Effects of Soyoligosaccharide Intake on Fecal Bifidobacteria and Lipid Concentration in Korean Young Women

Bang, Myung Hee; Kim, Woo Kyoung

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of soyoligosaccharide consumption on feces bifidobacteria proliferation and feces lipid profiles in Korean young women. Eight healthy young women (25 - 34 years) were fed 15 g/day of soyoligosaccharide solution, containing 3 g of oligosaccharide as form of raffinose and starchyose, for 15 days with their habitual meals. Soyoligosaccharde intake increased the numbers of fecal total bacteria significantly until 10 days (p < 0.05) and the numbers of fecal bifidobactreia were significantly increased until 15 days (p < 0.05). The fecal pH was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) by soyligosaccharide intake. Fecal lipid concentration showed the trend to increse, especially fecal triglyceride level was significantly increased by soyoligosaccharide intake (p < 0.05). The water contents of feces, the amount of feces, evacuation frequency and taking time to evacuation were not affected by soyoligosaccharide intake. The color of feces changed to yellow-brown, and hardness of stool and effort to evacuation were reduced by soyoligosaccharide intake. These results suggest that soyoligosaccharide intake (3 g/day) in young women improved the gut microflora and fecal lipid profile. Therefore, soyoligosaccharide has a potential to be used as one of the promising prebiotics, and controlled trials with larger sample sizes and longer duration are need to be studied further.