Variations in prebiotic oligosaccharide fermentation by intestinal lactic acid bacteria

<p>Prebiotic oligosaccharides confer health benefits on the host by modulating the gut microbiota. Intestinal lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are potential targets of prebiotics; however, the metabolism of oligosaccharides by LAB has not been fully characterized. Here, we studied the metabolism of eight oligosaccharides by 19 strains of intestinal LAB. Among the eight oligosaccharides used, 1-kestose, lactosucrose and galactooligosaccharides (GOSs) led to the greatest increases in the numbers of the strains tested. However, mono- and disaccharides accounted for more than half of the GOSs used, and several strains only metabolized the mono- and di-saccharides in GOSs. End product profiles indicated that the amounts of lactate produced were generally consistent with the bacterial growth recorded. Oligosaccharide profiling revealed the interesting metabolic manner in <i>Lactobacillus paracasei</i> strains, which metabolized all oligosaccharides, but left sucrose when cultured with fructooligosaccharides. The present study clearly indicated that the prebiotic potential of each oligosaccharide differs.</p

The amount (minutes/day; median with range) of fussing and crying, and total distress reported by parents during the 7^th and 12^th weeks of life.

<p>*Fussing was defined as a state of irritability, “not quite crying but not awake and content”.</p>†<p>Other cry was defined as crying responsive to intervention (feeding, change of diaper, carrying, sucking a pacifier); colic-type cry was defined as a cry not responsive to such intervention.</p>‡<p>The sum of colic type, other cry, and fussing reported by parents.</p

The frequency of <i>Bifidobacterium spp</i>. by PCR-DGGE during the first 6 months of life.

*<p><i>B. catenulatum</i> group includes <i>B. catenulatum</i> and <i>B. pseudocatenulatum</i>.</p><p>N.D. not detected.</p

Flow chart of the procedure.

<p>Flow chart of the procedure.</p

Clinical characteristics of the study subjects.

<p>Results are given as mean (SD) or median (range) or as number (%) of subjects, if not otherwise stated.</p><p>*n = 85.</p

An Alteration in the Cecal Microbiota Composition by Feeding of 1-Kestose Results in a Marked Increase in the Cecal Butyrate Content in Rats - Fig 1

<p><b>(a)-(e). Photographs of the cecum with cecal contents in rats.</b> The cecum from each group of rats: (a) control, (b) 0.5%, (c) 1%, (d) 2.5%, (e) 5%. Bars: 2 cm.</p

Primers and program conditions for real-time PCR.

<p>Primers and program conditions for real-time PCR.</p

Concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, and insulin.

<p>Concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, and insulin.</p

Levels of bacterial cell numbers (log₁₀ cells/g) in cecal contents.

<p>Levels of bacterial cell numbers (log₁₀ cells/g) in cecal contents.</p

Body weight and food intake.

<p>Body weight and food intake.</p