FATE OF FRUCTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES IN THE HUMAN INTESTINE

There is a need for studies on colonic fermentation in order to learn more about health and diseases of the colon, The aim of the present st udy was to evaluate the fate of two different doses of fructooligosacc harides (5 and 15 g/d) v. glucose in the intestine of healthy men, Twe nty-four volunteers participated in a 5-week study, The study was a co mpletely balanced multiple crossover trial using an orthogonal Latin-s quare design for three periods, with supplement periods of 7 d and two 7 d wash-out periods, Breath samples and faecal samples were collecte d, There was a clear gaseous response to the consumption of fructo-oli gosaccharides. The highest dose significantly increased 24 h integrate d excretion of breath H-2 (P < 0.05), Breath H-2 excretion after inges tion of 5 g fructo-oligosaccharides was higher than control, but did n ot reach significance, No effects on the total concentration of short- chain fatty acids in faeces were observed, no modification of the mola r proportions of the various short-chain fatty acids was observed, The faecal pH did not change, No changes in faecal weight were observed, No fructo-oligosaccharides were recovered in faeces, We conclude that fructo-oligosaccharides added to the diet of young Western subjects ar e fully metabolized in the large intestine, The level of fermentation seems to be dose-dependent.