epiglucan and fructooligosaccharide

Recent studies suggest that some of the clinical effectiveness of soy or daidzein, which is a type of isoflavone, may be attributed to a person's ability to produce equol from daidzein. Equol, which is a metabolite of one of the major soybean isoflavones called daidzein, is produced in the gastrointestinal tract by certain intestinal microbiota where present. Habitual dietary patterns may alter the intestinal bacterial profile, and influence the metabolism of isoflavones and the production of equol. Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) have a prebiotic activity as well as being a dietary fibre. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether FOS supplementation increases equol production in equol producers and stimulates equol production in equol non-producers in Japanese postmenopausal women.. A soy challenge was used to assess equol-producer status prior to the start of the study in healthy postmenopausal Japanese women. The study involved 4 separate groups in randomised crossover design. First, subjects were classified as equol producers (n = 25) or non-producers (n = 18), and then they were randomly assigned to the FOS or control group. All subjects received a daily dose of 37 mg isoflavone conjugates in the capsule (21 mg aglycone form) and either FOS (5 g/day) or sucrose as control, in a randomised crossover study design. Equol -production was assessed by testing the serum and urine before and after the 2-week supplementation period.. The analyses were conducted on 34 subjects completed the study, 21 (61.8%) were classified as equol producers, and 13 (38.2%) as non-producers. Significant differences were observed in the interaction effect of time × equol state after 1 week of intervention (p = 0.006). However there were no effects after 2 weeks of intervention (p = 0.516). Finally, in both equol producers and non-producers, FOS supplementation did not affect the serum equol concentration or the urinary equol to daidzein concentration ratios.. We have reported that FOS intervention (5 g/day for 2 weeks) does not significantly modulate the capacity of intestinal microbiota to produce equol in postmenopausal Japanese women, in either equol producers or non-producers in this pilot study. Further larger investigations that explore the roles of specific intestinal microbiota in equol production will enable the establishment of dietary conditions that are required to enhance equol production.

Topics: beta-Glucans; Biomarkers; Cross-Over Studies; Dietary Supplements; Equol; Female; Glycine max; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestines; Isoflavones; Japan; Middle Aged; Oligosaccharides; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal; Pilot Projects; Postmenopause; Prebiotics; Seeds

An increase in gastrointestinal viscosity or colonic fermentation is suggested to improve appetite control and reduce food intake. It has been proposed that beta-glucan and fructooligosaccharide (FOS) are food ingredients that increase gastrointestinal viscosity and colonic fermentation, but the results are inconclusive.. The objective was to test the effect of FOS, beta-glucan, or a combination thereof on appetite ratings and food intake over 2 consecutive days.. In a 4-way balanced-order, crossover, double-blind design, 21 healthy volunteers [mean body mass index (in kg/m(2)) 25.9] consumed a meal-replacement bar at 0900 and an ad libitum lunch at 1300 on 2 consecutive days. On day 1 only, the subjects consumed a second (identical) bar at 1700 and a fixed snack at 1900. The control bar contained 0.3 g beta-glucan from 6.8 g oats (control), and the 3 equicaloric test bars contained an additional 0.9 g beta-glucan (from 8.0 g barley), 8 g FOS, or 0.9 g beta-glucan + 8 g FOS. Appetite scores and subsequent ad libitum test meal intakes were measured. Viscosities in response to bar consumption were determined under simulated gastric conditions. The results were analyzed by analysis of covariance.. The addition of beta-glucan, FOS, or a combination thereof did not affect appetite ratings or food intake, although the addition of beta-glucan to the bar doubled gastric viscosity (841 compared with 351 mPa . s).. Consumption of beta-glucan, FOS, or a combination thereof in meal-replacement bars at the levels tested for 2 consecutive days does not improve appetite control. Efficacy may have improved if the consumption period was longer, if the content of beta-glucan was greater, or if a form of beta-glucan that generates even higher gastric viscosity was consumed. This trial was registered at (clinicaltrials.gov) as NCT00776256.

Topics: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Appetite; beta-Glucans; Body Mass Index; Cross-Over Studies; Dietary Fiber; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Energy Intake; Female; Fermentation; Food, Fortified; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Oligosaccharides; Satiety Response; Viscosity