Effect of Diet and Aging on Human Fecal Microflora

Manipulation of colonic bacteria and volatile fatty acid production by dietary high amylose maize (amylomaize) starch granules

AIMS

To study the effects of amylomaize starch and modified (carboxymethylated and acetylated) amylomaize starches on the composition of colonic bacteria and the production of volatile fatty acids, in mice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Balb/c mice were fed with experimental diets containing various amount of amylomaize and modified amylomaize starches. Colonic bacterial populations and short-chain fatty acids were monitored. Results showed that the increases in indigenous bifidobacteria were detected in mice fed all starches tested; however, the highest numbers were observed in the group fed with 40% unmodified amylomaize starch. The starch type influenced the populations of indigenous Lactobacillus, Bacteroides and coliforms. High Lactobacillus numbers were achieved in the colon of mice fed with high concentration of amylomaize starch. Acetylated amylomaize starch significantly reduced the population of coliforms. In addition, orally dosed amylomaize utilizing bifidobacteria reached their highest levels when fed together with amylomaize or carboxymethylated amylomaize starch and in both cases butyrate levels were markedly increased.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that different amylomaize starches could generate desirable variation in gut microflora and that particular starches may be used to selectively modify gut function.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY

Amylomaize starch appeared to enhance the desirable composition of colonic bacteria in mice, and suggested it possessed the potential prebiotic properties. Therefore, resistant starch and its chemical derivatives may exert beneficial impacts to the human colon.

Intestinal microflora of Estonian and Swedish infants

The intestinal microflora of 1-y-old healthy Estonian (n = 27) and Swedish infants (n = 29) was studied by quantitative culture of faecal samples. The major differences were high counts of lactobacilli and eubacteria in the former and increased numbers of clostridia in the latter babies. Bifidobacteria and anaerobic cocci prevailed equally in both groups, while eubacteria and enterococci were the major microorganisms in many Estonian infants and bacteroides and clostridia in many Swedish infants. The microflora of the Estonian infants was in many aspects similar to the flora prevailing in infants of western Europe in the 1960s. The results suggest a shift in the intestinal microflora among infants in western industrialized countries.