Original Article
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007) 61, 1189–1195; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602636; published online 31 January 2007
A double-blind placebo-controlled study to establish the bifidogenic dose of inulin in healthy humans
S Kolida1, D Meyer2 and G R Gibson1
- 1Department of Food Biosciences, Food Microbial Sciences Unit, The University of Reading, Reading, UK
- 2Sensus Operations, Oostelijke Havendijk 15, Roosendaal, The Netherlands
Correspondence: Dr S Kolida, Food Microbial Sciences Unit, School of Food Biosciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, PO Box 226, Reading, RG6 6AP, UK. E-mail: s.kolida@reading.ac.uk
Received 25 May 2005; Revised 29 November 2006; Accepted 29 November 2006; Published online 31 January 2007.
Abstract
Objective:
To evaluate the bifidogenic efficacy of two inulin doses in healthy human adults.
Design:
A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover human study.
Setting:
Food Microbial Sciences Unit, The University of Reading, Reading, UK.
Subjects:
Thirty healthy volunteers, 15 men, 15 women (age range 19–35).
Interventions:
Subjects consumed a chocolate drink containing placebo (maltodextrin, 8 g/day), 5 g/day inulin and 8 g/day inulin for a 2-week treatment period. Each treatment was followed by a 1-week washout at the end of which volunteers progressed to the next treatment. Faecal samples were obtained at the start of the study (baseline) and at the end of each treatment and washout period. Fluorescent in situ hybridization was used to monitor populations of Bifidobacterium genus, Bacteroides – Prevotella, Lactobacillus – Enterococcus and Clostridium perfringens – histolyticum subgroup.
Results:
Bifidobacterial levels increased significantly upon ingestion of both the low (9.78
0.29 log10 cells/g faeces, P<0.05) and the high inulin dose (9.790.38 log10 cells/g faeces, P=0.05) compared to placebo (9.640.23 log10 cells/g faeces).
Conclusions:
Both inulin doses exhibited a bifidogenic effect but a higher volunteer percentage responded to the high dose. A dose response effect was not observed but the magnitude of increase in bifidobacteria levels depended on their initial numbers. The higher the initial concentrations the smaller was the increase upon ingestion of the active treatments.
Sponsorship:
Financial support for the completion of this project was provided by Sensus (Roosendaal, The Netherlands).
Keywords:
inulin, FISH, prebiotic, colon, Bifidobacterium
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