Short-Chain Fructo-Oligosaccharide Administration Dose-Dependently Increases Fecal Bifidobacteria in Healthy Humans

Abstract

Short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (SC-FOS) are a mixture of oligosaccharides consisting of glucose linked to fructose units (Gfn; n = </= 4), which are not digested in the human small intestine but are fermented in the colon where they specifically promote the growth of bifidobacteria. In healthy volunteers, we assessed the tolerance and the threshold dose of SC-FOS that significantly increased fecal bifidobacteria counts and the possibility of a dose-response relationship. Randomly divided into five groups and eating their usual diets, healthy volunteers (40: 18 males, 22 females) ingested in two oral doses for 7 d a powder mixture containing (g SC-FOS/d): 0, G0; 2.5, G2.5; 5, G5; 10, G10; 20, G20. Stools were collected before (d1) and at the end (d8) of sugar consumption, and tolerance was evaluated using a daily chart. Total anaerobe counts were not affected by SC-FOS ingestion. Bifidobacteria counts at d8 were greater in groups G10 and G20 than in G0 and G2.5 (P < 0.05). Fecal pH did not differ among groups. A significant correlation between the dose of SC-FOS ingested and the fecal bifidobacteria counts was observed at d8 (r = 0.53; P < 0.01). Excess flatus was significantly more frequent in subjects consuming G20 than in those consuming G0, G2.5 or G5 (P < 0.05), and more intense in G20 than in G0 and G5 groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the optimal and well-tolerated dose of SC-FOS that significantly increased fecal bifidobacteria in healthy volunteers consuming their usual diet is 10 g/d.

Polydextrose, Lactitol, and Fructo-Oligosaccharide Fermentation by Colonic Bacteria in a Three-Stage Continuous Culture System

“…In the two oligofructose fermentations, bifidobacteria increased, which has been observed in many other studies, both in vitro and in vivo (5,12). The bacteriological changes detected by FISH analysis were consistent with the percent-GϩC profiling analysis.…”

The Relationship between Habitual Dietary Intake and Gut Microbiota in Young Japanese Women

“…Mushrooms are known to contain many prebiotics such as fructooligosaccharides, b-glucan, and inulin (31). These prebiotics act as sources of nutrition themselves in the large intestine, increasing the number of beneficial bacteria including Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus (32)(33)(34). In addition, Chang et al reported that dietary supplementation with an extract from the Ganoderma lucidum mushroom increased the relative abundance of Clostridium cluster IV, XIVa, and XVIII in the gut microbiota of mice fed a high fat diet (35).…”

Mechanisms and effectiveness of prebiotics in modifying the gastrointestinal microbiota for the management of digestive disorders

“…The prebiotic properties of such supplements have been confirmed in a series of animal and human studies, and have been Proceedings of the Nutrition Society extensively reviewed elsewhere (10) . Subsequent research has shown a dose-dependent effect on luminal bifidobacteria of dietary supplementation with oligofructose (19) and GOS (20) . However, interestingly, the effect of prebiotics naturally occurring in foods has received little attention in the literature, and as yet the inulin and oligofructose content of habitual diet has not been shown to correlate with bifidobacteria in healthy people (21) .…”