Effects of Administration of 4G-≥-D-Galactosylsucrose on Fecal Microflora, Putrefactive Products, Short-Chain Fatty Acids, We ight, Moisture and pH, and Subjective Sensation of Defecation in the Elderly with Constipation

Abstract

Effects of administration of 4G-/?-D-galactosylsucrose (lac-tosucrose: LS) on fecal microflora, putrefactive products, short-chain fatty acids, weight, moisture and pH, and subjective sensation of defecation were investigated in 13 elderly patients with constipation. The LS mixture used in the present study consisted of LS (59.0%), lactose (22.7%), sucrose (8.4%), fructose (1.6%), glucose (6.8%), and non-identified polysaccharides (0.8%). Subjects were fed 0.32 g of LS mixture per kg body weight per day (0.18 g of LS per kg body weight per day) for 3 weeks after a one-week control period. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The number and percentage of Bifidobacterium remarkably increased. The frequency of occurrence of Bifidobacterium increased, while that of lecithinase-negative Clostridium decreased. 2. The concentrations of p-cresol, indole, skatole and ammonia in the feces (nmol or jxmol/g wet feces) were decreased significantly, and the total fecal excretion of p-cresol and skatole (//mol/week) was also diminished significantly. 3. LS administration caused significant increases in the concentration (//mol/g wet feces) and the total fecal excretion (mmol/week) of acetic and -butyric acids. 4. Fecal moisture (%) increased significantly, whereas fecal pH decreased. LS also tented to cause a gain in fecal weight (g/. © 1992, SOCIETY FOR FREE RADICAL RESEARCH JAPAN. All rights reserved.