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Resistant Starch is Actively Fermented by Infant Faecal Microbiota and Increases Microbial Diversity
Geetha Gopalsamy1,2, Elissa Mortimer3, Paul Greenfield4
1Monash University, Eastern Health Clinical School, Box Hill, VIC 3128, Australia. gopa0006@gmail.com.
Nutrients
|June 19, 2019
Summary
Infant gut microbes can ferment resistant starch (RS), a prebiotic fiber. This fermentation, particularly after solids are introduced, boosts beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides, suggesting RS as a novel infant prebiotic.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Resistant starch (RS), like high amylose maize starch (HAMS), exhibits prebiotic effects in adults.
- Infant gut microbiota development is critical and may be influenced by RS intake.
- Understanding infant capacity to ferment RS is essential for potential prebiotic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the fermentative capacity of infant fecal inocula on high amylose maize starch (HAMS) and acetylated-HAMS (HAMSA).
- To characterize the impact of HAMS fermentation on infant gut microbial composition and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production.
- To assess if RS fermentation capacity differs between preweaning and post-solids introduction stages.
Main Methods:
- In vitro batch fermentation of HAMS and HAMSA using fecal samples from 17 healthy infants at preweaning and post-solids introduction timepoints.
- Analysis of pH, total short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and microbial composition after 24-hour incubation.
- Comparison of fermentation outcomes against parallel control incubations.
Main Results:
- Infant fecal inocula demonstrated fermentation of HAMS, evidenced by decreased pH and increased SCFA production in preweaning infants.
- Fermentation capacity of HAMS significantly increased after the introduction of solid foods.
- Fermentation of RS by weaning inocula enhanced microbial diversity (Shannon's index) and promoted the growth of Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides.
Conclusions:
- Infant fecal microbiota possesses the inherent ability to ferment resistant starch (RS), irrespective of feeding status (breast milk or solids).
- The introduction of solid foods enhances the infant's capacity to ferment RS.
- Resistant starch (RS) shows potential as a novel prebiotic for modulating the infant gut microbiome.
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