Journal
BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
Volume 106, Issue 12, Pages 1864-1871Publisher
CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1017/S0007114511002388
Keywords
Fibre; Polydextrose; Soluble maize fibre; Fermentation
Categories
Funding
- General Mills, Inc.
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The objective of the present study was to evaluate digestive physiological outcomes elicited by functional fibres fed to healthy adult men. A total of twenty-one healthy adult men were utilised in a cross-over design. Each subject received polydextrose (PDX) or soluble maize fibre (SCF) (21 g/d) or no supplemental fibre (no fibre control; NFC) in a snack bar. Periods were 21 d and faeces were collected during the last 5 d of each period. Food intake, including fibre intake, did not differ among treatments. Flatulence (P=0.001) and distention (P=0.07) were greatest when subjects consumed PDX or SCF. Reflux was greater (P=0.04) when subjects consumed SCF compared with NFC. All tolerance scores were low (<2.5), indicating only slight discomfort. Faecal ammonia, 4-methylphenol, indole and branched-chain fatty acid concentrations were decreased (P<0.01) when subjects consumed the functional fibre sources compared with NFC. Faecal acetate, propionate and butyrate concentrations were lower (P<0.05) when subjects consumed PDX compared with SCF and NFC. Faecal pH was lower (P=0.01) when subjects consumed SCF compared with NFC, while PDX was intermediate. Faecal wet weight was greatest (P=0.03) when subjects consumed SCF compared with NFC. Faecal dry weight tended to be greater (P=0.07) when subjects consumed PDX compared with NFC. The functional fibres led to 1.4 and 0.9 g (PDX and SCF, respectively) increases in faecal dry mass per g supplemental fibre intake. Bifidobacterium spp. concentrations were greater (P<0.05) when subjects consumed SCF compared with NFC. These functional fibres appear to be beneficial to gut health while leading to minimal gastrointestinal upset.
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