The influence of a diet rich in wheat fibre on the human faecal flora

Effects of a glucoside-hydrolase inhibitor (Bay g 5421) on serum lipids, lipoproteins and bile acids, fecal fat and bacterial flora, and intestinal gas production in hyperlipidemic patients.

“…Although the total numbers of fecal bacteria was not influenced significantly, the flora patterns were shown to alter considerably after Bay g 5421; an increase in lactobacillus and bifidobacterium and a decrease in entero bacteriaceae, bacteroidaceae and clostridium. These changes are strikingly similar to those reported by Drasar et al (1976) after a high fiber diet in man. Fuchs et al (1976) also observed that the fecal anaerobes increased significantly after a fiber-rich diet accompanied by an increased fecal weight.…”

The faecal flora of patients with Crohn's disease

“…In the present investigation, the median number of anaerobes cultured per g faeces from healthy subjects was 10-65. Though not optimal, this yield equals that reported in other recent studies (Speck, Calloway & Hadley, 1970;Crowther et al 1973; Bornside & Cohn, 1975;Drasar, Jenkins & Cummings, 1976) and can be considered sufficient when a detailed inventory is not intended. Our findings that anaerobic gramnegative and gram-positive rods occurred in equal numbers and that E. aerofaciens and bifidobacteria formed about 30 % of the gram-positive rods agree reasonably well with data in the cited literature.…”

“…In view of the remarkable stability of the individual flora, Drasar, Jenkins & Cummings (1976) suggested that genetic constitution should be considered as a controlling factor. Thus, a peculiar intestinal flora might be an expression of the genetic predisposition to Crohn's disease.…”

Diet and faecal flora in three dietary groups in rural northern Nigeria

“…Bacteroides were isolated on the bile-kanamycin agar of Drasar, Jenkins & Cummings (1976) without blood.…”

“…International studies have compared the striking differences in dietary fibre, protein and fat between rural African populations and UK populations inferring that their dietary differences might account for the differences in numbers of intestinal bacteria between these populations (Aries et al 1969 Relatively few studies have examined the faecal flora between subjects in a similar environment but eating different diets. A study of vegetarian subjects in UK showed similar flora to meat-eating compatriots (Aries et al 1971) and the addition of fibre or decrease of fat appears to have relatively little effect on the faecal flora of volunteers (Drasar, Jenkins & Cummings, 1976).…”