Probiotics containing complex vegetable fermented fibers (CVFF) enhanced human intestinal microflora. Hsin-Ju Chou 12, Yasuhiro Nakayama 2, Ya-Yuan Chuang 2, Hui-Fang Shang 3,Hui-Ting Yang 4, and Shih-Yi Huang 1 1 School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, 2 MORIKAWA (Taiwan) Company Ltd, 3 Department of microbiology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan Abstract To investigate the effectiveness of combined supplementation of vegetable fermented fibers and L. rhamnosus GG (LGG), a crossover study was designed for evaluating gastroenterological function in healthy subjects. After one week of dietary adjustment, all subjects took 10 tablets of complex vegetable fermented fibers everyday for 3 weeks. After two weeks of washout period, subjects took 10 tablets of CVFF (320mg crude fiber per tablet) plus LGG (8 × 10 7 CFU per tablet) for successive three weeks. Numbers of fecal Bifidobacterium spp., L. rhamnosus GG, and Lactobacillus spp. were determined weekly. Total anaerobic bacteria contents (TABC) and Clostridium Perfringens (CP) were assayed as well. A self-conscious questionnaire of gastroenterological condition was used to evaluate palatability and acceptability of subjects. Results showed health volunteers administrated with 10 tablets of CVFF for three weeks indeed increased the numbers of Bifidobacteria and LGG significantly and may improve intestinal microflora. However, CVFF plus LGG accelerated the progress and further decreased CP and TABC in the first week. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that combined use of vegetable fermented fibers and probiotics could improve intestinal microflora in human body without any side effect. Table 1 、 Eeffects of CVFF on fecal miroflora changes Week1Week2Week3Week4Week5 Log 10 CFU/g wet weight of feces Total9.50±0.20 a 10.04±0.15 c 9.65±0.21 ab 9.90±0.29 bc 9.81±0.58 bc L6.82±1.31 a 7.42±1.30 ab 7.79±1.06 b 8.02±1.05 b 8.28±0.87 b B8.93±0.38 a 9.36±0.39 c 9.02±0.37 ab 9.29±0.30 bc 9.30±0.31 bc LGG6.18±1.11 a 7.27±1.06 b 7.18±0.87 b 7.19±0.99 b 6.93±1.26 ab Clos.5.08±1.25 a 4.52±1.03 ab 4.31±1.17 ab 3.88±1.12 b 4.46±1.14 ab Data were expressed as MEAN log CFU/gram of wet weight of feces ± SD. n=12. Values in the same row with different superscript letters were significantly different(p < 0.05). Total: total anaerobic bacteria counts; L: Lactobacillus spp.; B: Bifidobacterium. spp.; C.: Clostridium perfringens Week 1 ： dietary adjustment 、 Week 2~ Week 4 ： experimental period 、 Week 5 ： empty Figure 1. Effects of CVFF on counts of intestinal anaerobic microflora Week 1 ： dietary adjustment 、 Week 2~ Week 4 ： experimental period 、 Week 5 ： empty period (n=12) Figure 2.Change of total counts on intestinal Lactobaccillus spp. Week 1 ： dietary adjustment 、 Week 2~ Week 4 ： experimental period 、 Week 5 ： empty period (n=12) Figure 3. Change of total counts for Bifidobacterium. spp. Week 1:dietary adjustment 、 Week 2~ Week 4 ： experimental period 、 Week 5 ： empty (n ＝ 12) Figure 4. Effects of fermented fiber tablets on fecal total counts of L. rhamnosus GG. Week 1 ： dietary adjustment 、 Week 2~ Week 4 ： experimental period 、 Week 5 ： empty period (n=12) Figure 5. Effects of fermented fiber tablets on intestinal counts of Clostridium perfringens. Week 1 ： dietary adjustment 、 Week 2~ Week 4 ： experimental period 、 Week 5 ： empty period (n=12) Results ◆ CVFF Clostridium perfringens. ◆ CVFF