Malt in Combination with Lactobacillus rhamnosus Increases Concentrations of Butyric Acid in the Distal Colon and Serum in Rats Compared with Other Barley Products but Decreases Viable Counts of Cecal Bifidobacteria123

Several substances, including glutamine and propionic acid but in particular butyric acid, have been proposed to be important for colonic health. β-Glucans lead to the formation of comparatively high amounts of butyric acid, and germinated barley foodstuff obtained from brewer’s spent grain (BSG), containing high amounts of β-glucans and glutamine, has been reported to reduce the inflammatory response in the colon of patients with ulcerative colitis. The present study examines how 3 barley products, whole grain barley, malt, and BSG, affect SCFA in the hindgut and serum of rats and whether the addition of Lactobacillus rhamnosus 271 to each of these diets would have further effects. Amino acids in plasma and the cecal composition of the microbiota were also analyzed. The butyric acid concentration in the distal colon and serum was higher in the malt groups than in the other groups as was the serum concentration of propionic acid. The concentrations of propionic and butyric acids were higher in the cecum and serum of rats given L. rhamnosus than in those not given this strain. The proportion of plasma glutamine and the cecal number of bifidobacteria were lower in the malt groups than in the other groups. L. rhamnosus decreased the number of cecal bifidobacteria, whereas plasma glutamine was unaffected. We conclude that malt together with L. rhamnosus 271 had greater effects on propionic and butyric acid concentrations in rats than the other barley products. This is interesting when developing food with effects on colonic health

In Vivo Effects of Phytic Acid and Polyphenols on the Bioavailability of Polysaccharides and Other Nutrients

The effects of the antinutrients tannic acid, catechin and phytic acid on digestion of starch, protein and lipids, and fiber degradation were studied in rat balance experiments. To separate digestion in the small intestine from fermentation in the hind‐gut, diets were tested without and with the addition of antibiotics. The antinutrients had no effects, either on starch digestion or on fiber fermentation. In contrast, inhibition of protein digestibility was observed with all antinutrients tested, while the digestibility of lipids was reduced only with phytic acid and tannic acid. The fermentability of undigestible protein was affected by tannic acid, whereas that of lipids was affected also by phytic acid

In vitro Effects of Phytic Acid and Polyphenols on Starch Digestion and Fiber Degradation

The effect of phytic acid and polyphenols on the rate and extent of starch digestion as well as on fiber degradation was studied in vitro. Addition of phytic acid only had negligible influence on the enzyme activity of the amylases tested. In contrast, enzymes concerned with starch hydrolysis in the digestive channel (α‐amylase, amyloglucosidase/maltase) were inhibited by tannic acid, and to some extent also by catechin. Furthermore, tannic acid reduced the total recovery of starch during enzymic starch analysis. The activity of cellulases and hemicellulases was not affected by phytic acid or catechin. However, the degradation of cellulose powder was inhibited by tannic acid, whereas no inhibition could be observed with carboxymethyl‐cellulose as substrate

Combinations of indigestible carbohydrates affect short-chain fatty acid formation in the hindgut of rats

The fermentability and pattern of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) formed in the hindgut of rats given various combinations of dietary fibers (DF) and resistant starch (RS) were investigated. Highly fermentable indigestible carbohydrates, i.e., guar gum (GG), pectin (Pec) and high amylose cornstarch (HAS), and a DF with a relatively high resistance to fermentation, i.e., wheat bran (WB), were included. The substrates were studied individually or as mixtures (GG + Pec, GG + WB and HAS + WB, 1:1, wt/wt indigestible carbohydrate basis) at a total concentration of 100 g indigestible carbohydrates/kg diet and fed to rats for 13 d. Rats fed Pec had a high proportion of acetic acid in the cecum (76 +/- 2% of total SCFA), whereas those fed GG had the highest proportion of propionic acid (31 +/- 4%, P <0.0005). Rats fed GG and Pec had low proportions of butyric acid (6 +/- 1 and 10 +/- 1%, respectively), whereas those fed both had a higher proportion of butyric acid (15 +/- 3%, P < 0.05). Consequently, the cecal butyric acid pool was twice as high in rats fed the GG + Pec mixture (44 +/- 9 micro mol) as in those fed the individual components (19 +/- 2 and 21 +/- 3 micro mol, respectively, P < 0.05). Rats fed HAS with WB had a greater fecal excretion of SCFA (184 +/- 19 micro mol/d) than those fed the individual components (77 +/- 10 and 116 +/- 12 micro mol/d in rats fed HAS and WB, respectively P < 0.05), suggesting that incorporation of WB delayed the site of fermentation of HAS to the distal part of the hindgut. In conclusion, the combination of indigestible carbohydrates may affect both SCFA patterns and the site of SCFA release in the rat hindgut

Effects of Boiling and Storage on Dietary Fibre and Digestible Carbohydrates in Various Cultivars of Carrots

The influence of boiling and storage on dietary fibre and digestible carbohydrates was investigated in eight different carrot cultivars. The content of total dietary fibre was in the range 252-291 g kg-1 DW and was generally at the higher end for the early cultivars and at the lower end for the late ones. During storage, there was a decrease in the soluble fibre content in all cultivars and generally an increase in insoluble fibre. Following boiling, the loss of dietary fibre varied considerably between cultivars. After storage, the loss could be correlated to the average root weight of the carrot cultivars. The total content of glucose, fructose and sucrose was rather similar in the various cultivars, whereas their individual distribution differed. Storage had generally minor influence on the sugar content, except in the cultivars Amarant and Bull. On boiling, the loss was solely dependent on the initial sugar concentration. After storage the loss increased, which could be related to the lower dry matter content. The choice of cultivar and storage time is important in interpreting analytical data from carrots and is probably of similar significance in other vegetables when studying effects of heat treatment

Molecular Weight Distribution, Measured by HPSEC, and Viscosity of Water-Soluble Dietary Fiber in Carrots following Different Types of Processing

The molecular weight distribution, measured by HPSEC, and the viscosity of the water-soluble dietary fiber isolated from variously processed/cooked carrots were investigated. The carrots were studied raw, frozen, blanched, soured, microwaved, and boiled. The fibers were isolated after enzymatic digestion of protein and starch to simulate the situation in the gastrointestinal tract. The degree of polymerization (DP) and the viscosity were highly dependent on the type of processing/cooking and in general followed the degree of heat treatment. Thus, the DP values were similar with raw and frozen carrots, whereas blanched carrots had a lower DP. Further, only minor differences in DP could be observed among blanched, soured, and microwaved material, and the most pronounced degradation was obtained in boiled material. The viscosity was in accordance with the DP measurements and decreased in the order raw > blanched > boiled

Short‐chain fatty acid content and pH in caecum of rats fed various sources of starch

Caecal pH and contents of short‐chain fatty acids (SCFA) were registered in rats fed three potential sources of resistant starch (RS); raw pea starch, raw potato starch, and an RS‐enriched preparation obtained from wheat starch by autoclaving and enzymatic incubation. Small intestinal digestibility and delivery of RS to the hind‐gut in the case of raw starches were determined by analysis of faecal starch in animals treated with antibiotics to prevent hind‐gut fermentation. RS content in the RS‐enriched preparation was determined as total starch remaining in an enzymatic gravimetric dietary fibre residue. The fermentability of RS was estimated from the faecal recovery of starch in normal animals with intact hind‐gut microflora. Approximately 35 g per 100 g and 32 g per 100 g were RS in the case of raw potato starch and the RS‐enriched preparation, respectively, versus only 1 g per 100 g in the case of raw pea starch. The caecal pH decreased with all test diets, being most significant with raw potato starch. SCFA production and faecal bulking were negligible with raw pea starch, whereas both raw potato starch and the RS‐enriched preparation significantly increased these parameters. The fermentability of RS in raw potato starch and the RS‐enriched preparation was similar, or about 60–70%. If calculated on basis of fermented amount, RS in raw potato starch was more potent in generating SCFA (49 μmol g−1) than in the RS‐enriched preparation (19 μmol g−1). RS in raw potato starch also displayed the highest faecal bulking capacity. In fact, the faecal dry weight increased more than expected merely from delivery of RS. The relative proportion in caecal contents of acetic‐, propionic‐ and butyric acid was 70, 17 and 8%, respectively, with no significant differences between the three sources of RS

Effects of Whole Brown Bean and Its Isolated Fiber Fraction on Plasma Lipid Profile, Atherosclerosis, Gut Microbiota, and Microbiota-Dependent Metabolites in Apoe−/− Mice

The health benefits of bean consumption are widely recognized and are largely attributed to the dietary fiber content. This study investigated and compared the effects of whole brown beans and an isolated bean dietary fiber fraction on the plasma lipid profile, atherosclerotic plaque amount, gut microbiota, and microbiota-dependent metabolites (cecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and plasma methylamines) in Apoe−/− mice fed high fat diets for 10.5 weeks. The results showed that both whole bean and the isolated fiber fraction had a tendency to lower atherosclerotic plaque amount, but not plasma lipid concentration. The whole bean diet led to a significantly higher diversity of gut microbiota compared with the high fat diet. Both bean diets resulted in a lower Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, higher relative abundance of unclassified S24-7, Prevotella, Bifidobacterium, and unclassified Clostridiales, and lower abundance of Lactobacillus. Both bean diets resulted in higher formation of all cecal SCFAs (higher proportion of propionic acid and lower proportion of acetic acid) and higher plasma trimethylamine N-oxide concentrations compared with the high fat diet. Whole beans and the isolated fiber fraction exerted similar positive effects on atherosclerotic plaque amount, gut microbiota, and cecal SCFAs in Apoe−/− mice compared with the control diets

On the effect of flavonoids and dietary fibre in lingonberries on atherosclerotic plaques, lipid profiles and gut microbiota composition in Apoe(-/-) mice

It has not been clarified whether the anti-atherosclerotic effect of lingonberry can be ascribed to its content of flavonoids or dietary fibre or both. The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolic effects of whole lingonberries compared with isolated flavonoid and fibre fractions on atherosclerotic plaques, plasma lipid profiles, gut microbiota and microbiota-dependent metabolites in an Apoe(-/-) mouse model. Mice fed whole lingonberries showed the lowest amount of atherosclerotic plaques, while mice fed the fibre fraction had the highest formation of caecal butyric acid. Flavonoids, rather than dietary fibre, were suggested to be the components that favour proliferation of Akkermansia, as judged by the lowest abundance of this bacterium in mice fed the fibre fraction. All groups fed lingonberry diets had both, lower Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratios and creatinine concentrations, compared with the control. To conclude, different components in lingonberries are associated with different physiological effects in Apoe(-/-) mice