doi: 10.17113/ftb.54.02.16.4292

Evaluation of Prebiotic Effects of High-Purity Galactooligosaccharides in vitro and in vivo

Ki Bae Hong¹, Jae Hwan Kim², Hyuk Kon Kwon², Sung Hee Han¹, Yooheon Park^3* and Hyung Joo Suh^1*

¹Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 07249, Republic of Korea
²Neo Cremar Co. Ltd., Seoul 05836, Republic of Korea
³Dongguk University, Research Institute of Biotechnology, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea

Article history:
Received  June 1, 2015
Accepted  February 3, 2016

Key words:
high-purity galactooligosaccharides, bifidobacteria, genes encoding GLP-1 and PYY peptides

Summary:
Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) are an important class of dietary prebiotics that exert beneficial effects on intestinal microbiota and gut barrier function. In this study, high-purity GOS (HP-GOS) were investigated in vitro and in vivo and confirmed as prebiotic ingredients in rat diet. HP-GOS were successfully produced using a two-step process, enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation by yeast. They were found to serve as a good substrate and carbon source for supporting the growth of probiotic bacteria more effectively than other commercial GOS. Following administration of 1 % (by mass) of HP-GOS to rats, the growth of Bifidobacterium bifidum and B. longum in the gut increased most rapidly up to 12 h, and thereafter the increase was slow. Therefore, 1 % HP-GOS was found to be acceptable for the growth of probiotic bacteria. Groups of animals that were orally administered HP-GOS and bifidobacteria during the study, and the group administered HP-GOS during the 2nd (days 13–15) and 4th (days 28–30) period of the study had significantly (p<0.05) higher numbers of bifidobacteria in faeces than groups receiving a single dose of bifidobacteria. HP-GOS affected the expression of genes encoding glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY). There was a significant upregulation of GLP-1 and PYY mRNA with HP-GOS and bifidobacteria intake. We propose that the prebiotic properties of HP-GOS are potentially valuable for the production of functional foods for human consumption.

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