Ingestion of difructose anhydride III partially suppresses the deconjugation and 7α-dehydroxylation of bile acids in rats fed with a cholic acid-supplemented diet

Difructose anhydride III (DFAIII) is a prebiotic involved in the reduction of secondary bile acids (BAs). We investigated whether DFAIII modulates BA metabolism, including enterohepatic circulation, in the rats fed with a diet supplemented with cholic acid (CA), one of the 12 alpha-hydroxylated BAs. After acclimation, the rats were fed with a control diet or a diet supplemented with DFAIII. After 2 weeks, each group was further divided into two groups and was fed diet with or without CA supplementation at 0.5 g/kg diet. BA levels were analyzed in aortic and portal plasma, liver, intestinal content, and feces. As a result, DFAIII ingestion reduced the fecal deoxycholic acid level via the partial suppression of deconjugation and 7 alpha-dehydroxylation of BAs following CA supplementation. These results suggest that DFAIII suppresses production of deoxycholic acid in conditions of high concentrations of 12 alpha-hydroxylated BAs in enterohepatic circulation, such as obesity or excess energy intake.