Impact of inulin on bile acids induced colon cancer

Bile acids are normal components of the luminal contents of gastrointestinal tract but have been reported to cause oxidative damage by stimulating the generation of free oxygen radicals from the mitochondria. Several studies have demonstrated the contribution of reactive species to mutagenesis, carcinogenesis and tumor promotion. There is accumulating evidence to show that some carbohydrates and carbohydrate-containing molecules possess antioxidant ability by inhibiting the production of reactive species. Prebiotics are complex carbohydrates which have been shown to improve gut health when used in combination with probiotics. However, there is paucity of data on how prebiotics alone affect gut health and by which mechanism of action. The reactive oxygen scavenging ability of inulin, a prebiotic, has been shown in vitro in non-cell based system and in mice. The anti-inflammatory effect, through production of short chain fatty acids by fermentable inulin has also been shown. However, the mechanism of inulin in the amelioration of bile acid induced cancer remains unknown

A comparative study of bifidobacteria in human babies and adults

The composition and diversity of the gut microbiota are known to be different between babies and adults. The aim of this project was to compare the level of bifidobacteria between babies and adults and to investigate the influence of lifestyle factors on the level of this bacterium in the gut. During this study, the levels of bifidobacteria in 10 human babies below 2 years of age were compared with that of 10 human adults above 40 years. The level of bifidobacteria proved to be significantly higher in babies in comparison with adults. This investigation concluded that a combination of several factors, such as age, diet, and BMI, has an important effect on the level of bifidobacteria in adults, while in babies, a combination of diet and age may influence the level of intestinal bifidobacteria