Different human gut models reveal the distinct fermentation patterns of Arabinoxylan versus inulin

J Agric Food Chem. 2013 Oct 16;61(41):9819-27. doi: 10.1021/jf4021784. Epub 2013 Oct 4.

Abstract

Different in vitro models have been developed to assess how food compounds affect the human gut microbiota. Using two such models (SHIME(R) and TIM-2), we compared how long-chain arabinoxylan (LC-AX), a wheat-derived potentially prebiotic fiber, and inulin (IN), a well-established prebiotic compound, modulate SCFA production and bifidobacteria composition. While both the SHIME and TIM-2 differ in experimental design, they both demonstrated that LC-AX and IN specifically increased the health-promoting metabolites propionate and butyrate, respectively. Furthermore, LC-AX stimulated Bifidobacterium longum, while IN stimulated other bifidobacteria including Bifidobacterium adolescentis. The SHIME experiment also revealed that effects of LC-AX were more persistent during the 2-week wash-out period. These results confirm a recent in vivo study, during which humanized rats were treated with the same LC-AX/IN. In conclusion, results from different human gut models suggest that, besides IN, LC-AX are promising prebiotic candidates with high specificity toward Bifidobacterium longum and a selective propionate increase.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteria / growth & development
  • Bacteria / metabolism*
  • Bifidobacterium / growth & development
  • Bifidobacterium / metabolism
  • Dietary Fiber / analysis
  • Dietary Fiber / metabolism
  • Dietary Fiber / microbiology
  • Fermentation
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / metabolism*
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Inulin / metabolism*
  • Microbiota
  • Models, Biological
  • Prebiotics / analysis
  • Prebiotics / microbiology
  • Rats
  • Xylans / chemistry
  • Xylans / metabolism*

Substances

  • Dietary Fiber
  • Prebiotics
  • Xylans
  • Inulin
  • arabinoxylan