Arabinogalactan and fructo‐oligosaccharides have a different fermentation profile in the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME^®)

Abstract

Current prebiotics, such as fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), are limited in their persistence in the distal colon and are predominantly fermented in the proximal colon. In order to identify a potential alternative, the differences in the fermentation profile of arabinogalactan (AG) and FOS have been assessed in the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem. The effect of each product on the composition and activity of the microbial community was analysed during a 3-week treatment period at a dose of 5 g day(-1). While FOS indeed was mainly fermented in the simulated proximal colon, AG was still available for fermentation in the simulated distal colon as shown by pH profiles, size exclusion chromatography and analyses of specific enzymatic activities. As a consequence, the main effect of the products (increase in propionate and butyrate and decrease in ammonium production) occurred in different intestinal areas. DGGE and qPCR analyses confirmed that the main modulation of the microbiota by the two products occurred in different areas of the gut. AG was associated with a statistically significant increase in the concentration of total bacteria, Bacteroidetes, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, a delayed bifidogenic effect and a decrease of the pathogenic Clostridium perfringens. FOS led to a strong lactobacillogenic effect.

The effect of Acacia senegal as potential prebiotic on obese gut microbiota

“…However, there was no significant difference in the growth of Bacteroidaceae between Acacia senegal and inulin at 24 hrs and 36 hrs. Bacteroidetes showed significant growth in distal colon system when treated with Acacia senegal, these finding in agreement with Terpend et al (2013) who illustrated high growth of Bacteroidetes in mice when the fed with 10 g of gum arabic per day for 4 weeks. From the result, it can be noted that fermentation of inulin was higher and faster than Acacia senegal on promoting the growth of Bifidobacterium and Bacteroidetes.…”

Modulation of the intestinal microbiota and the metabolites produced by the administration of ice cream and a dietary supplement containing the same probiotics

“…The ammonia reduction with administration of functional compounds such as probiotics and prebiotics has been demonstrated on other studies (79)(80)(81) . The decrease following the addition of the supplement can be the result of changes in the microbiota, where depending on nutrient availability, they may shift their metabolism favouring the saccharolytic over proteolytic fermentation routes (80,81) .…”

Prebiotic Addition in Dairy Products

“…Branched fructans (e.g., cereal graminans) and arabinogalactans may be beneficial in this respect (Allsopp et al, 2013;Terpend et al, 2013;Yang et al, 2013). Branched fructans (e.g., cereal graminans) and arabinogalactans may be beneficial in this respect (Allsopp et al, 2013;Terpend et al, 2013;Yang et al, 2013).…”