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Effect of isomalt consumption on faecal microflora and colonic metabolism in healthy volunteers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2007

A. Gostner ,
M. Blaut ,
V. Schäffer ,
G. Kozianowski ,
S. Theis ,
M. Klingeberg ,
Y. Dombrowski ,
D. Martin ,
S. Ehrhardt  and
D. Taras
...Show all authors
A. Gostner*
Affiliation:
University of Würzburg, Department of Medicine II, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
M. Blaut
Affiliation:
German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Department of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114–116, D-14558 Nuthetal, Germany
V. Schäffer
Affiliation:
University of Würzburg, Department of Medicine II, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
G. Kozianowski
Affiliation:
Suedzucker AG, Wormser Strasse 11, D-67283 Obrigheim/Pfalz, Germany
S. Theis
Affiliation:
Suedzucker AG, Wormser Strasse 11, D-67283 Obrigheim/Pfalz, Germany
M. Klingeberg
Affiliation:
Suedzucker AG, Wormser Strasse 11, D-67283 Obrigheim/Pfalz, Germany
Y. Dombrowski
Affiliation:
University of Würzburg, Department of Medicine II, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
D. Martin
Affiliation:
Suedzucker AG, Wormser Strasse 11, D-67283 Obrigheim/Pfalz, Germany
S. Ehrhardt
Affiliation:
Suedzucker AG, Wormser Strasse 11, D-67283 Obrigheim/Pfalz, Germany
D. Taras
Affiliation:
German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Department of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114–116, D-14558 Nuthetal, Germany
A. Schwiertz
Affiliation:
German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Department of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114–116, D-14558 Nuthetal, Germany
B. Kleessen
Affiliation:
German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Department of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114–116, D-14558 Nuthetal, Germany
H. Lührs
Affiliation:
University of Würzburg, Department of Medicine II, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
J. Schauber
Affiliation:
University of Würzburg, Department of Medicine II, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
D. Dorbath
Affiliation:
University of Würzburg, Department of Medicine II, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
T. Menzel
Affiliation:
University of Würzburg, Department of Medicine II, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
W. Scheppach
Affiliation:
University of Würzburg, Department of Medicine II, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
*
*Corresponding author:Dr Andrea Godtner, fax +49 931 201 36 101, email gostner_a@klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de
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Abstract

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Due to its low digestibility in the small intestine, a major fraction of the polyol isomalt reaches the colon. However, little is known about effects on the intestinal microflora. During two 4-week periods in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design, nineteen healthy volunteers consumed a controlled basal diet enriched with either 30g isomalt or 30g sucrose daily. Stools were collected at the end of each test phase and various microbiological and luminal markers were analysed. Fermentation characteristics of isomalt were also investigated in vitro. Microbiological analyses of faecal samples indicated a shift of the gut flora towards an increase of bifidobacteria following consumption of the isomalt diet compared with the sucrose diet (P<0·05). During the isomalt phase, the activity of bacterial β-glucosidase decreased (P<0·05) whereas β-glucuronidase, sulfatase, nitroreductase and urease remained unchanged. Faecal polyamines were not different between test periods with the exception of cadaverine, which showed a trend towards a lower concentration following isomalt (P=0·055). Faecal SCFA, lactate, bile acids, neutral sterols, N, NH3, phenol and p-cresol were not affected by isomalt consumption. In vitro, isomalt was metabolized in several bifidobacteria strains and yielded high butyrate concentrations. Isomalt, which is used widely as a low-glycaemic and low-energy sweetener, has to be considered a prebiotic carbohydrate that might contribute to a healthy luminal environment of the colonic mucosa.

Keywords

IsomaltBifidobacteriaMicrobial metabolismHealthy volunteersFluorescence in situ hybridization
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 95 , Issue 1 , January 2006 , pp. 40 - 50
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2006

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