title: In vitro comparison of the prebiotic effects of two inulin-type fructans.
abstract: Faecal cultures were used to compare the prebiotic effects of a new fructan containing high solubility inulin (HSI) and of a well-established prebiotic containing oligofructose (OF) with a negative control (CT). Changes in the intestinal microbiota, pH, ammonia, volatile organic acids and lactic acid were monitored during incubation. Molecular techniques for microbial enumeration indicated that both HSI and OF led to a significant increase in bifidobacteria (P< or =0.05) and lactobacilli (P< or =0.05) compared to the control. Significant changes in the pH and levels of ammonia with both inulin-type fructans were observed, as well as higher levels of acetic, lactic and formic acids (P< or =0.05). The fermentative metabolism appeared to be faster on OF than on HSI. Both OF and HSI showed clear prebiotic effects, but had differences in fermentation kinetics because of to the different degree of polymerization (DP). This study provides proof for the prebiotic effectiveness of HSI, and shows that inulin-type fructans with higher DP might have a prolonged bifidogenic effect, thus could extend the saccharolytic metabolism and low pH to the distal parts of the colon.
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40100 Bologna, Italy.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Pompei
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Cordisco
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Raimondi
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Amaretti
authors: Ugo Maria
authors: UM
authors: Pagnoni
authors: Diego
authors: D
authors: Matteuzzi
authors: Maddalena
authors: M
authors: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D044822:Biodiversity; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000379:methods; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D005285:Fermentation; D005630:Fructans / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D005630:Fructans; D009844:Oligosaccharides; C120489:oligofructose; D019344:Lactic Acid; D000641:Ammonia