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Comparative Effects of a High-Amylose Starch and a Fructooligosaccharide on Fecal Bifidobacteria Numbers and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Pigs Fed Bifidobacterium animalis

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Abstract

Pigs were fed a freeze-dried probiotic (Bifidobacterium animalis CSCC 1941) plus a high-amylose maize starch (HAMS) and a fructooligosaccharide (FOS) separately or together. Fecal output and total and individual major short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations and excretion were higher and pH was lower with HAMS than with FOS relative to when they were fed a low-amylose maize starch (LAMS; control). Fecal bifidobacteria numbers and total excretion were equally higher during feeding of FOS or HAMS and highest with HAMS + FOS. When probiotic supplementation was stopped, bifidobacteria numbers declined rapidly when they were fed LAMS, more slowly with FOS or HAMS, and were maintained with HAMS + FOS. The data confirm that both HAMS and FOS are prebiotics and suggest that they act through different mechanisms and that they are most effective in combination. However only HAMS raises fecal SCFA.

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Abbreviations

FOS:

Fructooligosaccharides

LAB:

Lactic acid bacteria

NSP:

Nonstarch polysaccharides (“fibre”)

OS:

Oligosaccharides

RS:

Resistant starch

SCFA:

Short-chain fatty acids

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Acknowledgment

We wish to thank Ms D. Davies and M. McManus for excellent technical assistance and care of the animals and Ms A. Reid for statistical analyses. Financial support was received from the Co-operative Research Centre for Food Industry Innovation.

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Author notes

  1. Anthony R. Bird & David L. Topping

    Present address: Food Futures National Research Flagship, CSIRO Human Nutrition, P.O. Box 10041, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia

  2. Ross Crittenden

    Present address: Food Science Australia, Sneydes Road, Werribee, VIC, 3030, Australia

  3. Takashi Hayakawa

    Present address: Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Gifu University, Gifu, 501-11, Japan

  4. Martin J. Playne

    Present address: Melbourne Biotechnology, 1 Lorraine St., Hampton, VIC, 3188, Australia

  5. Ian L. Brown

    Present address: Faculty of Health and Behavioural Science, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave., North Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Co-operative Research Centre for Food Industry Innovation, CSIRO Human Nutrition, Kintore Avenue, P.O. Box 10041, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia

    Anthony R. Bird, Michelle Vuaran, Ross Crittenden, Takashi Hayakawa, Martin J. Playne, Ian L. Brown & David L. Topping

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  1. Anthony R. Bird
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  2. Michelle Vuaran
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Correspondence to David L. Topping.

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Bird, A.R., Vuaran, M., Crittenden, R. et al. Comparative Effects of a High-Amylose Starch and a Fructooligosaccharide on Fecal Bifidobacteria Numbers and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Pigs Fed Bifidobacterium animalis . Dig Dis Sci 54, 947–954 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-008-0451-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-008-0451-3

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