Md. Howard et al., EFFECTS OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION WITH FRUCTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES ON COLONIC MICROBIOTA POPULATIONS AND EPITHELIAL-CELL PROLIFERATION IN NEONATAL PIGS, Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, 21(3), 1995, pp. 297-303
Two experiments were conducted with neonatal pigs to determine the eff
ects of feeding fructooligosaccharides on cecal and colonic microbiota
, proliferation of cecal and colonic epithelial mucosa, and short-chai
n fatty acid concentrations in the cecum. Experiment 1 consisted of fe
eding neonatal pigs diets containing either 0 or 3 g fructooligosaccha
rides/L of formula for 15 days and then examining the large intestine
for changes in cecal and proximal colonic microbiota; cecal pH; short-
chain fatty acid concentrations; morphology of cecal, proximal, and di
stal colonic epithelial mucosa; gross necropsy; and histopathology. Su
pplementation with fructooligosaccharides (FOS) did not alter cell cou
nts of viable bifidobacteria organisms or total anaerobic microbiota,
cecal pH, or concentrations of short-chain fatty acids. Cecal mucosal
cell density and labeled cells increased with FOS consumption. Proxima
l colonic mucosal crypt height, leading edge, labeled cells, prolifera
tion zone, and labeling index increased with FOS consumption. Distal c
olonic mucosal crypt height, leading edge, cell density, labeling inde
x, and labeled cells increased with FOS consumption. Gross necropsy an
d histopathology found no significant lesions. In Experiment 2, neonat
al pigs were fed diets containing either 0 or 3 g fructooligosaccharid
es/L of formula for 6 days. Fecal samples were collected on the first
full day of feeding and on days 3 and 6 after initiation of feeding. O
n days 1 and 3, concentrations of bifidobacteria were similar between
diets; however, on day 6, pigs consuming FOS tended to have greater nu
mbers of bifidobacteria (p = 0.08). These data suggest dietary consump
tion of FOS will enhance bifidobacteria populations and prevent coloni
c epithelial mucosa atrophy in neonates fed an elemental diet.