Potential prebiotic activity of oligosaccharides obtained by enzymatic conversion of durum wheat insoluble dietary fibre into soluble dietary fibre.
OBJECTIVE
Epidemiological evidence indicates that cereal dietary fibre (DF) may have several cardiovascular health benefits. The underlying mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. Here, the potential nutritional effects of physico-chemical properties modifications of durum wheat dietary fibre (DWF) induced by enzyme treatment have been investigated.


RESULTS
The conversion of the highly polymerised insoluble dietary fibre into soluble feruloyl oligosaccharides of DWF was achieved by a tailored enzymatic treatment. The in vitro fermentation and release of ferulic acid by intestinal microbiota from DWF before and after the enzymatic treatment were assessed using a gut model validated to mimic the human colonic microbial environment. Results demonstrated that, compared to DWF, the enzyme-treated DWF (ET-DWF) stimulated the growth of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Concurrently, the release of free ferulic acid by ET-DWF was almost three times higher respect to the control. No effect on the formation of short chain fatty acids was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The conversion of insoluble dietary fibre from cereals into soluble dietary fibre generated a gut microbial fermentation that supported bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. The concurrent increase in free ferulic acid from the enzyme-treated DWF might result in a higher plasma ferulic acid concentration which could be one of the reasons for the health benefits reported for dietary fibre in cardiovascular diseases.
Napolitano
A
A
Dipartimento di Scienza degli Alimenti, Università di Napoli Federico II, Parco Gussone-Ed. 84, Portici, Naples, Italy.
Costabile
A
A
Martin-Pelaez
S
S
Vitaglione
P
P
Klinder
A
A
Gibson
G R
GR
Fogliano
V
V
D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005285:Fermentation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000201:enzymology*; D014908:Triticum / Q000378:metabolism
D003373:Coumaric Acids; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D009844:Oligosaccharides; C004999:ferulic acid