Dietary supplementation of different doses of NUTRIOSE®FB, a fermentable dextrin, alters the activity of faecal enzymes in healthy men

Background It is well documented that fermentation of carbohydrates that escape digestion exert several effects supposed to be beneficial for ( colonic) health, including an increase in stool volume, a shorter intestinal transit time, production of short chain fatty acids and a decrease of colonic pH ( Kritchevsky 1988). NUTRIOSE(R) FB is a dextrin that is not completely hydrolysed and absorbed in the small intestine, due to many alpha-1.6 linkages and the presence of non-digestible glucoside linkages (e.g. alpha-1.2 and alpha-1.3). To be beneficial for 'colonic' health effective NUTRIOSE(R) FB must reach the cecum in some form. Aim of the study To estimate how much non digested NUTRIOSE(R) FB is fermented and to determine the fibre-like effect of the wheat dextrin NUTRIOSE(R) FB by analysing enzymatic activity in faeces. Methods In a randomized, double-blind, multiple dose, placebo-controlled, combined cross-over and parallel trial, 20 healthy men ( age 31.7 +/- 9.1 yrs; BMI 24.5 +/- 2.9 kg center dot m(-2) received different treatments. One group of ten subjects consumed on top of their diet 10, 30 and 60 g daily of NUTRIOSE(R) FB or maltodextrin ( placebo). The other group of 10 subjects consumed 15, 45 and 80 g daily. Each dose was consumed for 7 days. On the last two days of each of the 7-day period, faeces were collected in which the enzymatic activity and NUTRIOSE(R) FB residue were analysed. Results As expected, the faecal residue of NUTRIOSE(R) FB non-linearly increased with the dose of NUTRIOSE(R) FB to approximately 13% of 80 g/d. Compared with the placebo, 30, 45, 60 and 80 g/d of NUTRIOSE(R) FB increased the concentration of alpha-glucosidase significantly. All daily doses of NUTRIOSE(R) FB ( 10 g/d to 80 g/d) led to significant changes in concentration of beta-glucosidase. Conclusions The small amount of the residue of NUTRIOSE(R) FB in the faeces suggests that approximately 87% or more of NUTRIOSE(R) FB is digested or fermented in the gastrointestinal tract. Fermentation of NUTRIOSE(R) FB led to an increased faecal concentration of alpha-and beta-glucosidase.