INCREASED FECAL FREQUENCY AND GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS FOLLOWING INGESTION OF GALACTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDE-CONTAINING YOGURT

Gastrointestinal symptoms and fecal frequency following ingestion of y ogurt containing 15 g of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) per d were obs erved in 12 healthy volunteers. The effect of GOS on intestinal microf lora was also studied in six volunteers. Defecation frequency increase d during the administration period, but gastrointestinal symptoms, esp ecially flatulence, also increased. The level of fecal bifidobacteria did not increase by the yogurt intake, but a significant increase was observed in the fecal bacteria growing on MRS media. The results indic ate that dietary GOS increase gastrointestinal symptoms and fecal freq uency in normal adults and have an effect on intestinal microecosystem .