Digestion, excretion, and energy value of fructooligosaccharides in healthy humans.
The fate of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) in the human gastrointestinal tract was evaluated in six healthy volunteers over an 11-d period. After an equilibration phase, 20.1 g FOS/d was given in three identical postprandial doses. Distal ileal output of FOS and their constituent components were determined by intestinal aspiration after a single meal, and the amounts of FOS excreted in stools and urine were also measured. Most of ingested FOS, 89 +/- 8.3% (mean +/- SEM), was not absorbed in the small intestine, and none was excreted in stools, indicating that the portion reaching the colon was completely fermented by colonic flora. A small fraction of ingested FOS was recovered in urine. The mean estimated energy value of FOS was 9.5 kJ/g. We conclude that in healthy humans, FOS are only slightly digested in the small intestine and then fermented in the colon, resulting in reduced energy production.
Molis
C
C
Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Laënnec, Nantes, France.
Flourié
B
B
Ouarne
F
F
Gailing
M F
MF
Lartigue
S
S
Guibert
A
A
Bornet
F
F
Galmiche
J P
JP
D000328:Adult; D002845:Chromatography; D004063:Digestion; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005632:Fructose / Q000737:chemistry; D005947:Glucose / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine*; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
D009844:Oligosaccharides; D014867:Water; D005632:Fructose; D005947:Glucose