Polysaccharides - prebiotics
2001
Batic, M. (Ljubljana Univ. (Slovenia). Biotechnical Fac., Food Science and Technology Dept.)
Many polysaccharides are not digested in upper gastrointestinal tract and become fermented in the large intestine. They possess physiological benefits similar to those of dietary fiber. For some of this polysaccharides the fermentation process is highly specialised and leads to the selective stimulation and growth of gut microflora e.g. bifidobacteria. These polysaccharydes are described as prebiotics, which are defined as nutrients fermented in the large bowel. They favour the growth of desirable large bowel microflora. Prebiotic activity has been demonstrated for inulin and oligofructose while other polysaccharides e.g. non-starch polysaccharides and resistant oligosaccharides, and analogous carbohydates offers desirable physiological properties and ¯functional® benefits such as enhancement of a healthy gastrointestinal tract, improvment of glucose control, and modulation of the metabolism of triglycerides.
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