Effect of low inulin doses with different polymerisation degree on lipid metabolism, mineral absorption, and intestinal microbiota in rats with fat-supplemented diet

Inulin with different degree of polymerisation from chicory (Orafti Beneo (TM) GR, GR) and artichoke (ArtBiochem Artinulin (TM), Art) as well as the mixture of these inulins with chicory oligofructose (Orafti Beneo (TM) Synergy1, Syn: and Artinulin (TM) pi us Orafti Beneo (TM) P95 oligofructose, Art+P95) were assayed on developing rats fed with fat-supplemented diet. The effect of these inulins was evaluated on seven haematological and 16 serobiochemical parameters, three minerals, feedstuff intake, growth rate, food utility index and intestinal microbiota upon consumption of a human (60 kg weight) equivalent dose of 0.82 g/day for 75 days. The low inulin dose assayed exerted beneficial effects on rats with fat-supplemented diet upon increase of iron absorption (Art), regulation of ALP (phosphatase alkaline) activity (Art, Syn and Art+P95), increase of growth rate without modification of the final weight (Syn1 and Art+P95), increase of HDL-cholesterol (GR, SynI and Art+P95) and reduction of enterobacteria (GR. Syn1 and Art+P95). (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.