Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2025

Analysis of Interactions between Endobiotics and Human Gut Microbiota Using In Vitro Bath Fermentation Systems
00:06

Analysis of Interactions between Endobiotics and Human Gut Microbiota Using In Vitro Bath Fermentation Systems

Published on: August 23, 2019

7.1K

High Viscosity Slows the Utilization of Rapidly Fermentable Dietary Fiber by Human Gut Microbiota

Xiangxiang He1,2, Cuixia Sun1, Jingwen Zhao1

  • 1Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|December 6, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Increased viscosity significantly slows fructooligosaccharides (FOS) fermentation by gut microbiota, reducing gas and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. Methylcellulose addition offers a method to modulate FOS fermentation for potential prebiotic benefits.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Food Science
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are prebiotics that promote gut health by selectively feeding beneficial gut bacteria.
  • The fermentation rate of prebiotics can influence their efficacy and the host's physiological response.
  • Understanding factors affecting FOS fermentation is crucial for optimizing prebiotic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of viscosity, modulated by methylcellulose (MC), on the fermentation characteristics of FOS by gut microbiota.
  • To determine how different viscosity levels affect the production of fermentation byproducts like gas and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
  • To assess the effect of viscosity on the gut microbiota community structure during FOS fermentation.

Main Methods:

  • Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) were fermented with gut microbiota in the presence of varying concentrations of methylcellulose (MC) to create different viscosity levels.
  • Gas and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production were monitored as indicators of fermentation rate.
  • Gut microbiota community structure was analyzed to evaluate the impact of viscosity.

Main Results:

  • Higher viscosity, induced by increased methylcellulose (MC) concentrations, significantly slowed down the fermentation rate of fructooligosaccharides (FOS).
  • The highest viscosity (2.5 wt% MC) resulted in the lowest and slowest production of gas and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
  • Altered fermentation rates due to viscosity did not significantly change the overall gut microbiota community structure compared to FOS fermentation alone.

Conclusions:

  • Increased viscosity acts as a barrier, hindering the breakdown of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) by gut microbiota.
  • Methylcellulose (MC) can be combined with FOS to modulate fermentation rates, potentially achieving prebiotic effects with slower release.
  • This approach may offer a strategy to enhance gut health benefits by controlling the fermentation kinetics of prebiotics.
Keywords:
FOSSCFAsgut microbiotain vitro fermentation rateviscosity

More Related Videos

An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota07:15

An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota

Published on: July 31, 2019

9.6K
Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota06:23

Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota

Published on: February 15, 2019

14.3K

Related Concept Videos

Drug Absorption: Factors Affecting GI Absorption01:19

Drug Absorption: Factors Affecting GI Absorption

The process of oral drug absorption can be influenced by several factors. Weakly acidic drugs tend to be absorbed more readily from the stomach due to their nonionized state. However, absorption may be less efficient in the upper intestine, where drugs are often ionized. Interestingly, despite the stomach's apparent advantage for drug absorption, its mucous layer can hinder diffusion. Its surface area is also smaller than the intestine's, which can further slow down the absorption rate.
4.0K
Factors Influencing Drug Absorption: Disease States and Pharmacology01:25

Factors Influencing Drug Absorption: Disease States and Pharmacology

Multiple disease states can significantly influence the oral drug absorption process by affecting blood flow and the functionality of the gastrointestinal (GI) system. Various GI diseases, including conditions that alter GI motility, such as diarrhea, decreased acid secretions (achlorhydria), and infections, have been associated with reduced drug absorption.
Substances such as alcohol and specific drugs, including antineoplastics, can also negatively impact drug absorption. For instance,...
532
Factors Affecting Dissolution: Drug Permeability, Stability and Stereochemistry01:20

Factors Affecting Dissolution: Drug Permeability, Stability and Stereochemistry

Orally administered drugs primarily enter the systemic circulation via passive diffusion through the intestinal membranes. The drug's absorption is influenced by drug stability in the gastrointestinal GI tract, membrane permeability, the surface area available for absorption, luminal drug concentration, and residence time in the lumen. Drug permeability can be enhanced by adjusting the lipophilicity, polarity, or molecular size of the drug, promoting its passive transport across intestinal...
208
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Bulk-Forming and Stimulant Laxatives01:22

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Bulk-Forming and Stimulant Laxatives

Laxatives enhance bowel movements and alleviate constipation. They augment the stool's bulk, stimulate intestinal muscle contractions, draw water into the intestines, or soften the stool. There are five key types of laxatives: bulk laxatives, stimulant laxatives, osmotic laxatives, stool softeners, and lubricant laxatives.
Bulk-forming laxatives, such as psyllium, methylcellulose, and polycarbophil, absorb water in the intestine, increasing stool bulk and promoting bowel movement. This...
214
Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction01:17

Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is characterized by functional disturbances in the gastrointestinal system, presenting a cluster of symptoms without evident structural or biochemical abnormalities. It primarily affects the large intestine and may cause abdominal pain, bloating, excessive gas, diarrhea, constipation, or both.
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
280
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy01:30

Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy

Various diagnostic tests are employed in the diagnostic process for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), particularly to differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
335