Short-term feeding of fermentable dietary fibres influences the gut microbiota composition and metabolic activity in rats
Abstract
Summary This study investigated the effects of dietary fibres on gut bacterial abundance and metabolic activity in rats fed short‐term. Faecal samples from rats fed for 7 days showed differences in the effects of dietary fibres on gut bacterial populations. Broccoli fibre, inulin, potato fibre and potato resistant starch significantly increased the faecal Bacteroides‐Prevotella‐Porphyromonas group compared with cellulose. Growth of pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. was decreased significantly in rats fed barley β‐glucan, citrus pectin, inulin and broccoli fibre diets. An increase in Bifidobacterium spp. and butyric acid levels, the so‐called bifidogenic and butyrogenic effects, was observed in rats fed inulin and potato fibre diets. Organic acid concentrations and polysaccharide contents in the rat faeces confirm the fermentability of dietary fibres in the gut. This study demonstrates the positive effects of plant‐sourced dietary fibres on gut microbiota composition and metabolic activity.
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Several human and animal studies have indicated that consumption of fruit and vegetables leads to increased microbial diversity and function, a shift in the abundance of bacterial phyla, growth of beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, and reduction in potentially harmful bacteria, including E. coli and Enterococcus.
“Several human and animal studies have indicated that consumption of fruit and vegetables leads to increased microbial diversity and function, a shift in the abundance of bacterial phyla, growth of beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, and reduction in potentially harmful bacteria, including E. coli and Enterococcus (51)(52)(53)(54)(55).”
From Diet and the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis: Sowing the Seeds of Good Mental Health (2021) · cites this paper as [51]
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- Authors
- Paturi, G., Butts, C. A., Stoklosinski, H., Herath, T. D., & Monro, J. A.
- Affiliations
- Plant & Food Research (NZ)
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited Private Bag 11600 Palmerston North 4442 New Zealand
- Corresponding author
- Paturi, Gunaranjan
- Venue
- International Journal of Food Science & Technology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2017-09-08
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 2572-2581
- ISSN
- 0950-5423 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-2621
- OpenAlex
- W2752836374
- Cited by
- 35
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 1.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Food Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- AgResearch
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Microbial Metabolites in Food Biotechnology
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Food composition and properties
- Keywords
- dietary fiber, gut microbiota, short-term feeding, inulin, barley β-glucan, citrus pectin, cellulose, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium, butyrate, organic acids, pathogenic bacteria
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