Prebiotic Properties of Epilactose

Abstract

We recently reported that cellobiose 2-epimerase from Ruminococcus albus effectively converted lactose to epilactose. In this study, we examined the biological effects of epilactose on intestinal microbiota, bile acid metabolism, and postadministrative plasma glucose by animal tests. Dietary supplementation with epilactose or fructooligosaccharide (4.5% each) increased cecal wall weight and cecal contents and decreased the pH of the cecal contents in Wistar-ST rats. The number of total anaerobes tended to be greater in rats fed epilactose and fructooligosaccharide than in those fed the control diet. Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria were more numerous in rats fed epilactose and fructooligosaccharide diets than in those fed the control diet. Analysis of clone libraries of 16S rRNA suggests that supplementation with epilactose did not induce the proliferation of harmful bacteria belonging to classes Clostridia or Bacteroidetes. Epilactose, as well as fructooligosaccharide, inhibited the conversion of primary bile acids to secondary bile acids, which are suggested to be promoters of colon cancer. In addition, oral administration of epilactose did not elevate the plasma glucose concentration in ddY mice. These results clearly indicate that epilactose is a promising prebiotic. We also showed that cellobiose 2-epimerase converted lactose in cow milk and a spray-dried ultrafiltrate of cheese whey to epilactose. Cellobiose 2-epimerase may increase the value of dairy products by changing lactose to epilactose possessing prebiotic properties.

Prebiotics: An Emerging Nutritional Approach for Improving Gut Health of Livestock and Poultry

“…Inulin-type fructans have been shown to increase caecal butyrate concentration, decrease ACF and reduce tumour incidence (Verghese et al, 2003). The prebiotic epilactose inhibit the conversion of primary bile acids to secondary bile acids (Watanabe et al, 2008). Gavaging rats with CAM30 (Cassis Anthomix 30; blackcurrant extract powder) and FL (First Leaf; blackcurrant extract powder, lactoferrin and lutein) significantly increased the numbers of Bifidobacterium sp.…”

“…populations and suppresses Clostridium sp. and bacteroides in Wistar-ST rats (Watanabe et al, 2008). Treatment of chicken macrophage cell line with $-1, 4-mannobiose increased dose-dependently both phagocytic activity and Salmonella-killing activity of macrophages in vivo in chickens (Ibuki et al, 2011).…”

Site-directed mutagenesis of possible catalytic residues of cellobiose 2-epimerase from Ruminococcus albus

“…It possesses several health-promoting properties: stimulation of bifidobacteria growth, facilitation of calcium absorption, reduction of plasma cholesterols, and suppression of the conversion of primary bile acids to carcinogenetic secondary bile acids Nishimukai et al 2008;Watanabe et al 2008). Hence, it is expected that CE can increase the value of lactose, cheese whey, and milk by creating novel milk products with prebiotic properties.…”

Catalysis, Structures, and Applications of Carbohydrate Epimerases

“…14) By intervention tests with rats, epilactose has been found to possess versatile health promoting properties, which include stimulation of bifidobacteria growth, facilitation of mineral absorption, reduction of plasma non high density cholesterols and suppression of the conversion of primary bile acids to carcinogenetic secondary bile acids. 14,32,33) CE has the advantage because it can directly produce epilactose from lactose without byproducts in comparison with reported chemical synthesis of epilactose. 30,34) There are many reports that epilactose is dietary experienced for humans; a considerable amount of epilactose is detected in heat sterilized milk, dairy products and lactulose.…”