Composition containing fermentable polysaccharides

#The present invention relates to nutritional formula for infants comprising synergistic mixtures of prebiotic polysaccharides and nutritional compositions comprising mixtures of polysaccharides.

#The microflora of the human large intestine plays a crucial role in human health. The microflora can be modulated by dietary intake. Undigested carbohydrates and undigested proteins are metabolised by the bacteria and as a major end-product of metabolism short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), such as acetate, propionate, butyrate and valerate, are formed, which can subsequently be used by the host. Other examples of end products of bacterial fermentation are lactate and gas.

#Lactobacilli produce either lactate or lactate plus acetate. Bifidobacteria produce lactate and acetate. Fermentation of carbohydrates by Bifidobacteria, Lactobacilli and other lactic acid bacteria usually does not lead to the production of propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, valerate and isovalerate. These SCFA's are indicative of the fermentation of carbohydrates by other bacterial species, such as Clostridia Bacteroides or Enterobacteriaea, or are indicative for the fermentation of proteins. Therefore, a (relative) increase of intestinal lactate and acetate concomitant with a (relative) decrease of other SCFA's indicates specific stimulation of lactic acid bacteria and/or Bifidobacteria.

#FIGURE: Formation of short chain fatty acids in mmol/g indigestible polysaccharide (IP) after 48 h in vitro fermentation of partially hydrolysed guar gum (PHGG); inulin; indigestible polydextrin (ID); a mixture of partially hydrolysed guar gum and inulin (weight ratio 1:1); a mixture of partially hydrolysed guar gum and indigestible polydextrin (weight ratio 1/1) and a mixture of inulin and indigestible polydextrin by fresh faeces obtained from babies. Sum iC4,5 is the sum of valerate, isobutyrate and isovalerate. The data were corrected for blanc fermentation. The FIGURE shows that a combination PHGG and inulin or indigestible polydextrin synergistically improve SCFA formation. The results are indicative for the advantageous use of these combinations in baby foods.

#Materials:

#Microflora was obtained from fresh faeces from babies fed with infant formula. Fresh faecal material from three bottle-fed babies ranging 6 to 12 months of age was pooled and put into preservative medium within 2 h.

#Preservative medium: Buffered peptone 20.0 g/l, L-Cysteine-HCl 0.5 g/l, Sodium thioglycollate 0.5 g/l, resazurine tablet 1 per liter, adjust to pH 6.7±0.1 with 1 M NaOH or HCl. Boil in microwave. Fill 30 ml serum bottles with 25 ml medium. Sterilise 15 minutes at 121° C.