Nutrition Research
Volume 27, Issue 12 , Pages 756-761, December 2007

Dietary intake of xylooligosaccharides improves the intestinal microbiota, fecal moisture, and pH value in the elderly

  • Yun-Chin Chung

      Affiliations

    • Department of Food and Nutrition, Providence University, Shalu, Taichung 433, Taiwan, R.O.C.
    • ,
  • Cheng-Kuang Hsu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Asia University, Wufung, Taichung County, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chih-Yuan Ko

      Affiliations

    • Department of Food and Nutrition, Providence University, Shalu, Taichung 433, Taiwan, R.O.C.
    • ,
  • Yin-Ching Chan

      Affiliations

    • Department of Food and Nutrition, Providence University, Shalu, Taichung 433, Taiwan, R.O.C.
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +886 4 26328001x15341; fax: +886 4 26530027.

Received 15 December 2006; received in revised form 9 July 2007; accepted 12 September 2007.

Abstract 

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of xylooligosaccharides (XOSs) on the intestinal microbiota, gastrointestinal (GI) function, and nutritional parameters of the elderly. Subjects 65 years and older who did not have recent history of GI disease were included and randomly divided as either a control (n = 9) or XOS group (n = 13). The treatment group was supplemented with 4 g of XOS per day for 3 weeks, whereas the control group was given a placebo. The anthropometric and nutrient parameters, fecal moisture content, pH, Bifidobacterium species count, and Clostridium perfringens count of the subjects were determined. The results showed that XOS supplementation significantly increased the population of bifidobacteria and the fecal moisture content, and decreased the fecal pH value. The nutrient intakes, GI function, and blood parameters were not significantly different between the XOS and control groups after 3 weeks of administration. In conclusion, XOS supplementation was effective in promoting the intestinal health and did not show adverse effects on nutritional status in the elderly.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal function, Xylooligosaccharides, Elderly, Bifidobacteria, Human

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PII: S0271-5317(07)00226-6

doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2007.09.014

Nutrition Research
Volume 27, Issue 12 , Pages 756-761, December 2007

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