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(Journal of Nutrition. 1999;129:2231-2235.)
© 1999 The American Society for Nutritional Sciences


Article

Prolonged Intake of Fructo-Oligosaccharides Induces a Short-Term Elevation of Lactic Acid-Producing Bacteria and a Persistent Increase in Cecal Butyrate in Rats1

Gwenaëlle Le Blay, Catherine Michel, Hervé M Blottière and Christine Cherbut2

Human Nutrition Research Centre, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, BP 71627, 44316 Nantes Cedex 03, France

2To whom correspondence should be addressed: C Cherbut INRA, BP 71627, 44316 Nantes Cedex 03, France. Fax: 33–2-40–67-50–12. E-mail: cherbut{at}nantes.inra.fr


    ABSTRACT
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
While the prebiotic effects of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), short-chain polymers of fructose, have been thoroughly described after 2–3 wk of ingestion, effects after intake for several months are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that these effects would differ after ingestion for short and long periods in rats. Rats were fed a basal low-fiber diet (Basal) or the same diet containing 9 g/100 g of FOS for 2, 8 or 27 wk, and cecal contents were collected at the end of each time period. Cecal short-chain fatty acid concentration was higher in rats fed FOS than in those fed Basal, and this effect persisted over time: 83.8 ± 4.1 vs. 62.4 ± 6.5 µmol/g at 2 wk and 103.5 ± 5.8 vs. 73.2 ± 7.4 µmol/g at 27 wk (P < 0.05). The molar butyrate ratio was higher in rats fed FOS regardless of the time period (14.8 ± 0.6% vs. 6.7 ± 1.1% at 27 wk, P < 0.05). Lactate concentration in rats fed FOS was elevated after 2 wk and then decreased: 63.5 ± 21.6 µmol/g at 2 wk vs. 8.8 ± 3.3 µmol/g at 8 wk (P < 0.05). After 2 wk, FOS increased the concentrations of total lactic acid-producing bacteria, and Lactobacillus sp. (P < 0.05), without modifying total anaerobes. However, most of these effects were abolished after 8 and 27 wk of FOS consumption. In the long term, the FOS-induced increase in intestinal lactic acid-producing bacteria was lost, but the butyrogenic properties of FOS were maintained.


KEY WORDS: • butyrate • colonic microflora • fructo-oligosaccharides • long-term intake • rats


    INTRODUCTION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS)3 are short-chain polymers of ß 1–2-linked fructose units, which are produced commercially by hydrolysis of inulin or by enzymatic synthesis from sucrose or lactose. They are not hydrolyzed in the human small intestine, but degraded in the colon by the resident microflora (McIntyre et al. 1991Citation ). They are mainly known for their ability to increase the endogenous growth of intestinal lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in humans and animals (Bouhnik et al. 1996Citation , Campbell et al. 1997Citation , Gibson and Roberfroid 1995Citation ), which has long been regarded as beneficial to health (Gibson and Roberfroid 1995Citation , Macfarlane et al. 1997, Metchnikoff 1903Citation ). Moreover, in vitro (Gibson and Wang 1994Citation ) and in vivo studies (Campbell et al. 1997Citation ) in rats showed that FOS fermentation decreases intracolonic pH, produces SCFA and lactate, and increases the proportion of butyrate. SCFA, especially butyrate, are the main sources of energy for colonocytes (Roediger 1995Citation ) and influence colonic function by stimulating water and sodium absorption and modulating motility (Cherbut et al. 1997,Citation Roediger and Moore 1981Citation ). Moreover, butyrate induces differentiation and stimulates the apoptosis of cancerous cells in vitro (Hague et al. 1996Citation ).

Although FOS intake seems beneficial, its effect was studied only for short periods of ingestion never exceeding 3–4 wk. Several authors have suggested that gut adaptation could modify the gastrointestinal effects of nondigestible carbohydrates (Rao et al. 1994Citation , Weaver et al. 1996Citation ). In rats fed different types of indigestible polysaccharides, 3–12 wk were necessary to stabilize cecal bacterial mass and metabolic activity and allow measurement of stable digestibility of nonstarch polysaccharides and cecal SCFA concentrations (Brunsgaard et al. 1995Citation , Walter et al. 1986Citation , Weaver et al. 1996Citation ). In humans, a similar adaptation seems to occur, since studies showed that a chronic (8-d) load of lactulose was better digested than a single load (Florent et al. 1985Citation ) and reduced the diarrhea induced by a single large dose (Flourié et al. 1993Citation ). Furthermore, Rao et al. (1994)Citation reported that fecal bacterial composition was different after 15 wk than 2 wk of psyllium fiber intake. In particular, the increase in bifidobacteria noted at wk 2 returned to baseline levels at wk 15. In this context, we tested the hypothesis that the effects of FOS on cecal flora activities and populations in rats would differ over short (2 wk), medium (8 wk) and long (27 wk) periods of time.


    MATERIALS AND METHODS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Animals and diets.

Thirty-six male Wistar rats (Janvier, Le Genest Saint Isles, France), with an initial mean weight of 115 ± 1 g (6 wk), were divided into six groups of six rats each and fed two different diets for 2, 8 or 27 wk. Control groups were fed a basal low-fiber diet (Basal) containing (g/kg diet): pregelatinized corn starch 646, soluble casein 204, DL-methionine 3.7, corn oil 18.5, lard 58.5, a mineral mixture 43.7 [providing (g/kg diet): Ca2(PO4)3 16.6, K2(PO4)3 10.5, CaCO3 8.0, NaCl 3.1, MgSO4 3.9, FeSO4 0.3, ZnSO4 0.2, MnSO4 0.2, CuSO4 0.04, CoSO4 4.10-4, K2HSO4 4.10-4, NH3(SO4)2 4.10-4, MgO 0.9], a vitamin mixture 5.6 [providing (mg/kg diet): all-rac-{alpha}–tocopherol (500 UI/g) 150, all-trans-retinyl acetate (500,000 UI/g) 8, cholecalciferol (400,000 UI/g) 2.5, nicotinic acid 45, calcium pantothenate 15, thiamin hydrochloride 5, riboflavin 9, pyridoxine (PN) hydrochloride 5, ascorbic acid 113, folic acid 2, p-aminobenzoic acid 113, vitamin B-12 (1 g/kg) 67.8, biotin 0.4, phylloquinone 2, myo-inositol 113] and cellulose 20. Experimental groups received a diet containing 90 g/kg short-chain FOS. FOS were included in the Basal diet at the expense of corn starch, so that the two diets (Basal and FOS) differed only in the proportions of corn starch and FOS. These FOS, composed of 44% 1-kestose (GF2), 46% nystose (GF3), and 10% 1F-ß-fructofuranosyl nystose (GF4), are considered to be fully indigestible in the small intestine of rats (Nilsson et al. 1988Citation ). Rats were individually housed in suspended wire-mesh-bottomed cages and maintained at 23°C in an animal room with a 12-h light-dark cycle. Food and water were consumed ad libitum. Food intake and body weight were recorded every 2 to 3 d during the first period (2 wk) and then twice a month. All experiments were in accordance with National Research Council guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals.

Transit time.

One wk before killing, rats were placed individually in metabolic cages and acclimated for 2 d. On the 3rd d, they received 4 mL of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 (10%) by oral administration. Their feces were then harvested and weighed every 3 h for 4 d. Harvested feces were freeze-dried, weighed and pulverized to determine PEG concentration according to the method of Hyden (1955)Citation . Transit time was calculated as that required for the excretion of 50% of the initial PEG.

Cecum collection.

At the end of each adaptation period, rats were killed by an intracardiac injection of sodium pentobarbital. The cecum was immediately removed, carefully dissected free from fat and mesentery, and weighed. The content was then removed and weighed. The empty tissue was washed with phosphate-buffered saline, blotted and weighed.

Cecal content was divided into four parts: 1) 0.8 g was collected into a sterile assay tube for bacterial enumeration; 2) 0.2 g was immediately frozen at -80°C for further analysis of lactate; 3) 0.3 g was supplemented with 0.75 mL of HgCl2 (1 g/L) and 0.105 mL of H3PO4 (50 g/L) and then frozen at -80°C for further analysis of SCFA; and 4) the residual material was used for dry matter determination. A portion of proximal and distal colonic contents was also sampled for SCFA and lactate analysis, and bacterial enumeration.

Bacterial enumeration.

Samples for enumeration of selected genera of colonic bacteria were serially diluted 10-fold with anaerobic one-fourth strength peptone-water within 2 h after collection. One hundred microliters of the appropriate dilutions were inoculated onto duplicate plates using unselective media for the enumeration of total anaerobes (Wilkins Chalgren Agar), and selective media for Lactobacillus sp. (Rogosa Agar) and total lactic acid-producing bacteria, i.e., Streptococcus sp., Lactobacillus sp. and Bifidobacterium sp. (Man Rogosa Sharp Agar). Plates were incubated aerobically or in an anaerobic chamber (H2/CO2/N2, 5:10:85) for 24 or 72 h as appropriate. After incubation, single colonies were counted, and the results were expressed as the log10 of the colony-forming unit (CFU) per gram of wet weight of cecal content.

SCFA and lactate analysis.

Lactate concentrations were determined by gas chromatography after methylation and chloroformic extraction from cecal contents (Holdeman et al. 1977Citation ). Malonic acid was used as internal standard. SCFA were analyzed by gas chromatography according to Jouany (1982)Citation on supernatants of thawed samples centrifuged at 8,000 x g for 10 min. 4-Methyl valeric acid was used as internal standard.

Chemicals.

Short-chain FOS (Actilight®) were provided by Eridania-Beghin Say (Vilvoorde, Belgium). Pregelatinized corn starch was purchased from Cerestar (Vilvoorde, Belgium), soluble casein from Touzart et Matignon (Vitry sur Seine, France), DL-methionine from Rhône-Poulenc (Commentry, France), cellulose arbocel from Rettenmaier und Sohne (Germany). Vitamin and mineral mixtures were prepared by the INRA (Jouy en Josas, France). Microbiological media were purchased from Oxoid (Uuipath, Dardilly, France). All other chemicals were obtained from the Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Quentin Fallavier, France).

Statistical analysis.

Statistical analysis was performed using the Statview F-4.11 package (Abacus Concepts, Berkeley, CA). Two-way ANOVA was used to assess the effects of diet (Basal or FOS), time of exposure to diet (2, 8 or 27 wk) and interactions between diet and time. When significant differences were found, individual means were compared by one-way ANOVA, to assess the effects of diet at each time and the effects of time for each diet. Statistical significance was accepted at the P < 0.05 level. Data are expressed as means and pooled SEM


    RESULTS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Food intake, body weight, transit time and cecal content.

Food intake increased during the first 2 wk, then stabilized at about 16–17 g/d in both diet groups throughout the course of the experiment (Table 1Citation ). Rat body weight increased steadily until the end of the experiment, with no difference between the two diet groups (Table 1)Citation . Cecal wall weight was greater in rats fed FOS than in those fed Basal after 2 wk of feeding, after which the effect decreased with time (Table 1)Citation . Cecal wet content was greater in rats fed FOS regardless of the time period. The percentage of dry matter was lower in rats fed FOS after 2 wk as compared to those fed Basal and then became similar for both groups (Table 1)Citation . Transit time was longer in rats fed FOS than in those fed Basal at 2 and 8 wk (Table 1)Citation .


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Table 1. Food intake, body weight, transit time, cecal content and fecal output in rats fed a basal diet (Basal) or this diet containing 9 g/100 g fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) for 2, 8 or 27 wk1

 
SCFA, lactate and pH.

FOS increased the cecal concentration of total SCFA throughout the ingestion period, while Basal did not significantly change it. This effect was mainly due to a strong increase in butyrate concentration, whereas propionate concentration was not modified by diet (Table 2Citation ). This resulted in a significantly higher proportion of butyrate in rats fed FOS than in those fed Basal, regardless of the time period (respectively, 15.8 ± 3.2 vs. 7.9 ± 1.5% at 2 wk, 25.8 ± 4.6 vs. 6.8 ± 1.2% at 8 wk, and 14.8 ± 0.6 vs. 6.7 ± 1.1% at 27 wk, P = 0.026). FOS also increased lactate concentration (Table 2)Citation about 15-fold after 2 wk of feeding but only 1–2-fold after 8 and 27 wk. Concurrently, cecal pH was decreased by 2 U after 2 wk of FOS and by only 1 U after 8 and 27 wk (Table 2)Citation . Neither lactate concentration nor pH were changed over time in rats fed Basal. Similar trends were observed in colonic contents (Table 3Citation ). The butyrate proportion was higher in the colon (proximal and distal parts) in rats fed FOS than in those fed Basal throughout the course of the experiment. On the contrary, lactate was elevated in both segments only after 2 wk of FOS, then decreased at the same level than that observed in rats fed Basal.


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Table 2. Cecal concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and lactate, and pH in rats fed a basal diet (Basal) or this diet containing 9 g/100 g fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) for 2, 8 or 27 wk1

 

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Table 3. Ratio of butyrate to total short-chain fatty acids, and concentration of lactate and total lactic acid-producing bacteria in the colonic contents of rats fed a basal diet (Basal) or this diet containing 9 g/100 g fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) for 2 and 27 wk1

 
Cecal bacteria.

After 2 wk of ingestion, the concentrations of total lactic acid producers and Lactobacillus sp. were higher in rats fed FOS than those fed Basal, whereas the concentrations of total anaerobes were not different (Fig. 1Citation ). However, the lactic acid producing bacteria increase induced by FOS was not maintained with time and disappeared within 8 wk of ingestion (Fig. 1)Citation . Similarly in the proximal and distal parts of the colon, total lactic acid-producing bacteria counts were higher after 2 wk in rats fed FOS as compared to rats fed Basal, whereas at 27 wk the groups did not differ (Table 3)Citation .



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Figure 1. Cecal concentration of total anaerobes, total lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAB) and Lactobacillus sp. in rats fed a basal low-fiber diet (Basal) or this diet containing 9 g/100 g fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) for 2, 8 and 27 wk. Values are means ± SEM, n = 6. * Different from Basal, P < 0.05.

 

    DISCUSSION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
The purpose of this work was to study the effects of FOS on rat cecal microbiota after different periods of intake. The initial increase in lactic acid-producing bacteria induced by 2-wk ingestion of FOS disappeared after 8 and 27 wk. In addition, lactate concentration decreased over time, whereas total SCFA and butyrate concentrations increased.

In humans, pH, SCFA concentration and bacterial composition of contents can be measured only in stools, which accounts imperfectly for fermentation occurring mainly in the proximal part of the large intestine (Florent et al. 1985Citation ). Therefore, we chose to work with rats, a model allowing accessibility to cecal contents, which was validated for fermentation studies of nondigestible carbohydrates (McIntyre et al. 1991Citation , Nyman et al. 1986Citation ). Although the rapid growth rate of rats was a disadvantage for a long-term experiment since their body and organ weights increased with time, it is unlikely that bacterial populations and fermentation products were modified due to animal growth. The intestinal flora of rats is quickly stabilized after weaning (Tannock 1997Citation ) and no differences were observed in cecal pH or SCFA concentrations between 4- and 27-mo-old rats fed an oat-based diet (Mathers et al. 1993Citation ). Furthermore, in our experiment, the growth rate and body weight of the rats did not differ in the control and experimental groups. Two-way ANOVA showed that the effect of diet on cecal microbiota composition and SCFA concentration was independent of rat body weight. We focused our study in the cecum because this part of the cecocolonic tract is the major site of fermentation in nonruminant species (Breves and Stück 1995Citation ). The results we obtained in the proximal and distal parts of the colon confirmed the relevance of this choice. As in the cecum, we observed a sustained butyrogenic effect of FOS in the colonic contents, while the increase in lactate and lactic acid-producing bacteria was transient. Nevertheless, the magnitude of these effects was lower in the colon than in the cecum.

Food intake was similar in both diet groups and stabilized around 16–17 g/d after 2 wk of feeding, regardless of body weight. Rats fed the FOS diet consumed the same amount of FOS, about 1.5 g/d, throughout the ingestion period. When expressed in g/kg rat weight, the FOS dose thus decreased over time. We cannot exclude that this might be involved in the disappearance of the initial effects of FOS on lactate and lactic acid bacteria concentrations. However, the FOS dose ingested by rats after 2 wk remained high and comparable to doses at which a prebiotic effect was reported in rats of similar weight (Campbell et al. 1997Citation ) and in humans (Bouhnik et al. 1996,Citation Gibson et al. 1995Citation ). Moreover, if the FOS dose is expressed in g/kg cecum weight, which would be more accurate, there was no significant change in FOS dose over time (P = 0.32).

Although transit time was longer in rats fed FOS than those fed Basal, the effect was more marked at the beginning of the experiment (2 and 8 wk) and not significant at the end. This may have been related to the hypertrophy of the cecum. Numerous authors have already reported that feeding fermentable polysaccharides increases cecal tissue weight and area as well as the length of the colon (Brunsgaard et al. 1995Citation , Campbell et al. 1997Citation , Fontaine et al. 1996Citation ). Accordingly, we observed a higher cecal wall weight in rats fed FOS, which suggests that the cecum was larger in these rats than in controls. This could explain the delay in transit time recorded in rats fed FOS. Furthermore, the hypertrophy of the cecum decreased with time, possibly accounting for the disappearance of the difference in transit time between the two groups at 27 wk.

Cecal SCFA concentration was higher in rats fed FOS than in those fed Basal. Moreover, the effect was enhanced by continuous ingestion of FOS. While SCFA concentration was not significantly affected over time in rats fed Basal, it was higher after 27 wk than after 2 wk in rats fed FOS (P < 0.05). The hypothesis of a time-dependent increase in FOS fermentation is unlikely. FOS are rapidly and extensively fermented by the colonic bacteria, as demonstrated in vitro (Gibson and Wang 1994Citation ). No residual FOS were recovered in stools of healthy humans (Molis et al. 1996Citation ), and the apparent digestibility of FOS was 100% in rats fed about 1 g/d for 4–9 d (Nilsson et al. 1988Citation ). Another possible explanation is that more organic matter reached the cecum after 8 and 27 wk. Indeed, the weight of cecal wet and dry contents increased over time in rats fed both FOS and Basal. Nevertheless, the time-dependent increase in SCFA concentration was observed only in rats fed FOS, which suggests that another mechanism was involved in this effect.

Among SCFA, butyrate was particularly elevated in rats fed FOS, which is consistent with previous observations in vitro (Gibson and Wang 1994Citation ) and in vivo in rat cecum (Campbell et al. 1997Citation ). The reason for this butyrogenic effect is currently unknown. The chemical structure of FOS may be partly involved, although other sugars composed of fructose and glucose do not induce a similar increase in butyrate (Campbell et al. 1997Citation ). Other factors, such as the pH of cecal contents (Gibson and Wang 1994Citation ), transit time (El Oufir et al. 1996Citation ) and the intestinal mucins released (Fontaine et al. 1996Citation ), are probably involved. The growth and activity of butyrate-producing bacteria are likely also promoted by FOS. These bacteria may utilize FOS either directly or metabolize lactate produced during FOS fermentation. In vitro fermentation of FOS yields lactate (Gibson and Wang 1994Citation ), and elevated concentrations or pools of lactate were reported in vivo in the cecum of rats fed inulin or FOS for 2–3 wk (Rémésy et al. 1993Citation , Campbell et al. 1997Citation ). Consistent with these observations, we found a particularly high lactate concentration in the cecum after 2 wk of FOS ingestion. However, this concentration decreased over time, and after 8 and 27 wk of adaptation was only slightly higher than that measured in rats fed Basal. This decrease of lactate could be related to the increase in total SCFA and butyrate concentrations observed during the same period in rats fed FOS. Several intestinal bacteria, such as Propionibacterium sp., Veillonella sp., Clostridium sp. and sulfate-reducers, can metabolize lactate into SCFA (Durand et al. 1996Citation , Macfarlane et al. 1994Citation ). Furthermore, some of these bacteria can tolerate the acidic pH induced by FOS fermentation (Therion et al. 1982Citation ) and produce butyrate under certain conditions (Salyers, 1995Citation ). Possibly cecal microflora adapted to the continuous intake of FOS, promoting the growth and/or metabolic activity of lactate-utilizing bacteria. Such a mechanism would account for the decrease in lactate parallel to the rise in SCFA and butyrate observed in the cecum of rats fed FOS for 8 and 27 wk.

Moreover, this hypothesis could also explain the disappearance of the FOS effect on lactic acid bacteria over time. As already reported (Campbell et al. 1997Citation ), we found that the intake of FOS specifically increased lactic acid-producing bacteria counts in rat cecum after 2 wk without modifying total anaerobe concentration. However, this effect disappeared over time, so that after 27 wk of adaptation, lactic acid producers counts in the cecum were not different in rats fed Basal and those fed FOS. Lactate production by these bacteria leads to a decrease in luminal pH. As an acidic environment promotes the proliferation of lactic acid producers (Veilleux and Rowland, 1981Citation ), it may have contributed to maintaining the increase in lactic acid-producing bacteria, including Lactobacillus sp., observed during the first weeks of FOS ingestion in our study as well as in others (Bouhnik et al. 1996Citation , Campbell et al. 1997Citation , Gibson et al. 1995Citation ). However, as suggested above, the microflora probably adapted to the prolonged intake of FOS, and lactate-utilizers may have been able to metabolize lactate into SCFA, possibly through progressive adaptation to acidic conditions. Consequently, lactate concentration would decrease and pH increase, allowing FOS-utilizing bacteria other than lactic acid-producing bacteria, to compete for the available substrate. Actually, numerous intestinal bacteria can degrade FOS, including members of Bacteroides sp., Clostridium sp. and Enterobacteriaceae (Hartemink et al. 1997Citation , Hartemink and Rombouts 1997Citation ). This competition could result in the suppression of the specific increase in lactic acid producers.

We conclude that the effects of FOS on cecal bacterial composition and activity change over time in rats and contend that the long-term "functional" effects of fermentable polysaccharides should be studied both in animals continuing to consume a polysaccharide-rich diet and after stopping. Furthermore, the persistence of the butyrogenic property of FOS compared to the disappearance of their prebiotic and pH-reducing effects over time should help to understand the mechanisms of action of FOS on the colon cancer-risk-reduction, which might be a future health claim for these substrates.


    FOOTNOTES
 
1 This work was supported by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research grant 94.G.0083. Back

3 Abbreviations used: cfu, colony-forming unit; FOS, fructo-oligosaccharides; PEG, polyethylene glycol; SCFA, short-chain fatty acids. Back

Manuscript received May 24, 1999. Initial review completed July 5, 1999. Revision accepted August 31, 1999.


    REFERENCES
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 

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