Effect of agave fructans on the production of short chain fatty acid in mice

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of agave fructans on short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in mice (C57BL/6). Animals were randomly divided into three groups (n = 8): control group (CG), fructans from Agave tequilana group (FG) (55 g per day/kg of body weight), and oligrofructose group (OG) (55 g per day/kg of body weight). Treatments were administered oral via for 6 weeks. After 24 days of treatment (phase 1), both treated groups exhibited elevated levels of acetic (12%) and propionic (FG 66% and OG 38%) acids in comparison with the CG. After 42 days of treatment (phase 2), FG had higher concentrations of acetic (33%) and propionic (73%) acids than the CG; while OG exhibited higher levels of butyric (12%) and propionic (35%) acids compared with the CG. Fructans from Agave tequilana improve the production of SCFA in mice, suggesting a prebiotic activity.