Effects of Raffinose Intake on Human Fecal Microflora

The effects of four-week raffinose intake (15 g/day) on the fecal microflora and fecal properties were studied in healthy human volunteers. The significantly increasing numbers of Bifidobacterium spp. were observed during the raffinose intake, whereas the numbers of lecithinase-negative Clostridium spp. and bacteroidaceae during the intake were significantly lower than those before and after the intake. The percentage of Bifidobacterium spp. was increased from 11.6-15.5% of the total to 58.2-80.1% of the total during the intake. The fecal pH values during the feeding were lower than those before and after the intake.