Short-Chain Fructo-Oligosaccharide Administration Dose-Dependently Increases Fecal Bifidobacteria in Healthy Humans

Manuscript received 28 February 1998. Initial reviews completed 11 June 1998. Revision accepted 15 September 1998.

Yoram Bouhnik^*, , Kouroche Vahedi^*, Lotfi Achour^*, Alain Attar^*, Jérôme Salfati^*, , Philippe Pochart^*, Philippe Marteau^*, Bernard Flourié^*, Francis Bornet, and Jean-Claude Rambaud^*

^* INSERM U 290, Fonctions intestinales, métabolisme et nutrition, Hôpital Saint-Lazare, 75010 Paris, France and  Eridania Beghin-Say, Vilvoorde Research and Development Center, Nutrition and Health Service, B-1800 Vilvoorde, Belgique

Short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (SC-FOS) are a mixture of oligosaccharides consisting of glucose linked to fructose units (Gf_n; n =  4), which are not digested in the human small intestine but are fermented in the colon where they specifically promote the growth of bifidobacteria. In healthy volunteers, we assessed the tolerance and the threshold dose of SC-FOS that significantly increased fecal bifidobacteria counts and the possibility of a dose-response relationship. Randomly divided into five groups and eating their usual diets, healthy volunteers (40: 18 males, 22 females) ingested in two oral doses for 7 d a powder mixture containing (g SC-FOS/d): 0, G₀; 2.5, G_2.5; 5, G₅; 10, G₁₀; 20, G₂₀. Stools were collected before (d1) and at the end (d8) of sugar consumption, and tolerance was evaluated using a daily chart. Total anaerobe counts were not affected by SC-FOS ingestion. Bifidobacteria counts at d8 were greater in groups G₁₀ and G₂₀ than in G₀ and G_2.5 (P < 0.05). Fecal pH did not differ among groups. A significant correlation between the dose of SC-FOS ingested and the fecal bifidobacteria counts was observed at d8 (r = 0.53; P < 0.01). Excess flatus was significantly more frequent in subjects consuming G₂₀ than in those consuming G₀, G_2.5 or G₅ (P < 0.05), and more intense in G₂₀ than in G₀ and G₅ groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the optimal and well-tolerated dose of SC-FOS that significantly increased fecal bifidobacteria in healthy volunteers consuming their usual diet is 10 g/d.

The Journal of Nutrition Vol. 129 No. 1 January 1999, pp. 113-116
Copyright ©1999 by the American Society for Nutritional Sciences

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