| We examined whether a powder (AP) prepared from the base of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.), and its fractions (hot water-soluble fraction (WSAP)), fat-soluble fraction and insoluble fraction (ISAP)), affect the microbiota pattern and concentration of short chain fatty acids in cecal digesta. Fractions were prepared from AP (34.9% dietary fiber), and contained 7.2, 0 and 63.1% of dietary fiber, respectively. Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed either a control (C), C + 5% AP (5AP) and C + 10% AP (10AP) diet for 21 d in experiment 1, and C, 10AP and C diets each supplemented with one of the fractions from AP for 7 d in experiment 2. The amount of fraction added was equal to that contained in the 10% AP diet. Cecal butyrate and propionate concentration showed a dose-dependent increase and decrease with AP supplementation, respectively. The molar ratio of cecal short chain fatty acids in rats fed the AP diet was similar to those fed the ISAP diet. The administration of AP resulted in a new cluster of cecal microbiota, and the cluster was similar to that observed in rats fed ISAP, but not WSAP. No significant changes in total bacteria, bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in cecal digesta were observed in rats fed AP. In conclusion, we found AP feeding formed a unique pattern of cecal microbiota and increased butyrate production; the effect of AP was due to ISAP. |
