A Di-D-Fructose Dianhydride-Enriched Caramel Modulates Pig Fecal Microbiota Composition

Abstract

A correlation has been previously described between bifidobacteria counts before and after the use of a dietary additive in human studies. However, to our knowledge no information on this topic has yet been reported in animals, and no information exists either on similar possible correlations of bacterial groups other than bifidobacteria. The potential prebiotic effects of di-D-fructose dianhydride (DFA)-enriched caramels have been previously reported in laboratory animals, poultry and pigs. In the present work, twelve growing male castrated pigs (41.8 ± 1.9 kg mean BW) were fed in succession on a control (no additive) or DFA-enriched caramel (20 g/kg) containing diet. Another group of 10 pigs (38.0 ± 3.7 kg mean BW) fed on a control diet without any additive was used as negative control. Bacterial log10 number of copies of the 16S rRNA gene was determined in fecal samples by using qPCR. Increased (P < 0.05) lactobacilli, Clostridium coccoides/Eubacterium rectale and bacteroides group log 10 number of copies were determined in fecal samples of pigs fed on the caramel containing diet compared with non-caramel controls. In addition, for all bacterial groups studied microbiological values co-variated with initial counts and, except for enterobacteria, variations in the fecal bacterial numbers after caramel supplementation correlated (P < 0.05) with the fecal numbers before supplementation. In conclusion, the supplementation of pig diets with DFA-enriched caramels induced significant increases in the fecal number of copies of bacterial groups regarded as beneficial, and variations in the fecal number of copies correlated with the initial fecal number of copies. * Corresponding author. L. A. Rubio et al.243

Replacement of Soybean Meal with Lupin or Chickpea Seed Meal in Diets for Fattening Iberian Pigs Promotes a Healthier Ileal Microbiota Composition

“…Bacterial log 10 number of copies was determined in by using q-PCR. The 16S rRNA gene-targeted primers and PCR conditions used in this study were as previously described [13].…”

Synthesis of Prebiotic Caramels Catalyzed by Ion-Exchange Resin Particles: Kinetic Model for the Formation of Di-d-fructose Dianhydrides

“…Two approaches have been used to caramelize a sugar: heating at temperatures about the melting point, often in the presence of an homogeneous acid promotor , or using a heterogeneous solid catalyst as caramelization promotor, which allows lowering the temperature . The second approach has proven preferable in order to obtain DFA-enriched caramels for which prebiotic properties have been evidenced in several animal models. − Although the heterogeneous conditions further complicate a kinetics analysis of DFA formation, several studies indicate that homogeneous models generally provide satisfactory results. For instance, Shan et al studied the hydration of cyclohexene in the presence of an ion-exchange resin and zeolites and found that a model representing a homogeneous system best fitted their experimental data.…”