Effects of Isomaltooligosaccharides with Different Degrees of Polymerization on Human Fecal Bifidobacteria

Abstract

IM0, a commercially available mixture of isomaltooligosaccharides, was fractionated by preparative HPLC, and two fractions (IMO2 and IMO3) were obtained. IMO2 contained mainly disaccharides (86. 4%), which IMO3 contained tri- and higher oligosaccharides (89. 9%). The administration of IMO2 or IMO3, ranging in amount from 5 to 20g/day, increased human intestinal bifidobacteria in dose-dependent manner. An IMO2 intake of 10 g/day and IMO3 of 5 g/day each produced a significant increase of bifidobacterial number in feces and the ratio in fecal microflora within 12 days.