Table 3

Total SCFA, acetate, propionate, and butyrate production(μmol/ml) of isolated oat β-glucan (54% soluble fiber), guar gum sample (MW 400 kDa) and inulin sample (degree of polymerization 100% ≈10) after 0, 4,8,12, and 24 hours in a model intestinal fermentation, analyzed by gas chromatography.

Sample
Oat β-glucan
Guar Gum
Inulin

Total SCFA
0 h
0.6 ± 0.2
-0.7 ± 0.5
-0.3 ± 0.2

4 h
32.7 ± 0.3a*
7.7 ± 0.02b
33.8 ± 0.8a

8 h
50.5 ± 4.0a
45.7 ± 3.2a
75.4 ± 0.7b

12 h
50.3 ± 6.2
62.0 ± 0.6
55.6 ± 1.8

24 h
48.7 ± 1.5a
68.6 ± 0.8b
51.8 ± 0.8a

Acetate
0 h
-0.4 ± 0.01
-0.2 ± 0.05
-0.2 ± 0.02

4 h
23.1 ± 0.9a
6.6 ± 0.5b
23.3 ± 0.4a

8 h
40.0 ± 3.1a
34.2 ± 2.2a
63.7 ± 1.8b

12 h
37.5 ± 4.5
45.5 ± 0.1
48.2 ± 4.2

24 h
24.7 ± 1.7a
34.6 ± 0.2b
30.3 ± 0.8ab

Propionate
0 h
-0.1 ± 0.01
0.05 ± 0.04
-0.04 ± 0.01

4 h
0.7 ± 0.04
0.5 ± 0.1
0.4 ± 0.1

8 h
0.8 ± 0.7a
4.5 ± 0.8b
-2.2 ± 0.1a

12 h
3.8 ± 1.2a
16.8 ± 0.3b
-6.2 ± 0.2c

24 h
11.9 ± 0.004a
28.5 ± 0.7b
0.08 ± 0.1c

Butyrate
0 h
-0.1 ± 0.02
-0.03 ± 0.04
-0.03 ± 0.02

4 h
0.4 ± 0.02
0.2 ± 0.05
0.2 ± 0.04

8 h
2.2 ± 0.3a
0.9 ± 0.2b
0.6 ± 0.05b

12 h
7.7 ± 0.9a
3.3 ± 0.1b
-.004 ± 0.1c

24 h
13.3 ± 0.3a
6.8 ± 0.1b
23.1 ± 0.1c

Total SCFA = acetate, propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, 2-methylbutyrate, isovalerate, lactate, and valerate (if detectable).

Values shown are mean ± standard error, each from 2 samples

*Mean production of each compound was compared at each time point between oat β-glucan, guar gum, and inulin. Within each row, means that do not share a superscript letter are significantly different (p < 0.05), and means that share a letter are not significantly different.

Queenan et al. Nutrition Journal 2007 6:6   doi:10.1186/1475-2891-6-6