1988 Volume 5 Issue 1 Pages 67-74
Utilization of fructooligosaccharides, 1F-(β-fructofuranosyl)n-1-sucrose, which are not digestible in the small intestine but are fermentable by intestinal microorganisms in man, was investigated by a radiorespirometric study and an anaerobic incubation of [U-14C]fructooligosaccharides with feces.
About 49% and 55% of the administered radioactivity were detected in expired 14CO2 after 24 and 48h, respectively.
In the anaerobic incubation, the saccharides were catabolized to 14CO2 (9.6%), microbial cell constituents (10.4%), and 14C-volatile fatty acid (acetic acid, 24.1%; propionic acid, 20.2%; butyric acid, 11.4% and valeric acid, 2.2%).
Complemental interpretation of the two studies allowed quantitation of the catabolic pathway of fructooligosaccharides in man, and utilization of the oligosaccharides was estimated to be 1.5kcal/g.
