title: Fructo-oligosaccharide improved brain β-amyloid, β-secretase, cognitive function, and plasma antioxidant levels in D-galactose-treated Balb/cJ mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Long-term d-galactose injection induces accelerated aging in experimental rodent models. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary fructo-oligosaccharide (FO) on the brain β-amyloid (Aβ), amyloid-associated enzymes, cognitive function, and plasma antioxidant levels in d-galactose-treated Balb/c mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subcutaneous (s.c.) injection and the dietary treatment were conducted simultaneously for 49 days. Mice (12 weeks of age) were divided into five groups (n = 14/group): control (s.c. saline, control diet) serving as a young control, DG (s.c. 1.2 g d-galactose/kg body weight, control diet), DG + LFO (2.5% w/w FO, low-dose FO diet), DG + HFO (5% w/w FO, high-dose FO diet), and DG + E (α-tocopherol 0.2% w/w, vitamin E diet) as an antioxidant reference group. Another group of older mice (64 weeks of age) without any injection served as a natural aging (NA) group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The DG and NA groups had greater Aβ levels in the cortex, hippocampus, and the whole brain. High-dose FO, similar to α-tocopherol, attenuated the d-galactose-induced Aβ density in the cortex and hippocampus. In addition, FO attenuated the d-galactose-induced protein expression of Aβ and beta-site amyloid precursor cleaving enzyme of the whole brain in a dose-response manner. Either dose of FO supplementation, similar to α-tocopherol, attenuated the d-galactose-induced cognitive dysfunction. In addition, FO improved the plasma ascorbic acid level in a dose-response manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary FO (2.5-5% w/w diet) could attenuate the development of Alzheimer's disease, which was likely to be associated with its systematic antioxidant effects.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Family and Community Medicine , Chung Shan Medical University Hospital , Taichung , Taiwan.|b School of Medicine , Chung Shan Medical University , Taichung , Taiwan.|c Center for Education and Research on Geriatrics and Gerontology, Chung Shan Medical University , Taichung , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.affiliation: d Department of Food and Nutrition , Providence University , Taichung , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Hsin
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: e Department of Health and Nutrition Biotechnology , Asia University , Taichung , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Tzu
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: e Department of Health and Nutrition Biotechnology , Asia University , Taichung , Taiwan.|f Department of Medical Research , China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University , Taichung , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiao-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005690:Galactose; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000975:Antioxidants; D009844:Oligosaccharides; C116580:fructooligosaccharide; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D005690:Galactose
keywords: Alzheimer; Amyloid precursor cleaving enzyme; Fructo-oligosaccharides; d-Galactose; β-Amyloid