Effect of fructooligosaccharides on the colonization of Lactobacillus rhamnosus AS 1.2466^(T) in the gut of mice

Lactobacillus rhamnosus and fructooligosaccharides(FOS)have been widely studied so far.However,the effects of L.rhamnosus on the intestinal microecological environment at the species level and the effect of different proportions of FOS on L.rhamnosus colonization in different parts of mice intestine are still unclear.The study results indicated that the specific bands of enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction(ERIC-PCR)in the L.rhamnosus(LR)group significantly increased at 7 days.Although the number of bands was similar to the natural recovery(NR)group,the brightness of few bands significantly enhanced in the later stage of recovery.Besides,Southern-blot maps showed strong signals,indicating that the ERIC-PCR fingerprint could accurately reflect the changes in the mouse gut microbiota diversity.Further,the high-throughput results confirmed that the Lactobacillus and Akkermansia had different changes at different periods,but all of them showed an upward trend,while the Klebsiella were inhibited,thereby maintaining the intestinal microecology balance.Moreover,FOS exerted a positive effect on L.rhamnosus colonization in the gut.

Supplementation of Fructooligosaccharide Mildly Improves the Iron Status of Anemic Rats Fed a Low-Iron Diet

Also known as a prebiotic, fructooligosaccharide (FOS) resists digestion by gastric acid and pancreatic enzymes in vivo, but is preferentially fermented by beneficial intestinal bacteria once it reaches the colon. While some studies suggest that FOS and its fermentation products may influence the iron absorption process, the effects of prolonged FOS supplementation on iron status remain unclear. The objective of this study was therefore to determine the enhancing effects of FOS supplementation on the iron status of anemic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats receiving a low-iron diet (12 μg/g) for 14 days showed significantly lower hemoglobin concentration, as well as lower tissue non-heme iron levels than rats receiving a regular diet (45 μg/g), confirming iron-deficiency anemia. On the first day of the feeding trial, two groups of anemic rats (n = 6) were fed the same low-iron diet with or without FOS supplementation, while two other groups of anemic rats were switched to the regular diet with or without FOS supplementation to allow recovery. FOS was provided to the rats by dissolving in water at 5% (w/v). Anemic rats fed the low-iron diet showed a mild increase (p < 0.05) in hemoglobin level after 21 days of FOS supplementation when compared to rats without FOS. For anemic rats switched to the regular diet, hemoglobin level returned to normal after 14 days and FOS supplementation showed no additional effects. Our results suggest that FOS supplementation has a mild enhancing effect on the iron status of anemic subjects on a low-iron diet.

Effects of Fructooligosaccharides, compared with Direct-Fed Microbial Bacteria,and Zinc Bacitracin on Cecal Microbial Populations and Performance of Broilers

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary fructooligosaccharides(FOS),compared with direct-fed microbial bacteria(DFM),and zinc bacitracin,on cecal microbial populations and performance of broiler Chickens.One hundred and ninety-two broilers(Avian) were randomly assigned to four groups,with four replicates of 12 birds each.The control group was fed with the basal diet,without any drug additive.FOS,DFM and zine bacitracin was respectively added to the basal diet at the level of 1.5%,800 mg·kg -1 and 300 mg·kg -1 to form the experimental diets.Body weight,feed intake and feed efficiency were measured weekly.The feeding trial started at 1 d and ended at 21 d.At day 14 and day 21,four broilers per group were killed and cecum was taken to determined microflors and pH.The results showed that dietary FOS increased bifidobactrial concentration by 1.75-fold(P<0.05) at 14 d of age and 1.45-fold(P<0.05) at 21 d of age compared with control.FOS had no effect on concnetrations of E.coli and pH.There were no dietary effects of FOS,DFM,and zinc bacitracin on weight gain,feed intake,feed conversion(P>0.05).

Identification and Determination of Fructooligosaccharides in Snow Chrysanthemum(Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt.)

Objective:Small molecules in snow chrysanthemum such as flavonoids,phenolic compounds and amino acids have been extensively investigated.No study to date has focused on water-soluble oligosaccharides.The objective of this study is identification and determination of water-soluble oligosaccharides in snow chrysanthemum.Methods:The oligosaccharides in snow chrysanthemum were identified by high performance thin layer chromatography(HPTLC),liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS)combined MS library and methylation analysis for the first time.Subsequently the oligosaccharides were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with a charged aerosol detector(HPLC-CAD).Results:The oligosaccharides in snow chrysanthemum were identified as inulin-type fructooligosaccharides(FOS).The yield of FOS(DP3~DP13)in the first extraction was over 97.6%.The RSDs of repeatability in three sample amount levels(0.08 g,0.1 g,0.12 g)are lower than 4.8%and the RSDs of stability are less than 3.5%.The recoveries of FOS(DP3~13)were ranging from 96.9%to 105.6%.The contents of FOS(DP3~DP13)in flowers of snow chrysanthemum from different regions of China were greatly variant.Conclusion:This is the first time to identify and quantify FOS in snow chrysanthemum which is helpful for its performance in the in the fields of biomedical,agriculture and functional food industry as well as development of the quality control methods.In addition,the identification approach developed in this work can also be used for screening potential natural sources containing FOS.

Fructooligosaccharides enhance the therapeutic effect of xiao-zhi-fang on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease via regulating intestinal flora

Background:Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is a frequently occurring clinical disease,which could be treated by traditional Chinese medicine.However,the effects and mechanisms of xiao-zhi-fang(XZF)alone or in combination with fructooligosaccharides(FOS)on NAFLD remains unclear.Methods:This study established the NAFLD mouse model by feeding with a high-fat diet and by administering with XZF and/or FOS.Moreover,the fat content in the liver tissues was evaluated by oil red O and hematoxylin and eosin staining,and the liver function indices were examined using a biochemical analyzer.Changes in the intestinal flora were monitored using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.The results of the current study showed that the alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,total triglyc-eride,total cholesterol levels,and the amount of lipid accumulation were markedly elevated in NAFLD mice.Results:XZF alone or in combination with FOS significantly reduced lipid accumulation in the liver and blood lipid levels in NAFLD mice.Moreover,XZF alone or in combination with FOS notably altered the intestinal flora structure in NAFLD mice.Consequently,17 operational taxonomic units were decreased and nine were increased in the XZF and/or FOS groups.Conclusions:FOS may accelerate the intestinal microecological balance in NAFLD mice after treatment with XZF by promoting intestinal flora growth,thereby enhancing the therapeutic effect of XZF on NAFLD.

Can Intestinal Constipation Be Modulated by Prebiotics, Probiotics and Symbiotics?

The importance of maintaining a healthy intestinal microbiota in the health of the host has been increasingly clarified. This microbiota may appear unbalanced in diseases such as colitis, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and constipation. To rebalance the microbiota and improve the symptoms of constipation, it is recommended to intake prebiotics, probiotics and symbiotics, which works in the modulation of a healthy intestinal microbiota and favors the production of short-chain fatty acids that have a positive effect on intestinal transit. In addition, some studies indicate that there is a relation between the brain and the intestine that influences the behavior of individuals with intestinal dysbiosis. Thus, the reestablishment of the eubiosis in constipated patients through the functional compounds (prebiotics, probiotics and symbiotics) has been showing promising results regarding the modulation of constipation and improvement of the clinical picture. This review will emphasize the relation of prebiotics, probiotics and symbiotics in the modulation of intestinal constipation. New food sources of these compounds should be evaluated for their efficacy, dose and effect to establish a proper management.

Development of a Synbiotic Low-Calorie Beverage Made from Soy and Yacon Extracts

The objective of this study was to develop a new low-calorie symbiotic beverage made from yacon (prebiotic source) and soy extracts, containing probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis BB-12. The synbiotic beverage was first produced with a range of sucrose concentrations in order to determine ideal sweetness by an acceptance test using a “just-about-right scale”. Sucrose was then replaced by sucralose or aspartame to produce sugar-free beverages. Characteristics including viable cell numbers, physicochemical properties, sensorial characteristics and fructoo-ligosaccharides content were investigated. The ideal sweetness of the beverages with sucrose, aspartame and sucralose were 7.28%, 0.0486% and 0.0167%, respectively. Sucralose exhibited higher scores in acceptance test and was used to replace sucrose in the low-calorie symbiotic beverage. The synbiotic beverage exhibited counts of Bifidobacterium spp. of 108 CFU.mL-1, sufficient condition to be considered probiotic. The chemical composition of the product was (g/100g): 2.91 of protein, 1.41 of fat, 2.41 of total carbohydrate;0.82 of FOS and 148.22 Kj of energy value. The synbiotic beverage developed in this study may be successful in health applications, due to their functional ingredients (soy, probiotic bacteria and yacon prebiotics) that can afford benefits to health or can present disease-preventing properties, beyond their inherent nutritional value. In addition this low-calorie beverage can be consumed by diabetic individuals and people concerned about the ingestion of calories.