessment of GS , gastric compliance ( GC ), GA to a liquid test meal, on day 1, and NT drink test, on day 2. Oro‐cecal transit‐time ( OCTT ), colonic fermentation ( CF ) were assessed simultaneously with 13 C‐lactose ureide, H 2 breath tests. Key Results Arabinoxylan‐oligosaccharide significantly increased CF on day 1 and 2 (565 ± 272 vs 100 ± 24, 365 ± 66 vs 281 ± 25 H2 ppm/min, AXOS vs maltodextrin, both p < 0.05), not the OCTT . AXOS did not alter GC , sensitivity before and after the meal. Gastric accommodation was not significantly influenced by AXOS (volume increment: 171 ± 33 vs 130 ± 28 mL, AXOS vs maltodextrin, p = NS ). On day 1, AXOS fermentation was associated with significantly higher postprandial bloating scores (960 ± 235 vs 396 ± 138 mm*min, AXOS vs maltodextrin, p < 0.05). On day 2, AXOS did not affect maximal NT (946 ± 102 vs 894 ± 97 mL, AXOS vs maltodextrin, p = NS ), increased the bloating score (1236 ± 339 vs 675 ± 197 mm*min, AXOS vs maltodextrin, p < 0.05). Conclusions & Inferences Acute AXOS administration, associated with increased CF , does not affect GA , is not associated with increased meal‐induced satiety or perception scores.