Oatmeal porridge: impact on microflora-associated characteristics in healthy subjects.
Oatmeal porridge has been consumed for centuries and has several health benefits. We aimed to investigate the effect of oatmeal porridge on gut microflora functions. A total of ten healthy subjects ingested 60 g oatmeal porridge daily for 1 week. The following microflora-associated characteristics were assessed before and after the intervention: intestinal gas production following lactulose ingestion, faecal excretion of SCFA and faecal levels of urease and β-galactosidase. In addition, rectal levels of PGE2 were measured. Microbial fermentation as evaluated by intestinal gas production and excretion of SCFA did not change significantly following the dietary intervention. However, faecal levels of β-galactosidase and urease decreased after eating oatmeal porridge (P=0·049 and 0·031, respectively). Host inflammatory state, as measured by rectal levels of PGE2, also decreased, but the change was not significant (P=0·168). The results suggest that oatmeal porridge has an effect on gut microbial functions and may possess potential prebiotic properties that deserve to be investigated further.
1Unger-Vetlesen Institute,Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital,Oslo NO-0440,Norway.
Jørgen
J
Valeur
2Department of Clinical Science,University of Bergen,Bergen NO-5021,Norway.
Nathalie G
NG
Puaschitz
3Department of Microbiology,Tumor and Cell Biology,Karolinska Institutet,Stockholm SE-171 77,Sweden.
Tore
T
Midtvedt
1Unger-Vetlesen Institute,Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital,Oslo NO-0440,Norway.
Arnold
A
Berstad
D000328:Adult; D018554:Avena; D004032:Diet; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D002523:Edible Grain; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000502:physiology*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D007792:Lactulose / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056692:Prebiotics; D014510:Urease / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism*
D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D056692:Prebiotics; D007792:Lactulose; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D014510:Urease; D015232:Dinoprostone
Hydrogen; Methane; Microbiota; PGE2; SCFA; Urease; β-Galactosidase