Chicory increases acetate turnover, but not propionate and butyrate peripheral turnovers in rats

Chicory roots are rich in inulin that is degraded into SCFA in the caecum and colon. Whole-body SCFA metabolism was investigated in rats during food deprivation and postprandial states. After 22h of food deprivation, sixteen rats received an IV injection of radioactive 14C-labelled SCFA. The volume of distribution and the fractional clearance rate of SCFA were 0·25-0·27 litres/kg and 5·4-5·9%/min, respectively. The half-life in the first extracellular rapidly decaying compartment was between 0·9 and 1·4min. After 22h of food deprivation, another seventeen rats received a primed continuous IV infusion of 13C-labelled SCFA for 2h. Isotope enrichment (13C) of SCFA was determined in peripheral arterial blood by MS. Peripheral acetate, propionate and butyrate turnover rates were 29, 4 and 0·3μmol/kg per min respectively. Following 4 weeks of treatment with chicory root or control diets, eighteen fed rats received a primed continuous IV infusion of 13C-labelled SCFA for 2h. Intestinal degradation of dietary chicory lowered caecal pH, enhanced caecal and colonic weights, caecal SCFA concentrations and breath H2.The diet with chicory supplementation enhanced peripheral acetate turnover by 25% (P=0·017) concomitant with an increase in plasma acetate concentration. There were no changes in propionate or butyrate turnovers. In conclusion, by setting up a multi-tracer approach to simultaneously assess the turnovers of acetate, propionate and butyrate it was demonstrated that a chronic chicory-rich diet significantly increases peripheral acetate turnover but not that of propionate or butyrate in rat

Effect of a prebiotic mixture on intestinal comfort and general wellbeing in health

Specific carbohydrates, i.e. prebiotics such as fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS), are not digested in the small intestine but fermented in the colon. Besides beneficial health effects of an enhanced bifidobacteria population, intestinal gas production resulting from fermentation can induce abdominal symptoms. Partial replacement with slowly fermented acacia gum may attenuate side effects. The aim was to compare the effects of FOS with those of a prebiotic mixture (50% FOS and 50% acacia gum; BLEND) and a rapidly absorbed carbohydrate (maltodextrin) on general intestinal wellbeing, abdominal comfort and anorectal sensory function. Twenty volunteers (eight male and twelve female; age 20-37 years) completed this double-blind, randomised study with two cycles of a 2-week run-in phase (10g maltodextrin) followed by 5 weeks of 10g FOS or BLEND once daily, separated by a 4-week wash-out interval. Abdominal symptoms and general wellbeing were documented by telephone interview or Internet twice weekly. Rectal sensations were assessed by a visual analogue scale during a rectal barostat test after FOS and BLEND treatment. Both FOS and BLEND induced more side effects than maltodextrin. Belching was more pronounced under FOS compared with BLEND (P=0·09 for females; P=0·01 for males), and for self-reported general wellbeing strong sex differences were reported (P=0·002). Urgency scores during rectal barostat were higher with FOS than BLEND (P=0·01). Faced with a growing range of supplemented food products, consumers may benefit from prebiotic mixtures which cause fewer abdominal side effects. Sex differences must be taken in consideration when food supplements are use

Effect of a prebiotic mixture on intestinal comfort and general wellbeing in health

Specific carbohydrates, i.e. prebiotics such as fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS), are not digested in the small intestine but fermented in the colon. Besides beneficial health effects of an enhanced bifidobacteria population, intestinal gas production resulting from fermentation can induce abdominal symptoms. Partial replacement with slowly fermented acacia gum may attenuate side effects. The aim was to compare the effects of FOS with those of a prebiotic mixture (50% FOS and 50% acacia gum; BLEND) and a rapidly absorbed carbohydrate (maltodextrin) on general intestinal wellbeing, abdominal comfort and anorectal sensory function. Twenty volunteers (eight male and twelve female; age 20-37 years) completed this double-blind, randomised study with two cycles of a 2-week run-in phase (10g maltodextrin) followed by 5 weeks of 10g FOS or BLEND once daily, separated by a 4-week wash-out interval. Abdominal symptoms and general wellbeing were documented by telephone interview or Internet twice weekly. Rectal sensations were assessed by a visual analogue scale during a rectal barostat test after FOS and BLEND treatment. Both FOS and BLEND induced more side effects than maltodextrin. Belching was more pronounced under FOS compared with BLEND (P=0·09 for females; P=0·01 for males), and for self-reported general wellbeing strong sex differences were reported (P=0·002). Urgency scores during rectal barostat were higher with FOS than BLEND (P=0·01). Faced with a growing range of supplemented food products, consumers may benefit from prebiotic mixtures which cause fewer abdominal side effects. Sex differences must be taken in consideration when food supplements are use

L'évaluation de la qualité des équipements éducatifs

En 2005, le Programme de l’OCDE pour la construction et l’équipement de l’éducation (PEB) a organisé deux réunions d’experts internationaux pour débattre des méthodes employées par les pays pour définir et évaluer la qualité des équipements éducatifs. En plus des enseignements tirés de ces deux réunions, cet article présente les recherches et les expériences de six experts : le directeur d’un programme de construction rend compte des normes utilisées pour évaluer l’adéquation des équipements éducatifs des écoles publiques de l’État du Maryland, aux États-Unis ; un chercheur présente une méthode d’évaluation de la fonctionnalité des lieux, utilisée dans des écoles de Sao Paulo, au Brésil ; un autre chercheur décrit un dispositif de collecte de données servant à établir des indicateurs sur les infrastructures de l’éducation dans un certain nombre de municipalités en Grèce ; deux administrateurs examinent les normes établies pour assurer un niveau minimum de qualité et de sécurité dans les installations éducatives au Mexique ; deux architectes communiquent les résultats d’une récente évaluation de fonctionnalité réalisée dans un nouvel établissement scolaire de Pendao, au Portugal ; et un urbaniste présente un projet international de construction de nouvelles écoles au Salvador, qui s’appuie sur des critères de qualité.Mexique, Grèce, États-Unis, Brésil, normes, évaluation de fonctionnalité, sécurité

Evaluating Quality in Educational Facilities

In 2005, the OECD Programme on Educational Building (PEB) organised two international experts’ group meetings to discuss how countries define and evaluate quality in educational facilities. The research and experiences of six experts are presented in this article, in addition to the lessons learned from the experts’ group meetings. The director of a state construction programme describes the standards used to assess the educational adequacy of all public school facilities in the State of Maryland in the United States. A researcher presents a post-occupancy evaluation methodology used in schools in São Paulo, Brazil. Another researcher presents a data collection tool used to develop indicators on educational infrastructure in a number of municipalities in Greece. Two administrators discuss the development of norms to ensure minimum standards of quality and security in educational facilities in Mexico. Two architects present the results of a recent post-occupancy evaluation conducted in a new school in Pendão, Portugal. And an urban planner presents an international project to construct new schools in El Salvador using quality criteria.Mexico, Greece, United States, security, Brazil, standards, post-occupancy, norms, Portugal, evaluation, El Salvador