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.
Keywords: Agave fructan; Mice; Oligofructose; Prebiotic activity; Short chain fatty acid.
© The Korean Society of Food Science and Technology 2019.