Short‐term feeding of fermentable dietary fibres influences the gut microbiota composition and metabolic activity in rats

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of dietary fibres on gut bacterial abundance and metabolic activity in rats fed short-term. Faecal samples from rats fed for 7 days showed differences in the effects of dietary fibres on gut bacterial populations. Broccoli fibre, inulin, potato fibre and potato resistant starch significantly increased the faecal Bacteroides-Prevotella-Porphyromonas group compared with cellulose. Growth of pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. was decreased significantly in rats fed barley b-glucan, citrus pectin, inulin and broccoli fibre diets. An increase in Bifidobacterium spp. and butyric acid levels, the so-called bifidogenic and butyrogenic effects, was observed in rats fed inulin and potato fibre diets. Organic acid concentrations and polysaccharide contents in the rat faeces confirm the fermentability of dietary fibres in the gut. This study demonstrates the positive effects of plant-sourced dietary fibres on gut microbiota composition and metabolic activity.

Dietary Fibers from Fruits and Vegetables and Their Health Benefits via Modulation of Gut Microbiota

“…Low methoxyl citrus pectin was more efficiently fermented by the microbiota in the ileum than high methoxyl pectin, which was mainly fermented in the proximal colon (Tian et al., ). Fermentable DFs have been shown to alter the gut bacterial population and the fecal concentrations of SCFAs in rodents (Paturi, Butts, Stoklosinski, Herath, & Monro, ). Developing foods with higher content of fermentable DF may increase DF intake and promote gut microbial diversity, benefitting human health.…”

“…Inulin and potato fiber exerted bifidogenic and butyrogenic effects—a concurrent increase in the Bifidobacterium spp. and butyric acid contents (Paturi et al., ). Selective stimulation of intestinal Bifidobacteria and butyric acid–producing bacteria through fermentable DFs is considered beneficial to host health.…”

Characteristic of polysaccharides from Flammulina velutipes in vitro digestion under salivary, simulated gastric and small intestinal conditions and fermentation by human gut microbiota

“…Lactobacillus, Anaerostipes and Bifidobacterium have been found to be potentially highly beneficial to human health (Bel et al, 2017). Polysaccharides as agents for regulating intestinal flora have been widely studied (Paturi et al, 2017). Polysaccharides from Pleurotus eryngii have the ability to improve gut dysbiosis by altering the concentration of SCFAs and composition of gut microbiota (Ma et al, 2017).…”

Preparation of cellulose with controlled molecular weight via ultrasonic treatment improves cholesterol‐binding capacity

“…Dietary fiber is capable of binding cholesterol in both the stomach and small intestine, which has been proven to be able to decrease the serum cholesterol levels and risk of cardiovascular disease (Van Bennekum, Nguyen, Schulthess, Hauser, & Phillips, ; Paturi, Butts, Stoklosinski, Herath, & Monro, ). The binding capacities of fiber samples to CBC (at pH 2.0 and pH 7.0) are shown in Figure a,b.…”