Abstract
Propionic acid (PA), an end product of bacterial metabolism, has various functions in the colon. The aim of this study was to use ester bonds to link PA and a prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS) to form propionyl-FOS capable of delivering PA to the colon. We used enzyme assistance and acid anhydride method to produce propionyl-FOS, respectively. FT-IR and NMR were used to confirm the formation of ester bonds. MALDI-TOF-MS was used to characterize the ester diversity and to partly monitor the fate of propionyl-FOS. In vitro simulated gut fermentation was used to study the effect of obtained esters on gut microbiota modulation and metabolite production. Our results showed that chemically synthesized propionyl-FOS (AP-FOS) was propionyl-esterified to a higher degree than enzymatically synthesized ones (P-FOS). Propionyl-fructooligosaccharides were more diverse in AP-FOS than in P-FOS. Higher levels of PA and butyric acid were detected in both AP-FOS and P-FOS groups than in FOS group after 24 h in vitro fermentation. The fermentability and prebiotic effects of AP-FOS were lower than those of P-FOS due to the high esterification degree of the former. Compared to FOS, P-FOS could confer better beneficial health effects through gut microbiota modulation. Hence, enzymatically synthesized P-FOS could be a potential prebiotic for health-promoting properties.
Published Version
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