Effects of epilactose on calcium absorption and serum lipid metabolism in rats.
Epilactose (4-O-beta-galactopyranosyl-D-mannnose) is a rare disaccharide in cow milk that can be synthesized from lactose by the cellobiose 2-epimerase of Ruminococcus albus. In this study, we examined the biological activities of epilactose using male Wistar-ST rats. The apparent rates of calcium and magnesium absorption of rats fed epilactose and fructooligosaccharide diets were greater than those fed control and lactose diets, accompanied by greater weight gain of the cecal wall and higher levels of short-chain fatty acids and other organic acids. Epilactose also increased the calcium absorption in everted small intestinal sacs. In addition, the levels of plasma total cholesterol and nonhigh-density lipoprotein cholesterol were lower in epilactose-fed rats. These results indicate that epilactose promotes calcium absorption in the small intestine and possibly lowers the risk of arteriosclerosis. Cecal microbes may efficiently utilize epilactose and contribute to these biological activities.
Nishimukai
Megumi
M
Creative Research Initiative Sousei, Hokkaido University, N21W10 Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0021, Japan.
Watanabe
Jun
J
Taguchi
Hidenori
H
Senoura
Takeshi
T
Hamada
Shigeki
S
Matsui
Hirokazu
H
Yamamoto
Takeshi
T
Wasaki
Jun
J
Hara
Hiroshi
H
Ito
Susumu
S
D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D004187:Disaccharides; D008055:Lipids; C047464:epilactose; D002784:Cholesterol; D002118:Calcium