Effects of Guar Gum and Fructooligosaccharides on Plasma Lipids and Cecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Adult Mice.

Abstract

The effects of fructooligosaccharides added to guar gum on plasma lipids and cecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in mice were studied. Male Crj:CD-1 (ICR) mice were fed an MF diet for 34 weeks, and then the MF diet was replaced with a semisynthetic diet supplemented with 5% guar gum or 5% guar gum plus 3% fructooligosaccharides. The mice fed the guar gum or guar gum-fructooligosaccharide diet for 3 weeks. There was no significant difference in cecal bacterial counts or cecal content between the two diet groups. There was, however, a significant difference in their plasma triglyceride concentrations. The plasma triglyceride concentration was significantly lower in the mice fed the guar gum diet than in those fed the guar gum-fructooligosaccharide diet. However, no significant difference in plasma total cholesterol concentration was noted between the two diet groups. The butyric acid concentration in the guar gum group was significantly higher than that in the guar gum-fructooligosaccharide group. No significant difference in propionic acid or acetic acid concentration was noted between the groups. The difference in the plasma triglyceride concentration between the guar gum and guar gum plus fructooligosaccharide groups might be related to a difference in floral metabolism, floral composition, or both.