Dietary supplementation of different doses of NUTRIOSE FB, a fermentable dextrin, alters the activity of faecal enzymes in healthy men.
BACKGROUND
It is well documented that fermentation of carbohydrates that escape digestion exert several effects supposed to be beneficial for (colonic) health, including an increase in stool volume, a shorter intestinal transit time, production of short chain fatty acids and a decrease of colonic pH (Kritchevsky 1988). NUTRIOSE FB is a dextrin that is not completely hydrolysed and absorbed in the small intestine, due to many alpha-1.6 linkages and the presence of non-digestible glucoside linkages (e. g. alpha-1.2 and alpha-1.3). To be beneficial for 'colonic' health effective NUTRIOSE FB must reach the cecum in some form.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate how much non digested NUTRIOSE FB is fermented and to determine the fibre-like effect of the wheat dextrin NUTRIOSE((R))FB by analysing enzymatic activity in faeces.


METHODS
In a randomized, double-blind,multiple dose, placebo-controlled, combined cross-over and parallel trial, 20 healthy men (age 31.7 +/- 9.1 yrs; BMI 24.5 +/- 2.9 kg.m(-2) received different treatments. One group of ten subjects consumed on top of their diet 10, 30 and 60 g daily of NUTRIOSE FB or maltodextrin (placebo). The other group of 10 subjects consumed 15, 45 and 80 g daily. Each dose was consumed for 7 days. On the last two days of each of the 7-day period, faeces were collected in which the enzymatic activity and NUTRIOSE FB residue were analysed.


RESULTS
As expected, the faecal residue of NUTRIOSE FB non-linearly increased with the dose of NUTRIOSE FB to approximately 13% of 80 g/d. Compared with the placebo, 30, 45, 60 and 80 g/d of NUTRIOSE FB increased the concentration of alpha-glucosidase significantly. All daily doses of NUTRIOSE FB (10 g/d to 80 g/d) led to significant changes in concentration of beta-glucosidase.


CONCLUSIONS
The small amount of the residue of NUTRIOSE FB in the faeces suggests that approximately 87% or more of NUTRIOSE FB is digested or fermented in the gastrointestinal tract. Fermentation of NUTRIOSE FB led to an increased faecal concentration of alpha- and beta-glucosidase.
van den Heuvel
Ellen G H M
EG
Dept. of Physiological Sciences, TNO Nutrition and Food Research Business Unit Physiological Sciences, P. O. Box 360, 3700 AJ Zeist, The Netherlands.
Wils
Daniel
D
Pasman
Wilrike J
WJ
Saniez
Marie-Hélène
MH
Kardinaal
Alwine F M
AF
D000328:Adult; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003912:Dextrins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces / Q000201:enzymology*; D005285:Fermentation; D005959:Glucosidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D001617:beta-Glucosidase / Q000378:metabolism
D003912:Dextrins; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005959:Glucosidases; D001617:beta-Glucosidase