title: Effects of wheat bran extract containing arabinoxylan oligosaccharides on gastrointestinal parameters in healthy preadolescent children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed whether wheat bran extract (WBE) containing arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides (AXOS) elicited a prebiotic effect and modulated gastrointestinal (GI) parameters in healthy preadolescent children upon consumption in a beverage.
  
  
  METHODS
  This double-blind randomized placebo-controlled crossover trial evaluated the effects of consuming WBE at 0 (control) or 5.0 g/day for 3 weeks in 29 healthy children (8-12 years). Fecal levels of microbiota, short-chain fatty acids, branched-chain fatty acids, ammonia, moisture, and fecal pH were assessed at the end of each treatment and at the end of a 1-week run-in (RI) period. In addition, the subjects completed questionnaires scoring distress severity of 3 surveyed GI symptoms. Finally, subjects recorded defecation frequency and stool consistency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nominal fecal bifidobacteria levels tended to increase after 5 g/day WBE consumption (P = 0.069), whereas bifidobacteria expressed as percentage of total fecal microbiota was significantly higher upon 5 g/day WBE intake (P = 0.002). Additionally, 5 g/day WBE intake induced a significant decrease in fecal content of isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid (P < 0.01), markers of protein fermentation. WBE intake did not cause a change in distress severity of the 3 surveyed GI symptoms (flatulence, abdominal pain/cramps, and urge to vomit) (P > 0.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  WBE is well tolerated at doses up to 5 g/day in healthy preadolescent children. In addition, the intake of 5 g/day exerts beneficial effects on gut parameters, in particular an increase in fecal bifidobacteria levels relative to total fecal microbiota, and reduction of colonic protein fermentation.
authors.affiliation: *FUGEIA NV, Arenberg Science Park, Gaston Geenslaan 1, Leuven †Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMet), Ghent University, Gent ‡Translational Research for Gastrointestinal Disorders (Targid) and Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre (LFoRCe), University Hospitals UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium §Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands ||Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Biochemistry & Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre (LFoRCe), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Isabelle E J A
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: François
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lescroart
authors.forename: Wim S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Veraverbeke
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marzorati
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Possemiers
authors.forename: Henrike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamer
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Windey
authors.forename: Gjalt W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Welling
authors.forename: Jan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Delcour
authors.forename: Christophe M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Courtin
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Verbeke
authors.forename: Willem F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Broekaert
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000032:analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005414:Flatulence / Q000139:chemically induced; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota / Q000187:drug effects*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D056692:Prebiotics; D014990:Xylans / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts; D056692:Prebiotics; D014990:Xylans; D000641:Ammonia; C085118:arabinoxylan