Abstract
Dilutions of human faeces were surveyed for their ability to ferment polysaccharides (dietary fiber) which were present in brown algae. Sodium alginate and laminaran were fermented by 108 and 109 dilutions of faeces, respectively, whereas fucoidan and cellulose were not fermented. To examine the ability to ferment sodium alginate and laminaran, 435 and 450 strains, respectively, among 697 isolates from human faeces were used. Among them, three strains belonging to Bacteroides spp. fermented sodium alginate and 10 strains (four strains of Clostridium spp., three strains of Bacteroides spp. and three strains of Bifidobacterium spp.) fermented laminaran. Among 21 species of authentic intestinal bacteria, Bacteroides ovatus showed the abilities to ferment sodium alginate, and Clostridium ramosum and B. ovatus fermented laminaran. These findings suggest that the intake of brown algae may be responsible for the changes in intestinal flora.
