Prebiotic Properties of Non-Fructosylated α-Galactooligosaccharides from PEA (Pisum sativum L.) Using Infant Fecal Slurries.

María Marín-Manzano,Cristina Delgado-Andrade,Francisco Moreno,Alfonso Clemente,Oswaldo Hernandez-Hernandez,Marina Diez-Municio

doi:10.3390/foods9070921

Abstract

The interest for naturally-occurring oligosaccharides from plant origin having prebiotic properties is growing, with special focus being paid to supplemented products for infants. Currently, non-fructosylated α-galactooligosaccharides (α-GOS) from peas have peaked interest as a result of their prebiotic activity in adults and their mitigated side-effects on gas production from colonic bacterial fermentation. In this study, commercially available non-fructosylated α-GOS from peas and β-galactooligosaccharides (β-GOS) derived from lactose were fermented using fecal slurries from children aged 11 to 24 months old during 6 and 24 h. The modulatory effect of both GOS on different bacterial groups and bifidobacteria species was assessed; non-fructosylated α-GOS consumption was monitored throughout the fermentation process and the amounts of lactic acid and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) generated were analyzed. Non-fructosylated α-GOS, composed mainly of manninotriose and verbascotetraose and small amounts of melibiose, were fully metabolized and presented remarkable bifidogenic activity, similar to that obtained with β-GOS. Furthermore, non-fructosylated α-GOS selectively caused an increase on the population of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum and Bifidobacterium catenulatum/pseudo-catenulatum. In conclusion, non-fructosylated α-GOS could be used as potential ingredient in infant formula supplemented with prebiotic oligosaccharides.

Highlights

The colonisation of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) by microorganisms is an essential process in our life cycle and starts during the gestation period [1,2]
The continued succession of microorganisms during the first years of life has an important effect on the long-term maturity of the GIT microbiota, which is affected by diet, mode of delivery, antibiotic treatments, genetics, intestinal mucin glycosylation and other factors [4]
The bifidogenic effect in non-fructosylated α-GOS and β-GOS groups was significantly greater than that found in control samples

Summary

Introduction

The colonisation of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) by microorganisms is an essential process in our life cycle and starts during the gestation period [1,2]. Evidence shows that the GIT colonisation rapidly increases after birth by aerobic microorganisms that decrease the concentration of oxygen. This lowering of redox potentially allows the colonisation of anaerobic bacteria [3]. Non-digestible dietary ingredients are capable of modulating composition and metabolic function of gut microbiota. In this context, the prebiotic concept was recently defined by the International

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