title: In vitro fermentation of lactulose-derived oligosaccharides by mixed fecal microbiota.
abstract: Fermentation properties of oligosaccharides derived from lactulose (OsLu) and lactose (GOS) have been assessed in pH-controlled anaerobic batch cultures using lactulose and Vivinal-GOS as reference carbohydrates. Changes in gut bacterial populations and their metabolic activities were monitored over 24 h by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and by measurement of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. Lactulose-derived oligosaccharides were selectively fermented by  Bifidobacterium  and lactic acid bacterial populations producing higher SCFA concentrations compared to GOS. The highest total SCFA production was from Vivinal-GOS > lactulose > OsLu > GOS. Longer incubation periods produced a selective fermentation of OsLu when they were used as a carbon source reaching the highest selective index scores. The new oligosaccharides may constitute a good alternative to lactulose, and they could belong to a new generation of prebiotics to be used as a functional ingredient for improving the composition of gut microflora.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Investigación CIAL (CSIC-UAM ), C/Nicolás Cabrera 9, Campus de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cardelle-Cobas
authors.forename: Agustín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olano
authors.forename: Nieves
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Corzo
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villamiel
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kolida
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rastall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007716:Kluyveromyces / Q000201:enzymology; D007777:Lactobacillaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D007785:Lactose / Q000378:metabolism; D007792:Lactulose / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D056692:Prebiotics / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D056692:Prebiotics; D007792:Lactulose; D007785:Lactose