Abstract
Constipation is a chronic disease caused by infrequent, inadequate, and difficult bowel movements. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential laxative effect of maltooligosaccharide (MOS) on loperamide-induced constipation in a rat model. In vitro experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of MOS on the growth of lactic acid bacteria. Moreover, to examine the effect of MOS administration on Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with loperamide-induced constipation, the drinking water for the rats was supplemented with 10% or 15% of MOS for 14 days, and, thereafter, the improvement in constipation was assessed. For this, the rats were divided into five groups: normal (Nor), loperamide-induced constipated (Con), positive control (15% of dual-oligosaccharide (DuO-15)), 10% MOS treated (MOS-10), and 15% MOS-treated (MOS-15). In an in vitro test, MOS treatment promoted the growth of lactic acid bacteria except Lactobacillus bulgaricus. Treatment with higher MOS dose relieved constipation in rats by improving the fecal pellet and water content. Furthermore, in the high MOS dose group, the cecal short-chain fatty acid levels significantly increased compared to those in the control group (P < 0.001). MOS treatment also improved the mucosal thickness as well as mucin secretion and increased the area of intestinal Cajal cells compared to that in the control group (P < 0.001). These findings suggest that MOS relieves constipation and has beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract, and, therefore, it can be used as an ingredient in functional foods for treating constipation or improving intestinal health.
Highlights
As people have become more concerned about their health, consumption of healthier foods has increased, thereby reducing disease risk
Oligosaccharides are low-molecular carbohydrates comprising 3–10 monosaccharides, such as glucose, fructose, and galactose [1]. Functional oligosaccharides such as galactooligosaccharide (GOS), fructooligosaccharide (FOS), and maltooligosaccharide (MOS) are well-known prebiotics owing to their ability to selectively stimulate beneficial bacteria in the intestines, bifidobacterial species [2, 3]. ese oligosaccharides increase the production of short-chain fatty acids by bifidobacteria and further stimulate intestinal peristalsis and increase fecal water content through osmotic pressure [4]. e most abundant sources of functional oligosaccharides are seaweeds and plants
L. fermentum and Bifidobacterium lactis started multiplying rapidly 12 h after inoculation into MOS-supplemented medium, whereas L. paracasei and L. reuteri displayed a rapid increase in cell numbers for 12 h followed by a gradual decrease of the proliferation rate. e growth rate of B. breve increased 24 h after treatment commencement, and, in case of L. bulgaricus, MOS had little effect on the cell growth (Figure 1)
Summary
As people have become more concerned about their health, consumption of healthier foods has increased, thereby reducing disease risk. In this sense, certain types of dietary carbohydrates, functional oligosaccharides, have gained immense interest. Oligosaccharides are low-molecular carbohydrates comprising 3–10 monosaccharides, such as glucose, fructose, and galactose [1]. Functional oligosaccharides such as galactooligosaccharide (GOS), fructooligosaccharide (FOS), and maltooligosaccharide (MOS) are well-known prebiotics owing to their ability to selectively stimulate beneficial bacteria in the intestines, bifidobacterial species [2, 3]. MOS, produced by α-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) and pullulanase (EC 3.2.1.9), is a mixture of linear oligosaccharides comprising two (G2), three (G3), four (G4), five (G5), or six (G6) glucose units joined by α-(1 ⟶ 4)
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