Effects of Soybean Oligosaccharides in a Beverage on Human Fecal Flora and Metabolites

Abstract

The effects of drinking a soft drink (Oligo CC) containing soybean oligosaccharides daily for three weeks on fecal microflora and putrefactive metabolites were studied during the test period in seven healthy volunteers (ages 33-51 years). The daily intake of indigestible galactooli-gosaccharides (stachyose, raffinose, manninotriose) was 3.0 g. The number of intestinal bifidobacteria was significantly increased (p<0.01). The concentration of fecal ammonia was significantly lowered (p<0.01). The concentrations of p-cresol and phenol tended to decrease. Fecal β-glucosidase activity was significantly decreased (p<0.05) during the test period. © 1992, Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry. All rights reserved.