title: Digestive and physiologic effects of a wheat bran extract, arabino-xylan-oligosaccharide, in breakfast cereal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed whether a wheat bran extract containing arabino-xylan-oligosaccharide (AXOS) elicited a prebiotic effect and influenced other physiologic parameters when consumed in ready-to-eat cereal at two dose levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  This double-blind, randomized, controlled, crossover trial evaluated the effects of consuming AXOS at 0 (control), 2.2, or 4.8 g/d as part of ready-to-eat cereal for 3 wk in 55 healthy men and women. Fecal microbial levels, postprandial serum ferulic acid concentrations, and other physiologic parameters were assessed at the beginning and end of each condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median bifidobacteria content of stool samples (log₁₀/grams of dry weight [DW]) was found to be higher in the subjects consuming the 4.8-g/d dose (10.03) than in those consuming 2.2 g/d (9.93) and control (9.84, P < 0.001). No significant changes in the populations of other fecal microbes were observed, indicating a selective increase in fecal bifidobacteria. Postprandial ferulic acid was measured at 120 min at the start and end of each 3-wk treatment period in subjects at least 50 y old (n = 37) and increased in a dose-dependent manner (end-of-treatment values 0.007, 0.050, and 0.069 μg/mL for the control, AXOS 2.2 g/d, and AXOS 4.8 g/d conditions, respectively, P for trend < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that AXOS has prebiotic properties, selectively increasing fecal bifidobacteria, and increases postprandial ferulic acid concentrations in a dose-dependent manner in healthy men and women.
authors: Biofortis-Provident Clinical Research, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, USA. KMaki@ProvidentCRC.com
authors: Kevin C
authors: KC
authors: Maki
authors: Glenn R
authors: GR
authors: Gibson
authors: Robin S
authors: RS
authors: Dickmann
authors: Cyril W C
authors: CW
authors: Kendall
authors: C-Y Oliver
authors: CY
authors: Chen
authors: Adele
authors: A
authors: Costabile
authors: Elena M
authors: EM
authors: Comelli
authors: Diane L
authors: DL
authors: McKay
authors: Nelson G
authors: NG
authors: Almeida
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Jenkins
authors: Gordon A
authors: GA
authors: Zello
authors: Jeffrey B
authors: JB
authors: Blumberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D062408:Breakfast; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D004063:Digestion; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry*; D014990:Xylans / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D003373:Coumaric Acids; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014990:Xylans; C085118:arabinoxylan; C004999:ferulic acid