Prebiotic effectiveness of inulin extracted from edible burdock

To investigate the prebiotic potential of burdock inulin (B-INU), the in vitro and in vivo effects of B-INU on bacterial growth were studied. B-INU significantly stimulated the growth of bifidobacteria in Man-Rogosa-Sharp (MRS) medium, anaerobically. Compared with chicory inulin (C-INU), long-chain inulin (L-INU) and fructooligosaccharides (FOS), 1% (w/v) B-INU promoted the specific growth rate of beneficial bacteria. The decreases of media pH with B-INU were almost the same as that with C-INU and FOS. In vivo, B-INU significantly increased the number of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria (P<0.05) in cecal content. Mice fed with B-INU, C-INU and FOS for 14 days had greater number of cecal beneficial bacteria population than those fed with L-INU for 14 days. In addition, all fructans did not cause any side effects, such as eructation and bloating. Results indicated that inulin extracted from edible burdock showed prebiotic properties that could promote health.     

Fermentation properties of gentio-oligosaccharides

AIMS: To investigate the fermentation properties of gentio-oligosaccharides (GOS), as compared to fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and maltodextrin in mixed faecal culture. METHODS AND RESULTS: The substrates were incubated in 24 h batch culture fermentations of human faecal bacteria. Fluorescent in situ hybridization was used to determine changes in populations of bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, clostridia, bacteroides, streptococci and Escherichia coli. Gas and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production was also measured. GOS gave the largest significant increases in bifidobacteria, lactobacilli and total bacterial numbers during the incubations. However, FOS appeared to be a more selective prebiotic as it did not significantly stimulate growth of bacterial groups which were not probiotic in nature. GOS and maltodextrin produced the highest levels of SCFA. Lowest gas production was seen with GOS and highest with FOS. CONCLUSIONS: GOS possessed bifidogenic activity in vitro. Although fermentation of GOS was not as selective as FOS, gas production was lower. Gas production is often seen as an undesirable side effect of prebiotic consumption. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The study has provided the first data on fermentation of GOS in mixed faecal culture. The study has also used molecular microbiology methods (FISH) to quantify bacterial groups. The data extend our knowledge of the selectivity of fermentation of oligosaccharides by the gut microflora.     

Quantification of anammox populations enriched in an immobilized microbial consortium with low levels of ammonium nitrogen and at low temperature

The prebiotic effect of a pectic oligosaccharide-rich extract enzymatically derived from bergamot peel was studied using pure and mixed cultures of human faecal bacteria. This was compared to the prebiotic effect of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS). Individual species of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli responded positively to the addition of the bergamot extract, which contained oligosaccharides in the range of three to seven. Fermentation studies were also carried out in controlled pH batch mixed human faecal cultures and changes in gut bacterial groups were monitored over 24 h by fluorescent in situ hybridisation, a culture-independent microbial assessment. Addition of the bergamot oligosaccharides (BOS) resulted in a high increase in the number of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, whereas the clostridial population decreased. A prebiotic index (PI) was calculated for both FOS and BOS after 10 and 24 h incubation. Generally, higher PI scores were obtained after 10 h incubation, with BOS showing a greater value (6.90) than FOS (6.12).     

Raw potato starch and short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides affect the composition and metabolic activity of rat intestinal microbiota differently depending on the caecocolonic segment involved

AIMS: In vitro studies have suggested that fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and resistant starch (two fermentable non-digestible carbohydrates) display different fermentation kinetics. This study investigated whether these substrates affect the metabolic activity and bacterial composition of the intestinal microflora differently depending on the caecocolonic segment involved. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighteen rats were fed a low-fibre diet (Basal) or the same diet containing raw potato starch (RPS) (9%) or short-chain FOS (9%) for 14 days. Changes in wet-content weights, bacterial populations and metabolites were investigated in the caecum, proximal and distal colon and faeces. Both substrates exerted a prebiotic effect compared with the Basal diet. However, FOS increased lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAPB) throughout the caecocolon and in faeces, whereas the effect of RPS was limited to the caecum and proximal colon. As compared with RPS, FOS doubled the pool of caecal fermentation products, while the situation was just the opposite distally. This difference was mainly because of the anatomical distribution of lactate, which accumulated in the caecum with FOS and in the distal colon with RPS. Faeces reflected these impacts only partly, showing the prebiotic effect of FOS and the metabolite increase induced by RPS. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that FOS and RPS exert complementary caecocolonic effects. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The RPS and FOS combined ingestion could be beneficial by providing health-promoting effects throughout the caecocolon.     

Bacterial metabolism and health-related effects of galacto-oligosaccharides and other prebiotics

Most studies involving prebiotic oligosaccharides have been carried out using inulin and its fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) derivatives, together with various forms of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS). Although many intestinal bacteria are able to grow on these carbohydrates, most investigations have demonstrated that the growth of bifidobacteria, and to a lesser degree lactobacilli, is particularly favoured. Because of their safety, stability, organoleptic properties, resistance to digestion in the upper bowel and fermentability in the colon, as well as their abilities to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, these prebiotics are being increasingly incorporated into the Western diet. Inulin-derived oligosaccharides and GOS are mildly laxative, but can result in flatulence and osmotic diarrhoea if taken in large amounts. However, their effects on large bowel habit are relatively minor. Although the literature dealing with the health significance of prebiotics is not as extensive as that concerning probiotics, considerable evidence has accrued showing that consumption of GOS and FOS can have significant health benefits, particularly in relation to their putative anti-cancer properties, influence on mineral absorption, lipid metabolism, and anti-inflammatory and other immune effects such as atopic disease. In many instances, prebiotics seem to be more effective when used as part of a synbiotic combination.     

Dietary fructooligosaccharides alter the cultivable faecal population of rats but do not stimulate the growth of intestinal bifidobacteria

The effect of fructans on the cultivable faecal community of Bio Breeding rats fed diets containing 5% (m/v) food-grade fructooligosaccharide (FOS) was investigated. Culturing of faecal material using chicory inulin as the sole carbohydrate source revealed the presence of a greater diversity of inulin-utilizing bacterial species in FOS-fed rats as compared with the control rats, although both contained species which effectively utilized inulin. The majority of cultivable inulin-utilizing species fell within the Clostridium coccoides group and Clostridium leptum subgroup, some of which were related to previously cultured butyrate-producing bacteria from the intestines of various animals. The impact of FOS on the growth of the indigenous bifidobacteria community and three inulin-utilizing isolates was assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. While dietary FOS was found to stimulate the growth of all three inulin-utilizing isolates, no growth stimulation of the indigenous bifidobacteria community occurred over the duration of the feeding trial.     

Growth of infant fecal bacteria on commercial prebiotics

Fecal bacteria from 33 infants (aged 1 to 6 months) were tested for growth on commercial prebiotics. The children were born vaginally (20) or by caesarean section (13). Bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli, and total anaerobes in fecal samples were enumerated by selective agars and fluorescence in situ hybridization. The total fecal bacteria were inoculated into cultivation media containing 2 % Vivinal® (galactooligosaccharides—GOS) or Raftilose® P95 (fructooligosaccharides—FOS) as a single carbon source and bacteria were enumerated again after 24 h of anaerobic cultivation. Bifidobacteria dominated, reaching counts of 9–10 log colony-forming units (CFU)/g in 17 children born vaginally and in seven children delivered by caesarean section. In these infants, lactobacilli were more frequently detected and a lower number of E. coli and gram-negative bacteria were determined compared to bifidobacteria-negative infants. Clostridia dominated in children without bifidobacteria, reaching counts from 7 to 9 log CFU/g. Both prebiotics supported all groups of bacteria tested. In children with naturally high counts of bifidobacteria, bifidobacteria dominated also after cultivation on prebiotics, reaching counts from 8.23 to 8.77 log CFU/mL. In bifidobacteria-negative samples, clostridia were supported by prebiotics, reaching counts from 7.17 to 7.69 log CFU/mL. There were no significant differences between bacterial growth on Vivinal® and Raftilose® P95 and counts determined by cultivation and FISH. Prebiotics should selectively stimulate the growth of desirable bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. However, our results showed that commercially available FOS and GOS may stimulate also other fecal bacteria.     

Chitosan oligosaccharides, dp 2-8, have prebiotic effect on the Bifidobacterium bifidium and Lactobacillus sp

In order to investigate the prebiotic potential of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis of fully deacetylated chitosan polymer, the effect of COS on bacterial growth was studied. The degree of polymerization (dp) of COS was determined by MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry, and the COS was found to be composed of dimer (33.6%), trimer (16.9%), tetramer (15.8%), pentamer (12.4%), hexamer (8.3%), heptamer (7.1%), and octamer (5.9%). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of chitosan polymer against lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria were below 0.31%. However, this only applied to two strains, the other bacteria tested grew on MRS broth containing 5% COS. The effects of COS on the growth of bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria were compared with those of fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS). FOS was found to have a growth stimulatory effect on only three strains: Bifidobacterium bifidium, B. infantis and Lactobacillus casei. However, COS stimulated the growth of most Lactobacillus sp. and B. bifidium KCTC 3440. The amount of the growth and the specific growth rate of B. bifidium increased with increasing COS concentration. The cultivation time required to obtain maximum growth was reduced to about 25% in MRS broth supplemented with 0.2-0.4% COS. These results demonstrate that COS has considerable bifidogenic potential. Both cell growth and specific growth rates of L. brevis in MRS broth supplemented with 0.1% COS increased by 25%. The present study shows that COS stimulates the growth of some enteric bacteria, and that COS has potential use as a prebiotic health-food.     

Prebiotic oligosaccharides and the enterohepatic circulation of bile salts in rats

Human milk contains prebiotic oligosaccharides, which stimulate the growth of intestinal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. It is unclear whether the prebiotic capacity of human milk contributes to the larger bile salt pool size and the more efficient fat absorption in infants fed human milk compared with formula. We determined the effect of prebiotic oligosaccharides on bile salt metabolism in rats. Rats were fed a control diet or an isocaloric diet containing a mixture of galactooligosaccharides (GOS), long-chain fructooligosaccharides (lcFOS), and acidified oligosaccharides (AOS) for 3 wk. We determined synthesis rate, pool size, and fractional turnover rate (FTR) of the primary bile salt cholate by using stable isotope dilution methodology. We quantified bile flow and biliary bile salt secretion rates through bile cannulation. Prebiotic intervention resulted in significant changes in fecal and colonic flora: the proportion of lactobacilli increased 344% (P < 0.01) in colon content and 139% (P < 0.01) in feces compared with the control group. The number of bifidobacteria also increased 366% (P < 0.01) in colon content and 282% in feces after the prebiotic treatment. Furthermore, pH in both colon and feces decreased significantly with 1.0 and 0.5 pH point, respectively. However, despite this alteration of intestinal bacterial flora, no significant effect on relevant parameters of bile salt metabolism and cholate kinetics was found. The present data in rats do not support the hypothesis that prebiotics naturally present in human milk contribute to a larger bile salt pool size or altered bile salt pool kinetics.     

In vitro fermentation of mixed linkage glucooligosaccharides produced by Gluconobacter oxydans NCIMB 4943 by the human colonic microflora

The aim of this study was to develop selectively fermented (prebiotic) carbohydrate molecules which would also result in the generation of butyric acid. Gluco-oligosaccharides produced by Gluconobacter oxydans NCIMB 4943 from various types of maltodextrins were evaluated for their fermentation by mixed cultures of human colonic microflora. The selectivity of growth of desirable bacteria (bifidobacteria, lactobacilli) was studied in stirred pH-controlled (6.8) batch cultures. Bacterial populations were enumerated using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Gluco-oligosaccharides resulted in significantly (P<0.05) increased numbers of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli within 24 hours. Bacteroides, clostridial and eubacterial populations were slightly decreased at 48 h. There was very little difference in selectivity between the maltodextrin substrates and the products, although maltodextrin displayed a slightly less selective fermentation than the gluco-oligosaccharide products, also stimulating the growth of bacteroides, clostridia and eubacteria. Gluco-oligosaccharides, produced from G19 maltodextrin, resulted in the best prebiotic effect with the highest prebiotic index (PI) of 5.90 at 48 hours. Acetate, propionate and butyrate were all produced from gluco-oligosaccharides, derived from G19 maltodextrin, at 48 hours but no lactate or formate were detected.     

Influence of oligosaccharides on the growth and tolerance capacity of lactobacilli to simulated stress environment

Aims:  Lactobacilli should resist stress environments in industry process and gastrointestinal tract before exerting their beneficial effects. To explore the possible stabilizers in probiotic products, prebiotic oligosaccharides were investigated.
Methods and Results:  We investigated the effect of four selected oligosaccharides on the survival of probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum and L. acidophilus to simulated stress conditions. It was found that the tolerance of lactobacilli to simulated artificial gastrointestinal juice, heat treatment and phenol solution was obviously enhanced in fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) group. In addition, chito-oligosaccharides (COS), manno-oligosaccharides (MOS) and glucose also had positive effect compared with control group (without sugar).
Conclusions:  Prebiotic oligosaccharides, especially XOS and FOS added in medium have protection function to lactobacilli in stress environments. The protection function of oligosaccharides may correlate with the bacteria growth, which was stimulated by these oligosaccharides.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Prebiotic oligosaccharides may be used as stabilizers in probiotic products.     

Polydextrose, lactitol, and fructo-oligosaccharide fermentation by colonic bacteria in a three-stage continuous culture system

In vitro fermentations were carried out by using a model of the human colon to simulate microbial activities of lower gut bacteria. Bacterial populations (and their metabolic products) were evaluated under the effects of various fermentable substrates. Carbohydrates tested were polydextrose, lactitol, and fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS). Bacterial groups of interest were evaluated by fluorescence in situ hybridization as well as by species-specific PCR to determine bifidobacterial species and percent-G+C profiling of the bacterial communities present. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) produced during the fermentations were also evaluated. Polydextrose had a stimulatory effect upon colonic bifidobacteria at concentrations of 1 and 2% (using a single and pooled human fecal inoculum, respectively). The bifidogenic effect was sustained throughout all three vessels of the in vitro system (P = 0.01 seen in vessel 3), as corroborated by the bacterial community profile revealed by %G+C analysis. This substrate supported a wide variety of bifidobacteria and was the only substrate where Bifidobacterium infantis was detected. The fermentation of lactitol had a deleterious effect on both bifidobacterial and bacteroides populations (P = 0.01) and decreased total cell numbers. SCFA production was stimulated, however, particularly butyrate (beneficial for host colonocytes). FOS also had a stimulatory effect upon bifidobacterial and lactobacilli populations that used a single inoculum (P = 0.01 for all vessels) as well as a bifidogenic effect in vessels 2 and 3 (P = 0.01) when a pooled inoculum was used. A decrease in bifidobacteria throughout the model was reflected in the percent-G+C profiles.     

Characterization of edible swiftlet’s nest as a prebiotic ingredient using a simulated colon model

Edible bird’s nest (EBN) has been considered as one of the nutritious foods and was also claimed to aid in digestion problems. Potential prebiotic of the EBN for gut health by the presence of glycan within the complex structure of the EBN glycoprotein to date has not been reported. The gut health can contribute to the overall consumers’ health in the improvement of the gut beneficial bacterial growth. In this study, the potential prebiotic of the EBN was conducted using a simulation of in vitro human colon model system. The EBN-extracted glycan and EBN glycoprotein (crude sample) were digested using in vitro oral, gastric and duodenal model system. Prebiotic activities of the undigested EBN glycan and EBN glycopeptide compounds were studied with the fructooligosaccharide as a positive control, using inoculum of 10% (w/v) faecal bacteria in the in vitro fermentation system. The fermentation of EBN glycan and EBN glycopeptide had shown significant increases of the gut beneficial bacteria and was comparable with fructooligosaccharide fermentation, with each sample presented different profiles of bacterial growth. The fermentation of EBN glycan and EBN glycopeptide demonstrated an increase in the total short-chain fatty acid production, particularly acetate, propionate and butyrate. These findings suggested that the EBN can be functioned as a natural prebiotic upon consumption, thus providing a potential as prebiotic ingredients.     

A genomic island of an extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli Strain enables the metabolism of fructooligosaccharides, which improves intestinal colonization

Prebiotics such as fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are increasingly being used in some countries for improving human and animal health and as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in animals, with various degrees of success. It has been observed that FOS stimulate the proliferation of probiotic bacteria and, at the same time, decrease the population of bacteria associated with disease. This observation assumes that pathogenic bacteria do not metabolize FOS and, therefore, lose their competitive advantage over beneficial bacteria. Here we present evidence that some pathogenic Escherichia coli strains can metabolize FOS and show that this property helps the bacterium colonize the intestine. These findings highlight the potential risk that a high level of prebiotic usage could lead to the emergence of well-adapted pathogenic strains that metabolize prebiotic substances.     

Growth of infant faecal bifidobacteria and clostridia on prebiotic oligosaccharides in in vitro conditions

Our aim was to isolate bifidobacteria and clostridia from infant faeces and to test the growth of bifidobacteria and clostridia on prebiotic oligosaccharides. Seventy breast-fed infants aged between 3 and 253 days were tested for the presence of bifidobacteria and clostridia in their faeces. Ten strains of clostridia and 10 strains of bifidobacteria were isolated from infant faecal samples. Four strains of bifidobacteria originated from culture collections and 1 strain from fermented milk product were also tested. Subsequently, bacterial isolates were tested for their growth on prebiotic oligosaccharides in, in vitro conditions. Forty-six infants exhibited high numbers of bifidobacteria (usually higher than 9 logCFU/g) in their faeces. There were undetectable amounts of bifidobacteria in faecal samples in 24 of the studied infants (34%), these babies on the other hand possessed significant amounts of clostridia in their faecal flora. Both bifidobacteria and clostridia utilized all substrates tested. Bifidobacteria grew significantly better in the medium with galactooligosaccharides. Higher growth of clostridia was observed on raffinose and lactulose. Conversely, bifidobacteria grew slightly better in the medium with stachyose, inulin, Raftilose P85 and P95. However, these differences were not significant. Our results suggest that commercially available prebiotics support the growth of infant faecal clostridia. It is therefore questionable if bifidobacteria-deficient infants should be supplemented with prebiotics.     

A Human Volunteer Study on the Prebiotic Effects of HP-Inulin—Faecal Bacteria Enumerated Using Fluorescent In Situ Hybridisation (FISH)

An in vivo study was carried to determine the effect of HP-inulin, a high-molecular-weight fraction of chicory-derived inulin, on the human gut microflora composition. Ten healthy volunteers were allowed a free-living diet whereby they also ingested 8 g/d of maltodextrin for 14 days and this was followed by 8 g/d HP-inulin for 14 days. Nine of the ten volunteers completed the trial. The trial was conducted in a double blind manner and faeces were collected periodically such that predominant groups of gut bacteria i.e. total bacterial populations, Bacteroides spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Clostridium perfringens/histolyticum sub-group and lactobacilli/enterococci could be enumerated. To overcome difficulties with culture-based techniques, the bacteria were enumerated using fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH). A small but statistically significant increase in bifidobacteria was observed when data from the volunteers were pooled. Similarly, a statistically significant increase was observed in clostridial numbers, although the magnitude of change in this bacterial group was about ten times less than that seen with bifidobacteria. HP-inulin intake had little or no effect on numbers of total bacteria,Bacteroides spp., or lactobacilli and enterococci present in the gut microflora of the volunteers. This study has confirmed the prebiotic nature of HP-inulin. However, in this trial the effects were most marked in those volunteers with low starting levels of bifidobacteria—indicating that there may be a relationship between prebiotic effect and initial bifidobacterial numbers.     

Prebiotic effects of oligosaccharides on selected vaginal lactobacilli and pathogenic microorganisms

The purpose of this study was to select endogenous human vaginal lactobacilli strains on the basis of the main probiotic properties observed in the vaginal environment in order to use them for the evaluation of the potential prebiotic properties of oligosaccharides. From vaginal samples of 50 women with a normal flora, 17 lactobacilli strains were first isolated because of their high level of hydrogen peroxide production. Then six strains were selected mainly for their ability (i) to adhere to vaginal cells, (ii) to produce compounds in sufficient amount, such as lactic acid, having an inhibitory action on pathogens, and less importantly, (iii) to demonstrate arginine deiminase activity. These six strains were found to belong to three distinct species: Lactobacillus crispatus, L. jensenii and L. vaginalis. One strain of each species was chosen as a potential vaginal probiotic strain with regard to our criteria. These three strains were then used to evaluate the prebiotic properties of different oligosaccharide series: two fructooligosaccharide series (FOS Actilight and FOS Raftilose) and two glucooligosaccharide series varying by their osidic linkages (alpha-1,6/alpha-1,4 GOS and alpha-1,2/alpha-1,6/alpha-1,4 GOS). The test was based on the ability of the oligosaccharides to promote the growth of the three beneficial strains selected but not of pathogenic microorganisms often encountered in urogenital infections such as Candida albicans, Escherichia coli and Gardnerella vaginalis. Oligosaccharide hydrolysis was followed by HPLC analysis. This revealed that two oligosaccharide series (FOS Actilight DP3 and all alpha-1,6/alpha-1,4 GOS DP > or = 4) were used only by the lactobacilli strains, the pathogenic microorganisms being unable to metabolise them. The selected lactobacilli and oligosaccharides are good candidates for incorporation in a formula to prevent vaginal infections.     

Metabolism by bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria of polysaccharides from wheat and rye, and exopolysaccharides produced by Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis

AIMS: The metabolism by bifidobacteria of exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis was investigated. To evaluate the significance of the EPS produced by Lact. sanfranciscensis during dough fermentation on the overall prebiotic properties of bread, metabolism by bifidobacteria of water-soluble polysaccharides (WSP) from wheat and rye was investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Polyglucose and polyfructan contained in WSP from wheat and rye were metabolized by bifidobacteria. In contrast, WSP isolated from fermented doughs were not metabolized by bifidobacteria. The arabioxylan fraction of WSP was metabolized neither by bifidobacteria nor by lactobacilli. All the bifidobacteria tested were able to metabolize fructan from Lact. sanfranciscensis. The kinetics of EPS metabolism by various bifidobacteria were characterized by diauxic utilization of fructose and EPS. CONCLUSIONS: Bifidobacteria metabolize fructan from Lact. sanfranciscensis. Polyfructan and the starch fractions from wheat and rye, which possess a bifidogenic effect, were degraded by cereal enzymes during dough fermentation, while the EPS were retained. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: EPS produced by sourdough lactic acid bacteria will improve the nutritional properties of sourdough fermented products.     

Effects of Supplemental Fructooligosaccharides Plus Mannanoligosaccharides on Immune Function and Ileal and Fecal Microbial Populations in Adult Dogs

The goal of this study was to examine whether supplemental fructooligosaccharides (FOS) plus mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) influenced immune function and ileal and fecal microbial populations of adult dogs. Eight adult dogs surgically fitted with ileal cannulas were used in a crossover design. Dogs were fed 200g of a dry, extruded, kibble diet twice daily. At each feeding, dogs were dosed with either 1g sucrose (placebo) or 2g FOS plus 1g MOS orally via gelatin capsule. Fecal, ileal, and blood samples were collected at the end of each 14-d period to measure microbial populations and immune characteristics. Treatment least squares means were compared using the GLM procedure of SAS. Supplementation of FOS plus MOS increased fecal bifidobacteria and fecal and ileal lactobacilli concentrations. Dogs fed FOS plus MOS also tended to have lower blood neutrophils and greater blood lymphocytes vs placebo. Serum, fecal, and ileal immunoglobulin concentrations were unchanged by treatment. Supplementation of FOS plus MOS beneficially altered indices of gut health by improving ileal and fecal microbial ecology. Supplementation of FOS plus MOS also altered immune function by causing a shift in blood immune cells.     

Influence of supplemental high molecular weight pullulan or gamma-cyclodextrin on ileal and total tract nutrient digestibility, fecal characteristics, and microbial populations in the dog

This study was conducted to determine if supplemental pullulan and gamma-cyclodextrin affect canine nutrient digestibility, microbial populations, and fecal characteristics. Ileal cannulated dogs were fed a commercial diet, and treatments were administered daily in a 5 x 5 Latin square design: (i) no supplement; (ii) 2 g pullulan; (iii) 4 g pullulan; (iv) 2 g gamma-cyclodextrin; (v) 4 g gamma-cyclodextrin. Ileal and fecal samples were collected the last 4 d of each 14-d period. Increasing pullulan tended (p < 0.10) to linearly increase ileal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli and quadratically increase fecal lactobacilli. A similar response was noted in ileal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli with gamma-cyclodextrin. Gamma-Cyclodextrin resulted in a quadratic decrease (p < 0.05) in fecal Clostridium perfringens. Increasing pullulan linearly increased (p < 0.05) fecal score, while gamma-cyclodextrin resulted in a linear decrease (p < 0.05). Pullulan and gamma-cyclodextrin supplementation may have beneficial effects on the microbial ecology of dogs.