Prolonged Intake of Fructo-Oligosaccharides Induces a Short-Term Elevation of Lactic Acid-Producing Bacteria and a Persistent Increase in Cecal Butyrate in Rats

Abstract

While the prebiotic effects of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), short-chain polymers of fructose, have been thoroughly described after 2-3 wk of ingestion, effects after intake for several months are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that these effects would differ after ingestion for short and long periods in rats. Rats were fed a basal low-fiber diet (Basal) or the same diet containing 9 g/100 g of FOS for 2, 8 or 27 wk, and cecal contents were collected at the end of each time period. Cecal short-chain fatty acid concentration was higher in rats fed FOS than in those fed Basal, and this effect persisted over time: 83.8 +/- 4.1 vs. 62.4 +/- 6.5 micromol/g at 2 wk and 103.5 +/- 5.8 vs. 73.2 +/- 7.4 micromol/g at 27 wk (P < 0.05). The molar butyrate ratio was higher in rats fed FOS regardless of the time period (14.8 +/- 0.6% vs. 6.7 +/- 1.1% at 27 wk, P < 0.05). Lactate concentration in rats fed FOS was elevated after 2 wk and then decreased: 63.5 +/- 21.6 micromol/g at 2 wk vs. 8.8 +/- 3.3 micromol/g at 8 wk (P < 0.05). After 2 wk, FOS increased the concentrations of total lactic acid-producing bacteria, and Lactobacillus sp. (P < 0.05), without modifying total anaerobes. However, most of these effects were abolished after 8 and 27 wk of FOS consumption. In the long term, the FOS-induced increase in intestinal lactic acid-producing bacteria was lost, but the butyrogenic properties of FOS were maintained.

Effect of "Coffee Mix Drink" Containing Mannooligosaccharides from Coffee Mannan on Defecation and Fecal Microbiota in Healthy Volunteers

“…and improved the intestinal environment by lowering pH via the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) (Blay et a/., 1999;Campbell et a/., 1997; Gibson & Roberfroid, 1995;Howard et al, 1995). Low pH in the intestine inhibited harmful bacteria growth (Ohtsuka et a/.,1 989) or improved constipation by stimulating the intestinal inner wall and promoting intestinal peristalsis (Yajima,1 984).…”

Comparison of digestibility and breath hydrogen gas excretion of fructo-oligosaccharide, galactosyl-sucrose, and isomalto-oligosaccharide in healthy human subjects

“…As nondigestible oligosaccharide in the form of a prebiotics is metabolized by intestinal bacteria and produces shortchain fatty acids, the pH in the lumen of the large intestine decreases to an acidic pH (Jay et al, 1981;Blay et al, 1999). The acidic environment conduces beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, while it decreases harmful bacteria such as Clostridum sp (Kohmoto et al, 1992;Gibson et al, 1995;Buddington et al, 1996;Wolfgang et al, 2001).…”

Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Short-Chain Fructooligosaccharides in Lactating Sows and Newly Weaned Piglets on Reproductive Performance of Sows, Immune Response and Growth Performance of Piglets from Birth to Slaughter

“…In pigs, Lactobacillus genus exhibits a significant decline at weaning [37]. A direct intake of scFOS that is widely known to increase lactobacilli in vivo [38,39] may prevent this post-weaning decrease and subsequently improve the efficiency of the immune response to vaccination. Growing body of evidences shows there are strong interrelationships between microbiota and both local and systemic immune systems of mammalians [40].…”