ARS | Publication request: Utilization of Oligosaccharides by Colonic Bacteria

Submitted to: Annual Meeting Illinois State Academy of Science
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: April 20, 2002
Publication Date: April 20, 2002
Citation: MILLER-FOSMORE, C.M., HOLT, S.M., COTE, G.L. UTILIZATION OF OLIGOSACCHARIDES BY COLONIC BACTERIA. 94TH ANNUAL MEETING ILLINOIS STATE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 2002. PAPER NO. 133.

Technical Abstract: Certain oligosaccharides have been used as prebiotic dietary supplements to selectively stimulate the growth of beneficial colonic bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. In this study, 13 bacterial species were screened for growth on 3 oligosaccharide preparations synthesized from alternansucrase (asr; maltose and raffinose acceptors, low mass alternan) and 3 commercial products (Benefiber, Fibersol-2, Neosugar). Anaerobic growth was determined by OD600nm and acid production. Three lactobacilli strains tested displayed no growth on most of the carbohydrates. L. casei showed growth on maltose acceptor, and L. acidophilus displayed growth on Neosugar. Growth of five bifidobacteria on the carbohydrates was variable and depended on the species tested. B. adolescentis and B. pseudocatenulatum displayed growth on the maltose and raffinose acceptors. B. pseudocatenulatum also displayed growth on low mass alternan. All the bifidobacterial species tested displayed growth on Neosugar. Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron displayed growth on low mass alternan, raffinose acceptor, and Neosugar. Clostridium perfringens displayed low or medium growth on all the carbohydrates tested except for the raffinose acceptor. Enterobacter displayed growth on Neosugar. E. coli and S. typhimurium displayed no growth on any of the carbohydrates tested. In summary, five bifidobacterial species displayed growth on asr-derived oligosaccharides, and three other bacterial genera did not show growth.