title: α-Galactosides present in lupin flour affect several metabolic parameters in Wistar rats.
abstract: The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of α-galactosides present in a lupin diet on metabolic parameters in growing Wistar rats. Lupin (Lupinus albus) is a rich source of non-digestible carbohydrates called α-galactosides whose beneficial health effects have been widely reported. For our investigation, twenty male Wistar rats were fed with two different diets: control (C) and lupin flour (L) for a 60-day period. The fermentation of these α-galactosides was monitored by measuring the following indicators: changes in the dynamic lactobacilli and enterobacteriaceae population, cecal content pH, generation of short chain fatty acids (SCFA), Ca and P absorption, and serum lipid (triglycerides and cholesterol) contents. The body weight was lower in the L diet than that in the control with significant differences (p < 0.05). The microbial analyses showed an increase of total lactobacilli counts and a decrease of enterobacteriaceae counts in the L diet when compared to the control, with significant differences (p < 0.05). The fermentations of α-galactosides were also confirmed by decrease in pH levels and the formation of relevant SCFA in the cecal content. The total content of SCFA (μmol per g) at the end of the assay period reached values of 13.58 and 3.64 for L and C rats, respectively. This significant increase of total SCFA in the L diet is responsible for a low pH of the cecal content that in turn prevents the growth and development of potentially pathogenic bacteria (p < 0.05). Regarding lipids, serum triglycerides and cholesterol levels were significantly reduced in the case of animals fed with lupin flour with respect to C animals (p < 0.05). Finally, the L rats showed higher values of an apparent Ca absorption percentage and bone volume percentage with respect to the C animals (p < 0.05). All these results confirm that lupin flour which contains α-galactosides could possibly be considered as a functional ingredient with health promoting properties.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), Av. Del Valle 5737, Olavarría, Argentina. mipalacio@vet.unicen.edu.ar and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (CIVETAN), Laboratorio de Inmunoquímica y Biotecnología, UNCPBA, Tandil, Argentina.
authors.forename: María I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Palacio
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bromatología y Nutrición, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Adriana R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Weisstaub
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bromatología y Nutrición, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ángela
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Zuleta
authors.affiliation: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (CIVETAN), Laboratorio de Inmunoquímica y Biotecnología, UNCPBA, Tandil, Argentina.
authors.forename: Analía I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Etcheverría
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), Av. Del Valle 5737, Olavarría, Argentina. mipalacio@vet.unicen.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Guillermo D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Manrique
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002236:Carbohydrate Conformation; D002432:Cecum / Q000187:drug effects; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004435:Eating; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005697:Galactosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D031297:Lupinus / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D005697:Galactosides