Prebiotic foodstuffs and their health benefits in experiment

The aim of the present experimental study was to evaluate the effect of prebiotic on chemically induced carcinogenensis in rats fed with high fat diet (HF).

Wistar albino rats were divided into control and experimental groups. In experimental group rats were treated with prebiotic at the dose of 2% of HF diet. N,N-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) injections were applicated in dose 20 mg/kg b.w., two times at week interval. In the end of eight weeks experimental period blood samples and feaces were taken from the rats and used for laboratory analysis.

Treatment with prebiotic inulin significantly (p < 0.001) decreased enzymatic activity of bacterial enzymes in feaces. Similar tendency was noticed in concentration of bile acids and lipid parameters. Prebiotic undergo fermentation in the colon and enhanced short chain fatty acid production.

Prebiotics may have potential health implications for protection against colon cancer (Tab. 2, Fig. 1, Ref. 14).