Dietary supplementation of different doses of NUTRIOSE®FB, a fermentable dextrin, alters the activity of faecal enzymes in healthy men

• Published in: European journal of nutrition 2005-10, Vol.44 (7), p.445-451
• Main Authors: VAN DEN HEUVEL, Ellen G. H. M, WILS, Daniel, PASMAN, Wilrike J, SANIEZ, Marie-Hélène, KARDINAAL, Alwine F. M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; beta-Glucosidase - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Colon - metabolism; Colon - microbiology; Cross-Over Studies; Dextrins - administration & dosage; Dextrins - metabolism; Dietary Carbohydrates - administration & dosage; Dietary Carbohydrates - metabolism; Dietary Fiber - administration & dosage; Dietary Fiber - metabolism; Dietary Supplements; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Feces - enzymology; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fermentation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glucosidases - metabolism; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 1436-6207; 1436-6215
• DOI: 10.1007/s00394-005-0552-0

It is well documented that fermentation of carbohydrates that escape digestion exert several effects supposed to be beneficial for (colonic) health, including an increase in stool volume, a shorter intestinal transit time, production of short chain fatty acids and a decrease of colonic pH (Kritchevsky 1988). NUTRIOSE FB is a dextrin that is not completely hydrolysed and absorbed in the small intestine, due to many alpha-1.6 linkages and the presence of non-digestible glucoside linkages (e. g. alpha-1.2 and alpha-1.3). To be beneficial for 'colonic' health effective NUTRIOSE FB must reach the cecum in some form. To estimate how much non digested NUTRIOSE FB is fermented and to determine the fibre-like effect of the wheat dextrin NUTRIOSE((R))FB by analysing enzymatic activity in faeces. In a randomized, double-blind,multiple dose, placebo-controlled, combined cross-over and parallel trial, 20 healthy men (age 31.7 +/- 9.1 yrs; BMI 24.5 +/- 2.9 kg.m(-2) received different treatments. One group of ten subjects consumed on top of their diet 10, 30 and 60 g daily of NUTRIOSE FB or maltodextrin (placebo). The other group of 10 subjects consumed 15, 45 and 80 g daily. Each dose was consumed for 7 days. On the last two days of each of the 7-day period, faeces were collected in which the enzymatic activity and NUTRIOSE FB residue were analysed. As expected, the faecal residue of NUTRIOSE FB non-linearly increased with the dose of NUTRIOSE FB to approximately 13% of 80 g/d. Compared with the placebo, 30, 45, 60 and 80 g/d of NUTRIOSE FB increased the concentration of alpha-glucosidase significantly. All daily doses of NUTRIOSE FB (10 g/d to 80 g/d) led to significant changes in concentration of beta-glucosidase. The small amount of the residue of NUTRIOSE FB in the faeces suggests that approximately 87% or more of NUTRIOSE FB is digested or fermented in the gastrointestinal tract. Fermentation of NUTRIOSE FB led to an increased faecal concentration of alpha- and beta-glucosidase.