Changes in the fecal microbial community following in vitro fermentation of dried chicory root particles to produce fermentation supernatants for an ex vivo gut barrier integrity model
In this study, we aimed to understand the impact of the plant cell matrix in dried chicory root on its breakdown and metabolic effects in the human gut, in order to explain its reported beneficial effects on gut and metabolic health. For this purpose, we used an in vitro batch fermentation model to produce fermentation supernatants, to which colonic biopsies were exposed in an ex vivo gut barrier integrity model. Fresh feces from four human donors were used to ferment dried chicory root cubes versus a control (only inoculum). Changes in microbial community analysis were followed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and combined with measuring changes in pH, gas, and short-chain fatty acid production.