Abstract
Changes in fecal bulk and bacterial abundance due to separately consumed skin and flesh of four kiwifruit cultivars was determined using a rat model designed to estimate the fecal bulking potential of human foods. Dry matter contribution by skin to 100 g of fresh kiwifruit was less than 5% in all cultivars, whereas flesh dry matter contributed up to 20% of fresh fruit weight. Dietary fiber was 35–49% of skin compared with 8–23% of flesh on a dry weight basis. The skin significantly increased whole fruit fecal bulking, but the total bulk per 100 g kiwifruit was less than 10% of daily fecal bulk recommended for optimal gut health. Kiwifruit (skin or flesh) substantially increased the abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Lactobacillus spp. within the gut. Fermentation and prebiosis therefore probably play a greater role than fermentation-resistant dietary fiber in gut health benefits of kiwifruit.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Sheridan Martell, Hannah Dinnan, and Susanne Middlemiss-Kraak for assistance with the animal trial. This study was funded by Plant & Food Research and Zespri Group Ltd., Mount Maunganui, New Zealand (contract # 34405).
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All the animal procedures were approved by AgResearch Grasslands Animal Ethics Committee (Palmerston North) according to the Animal Welfare Act 1999, New Zealand.
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Monro, J.A., Paturi, G. Kiwifruit Skin and Flesh Contributions to Fecal Bulking and Bacterial Abundance in Rats. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 75, 525–531 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-020-00839-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-020-00839-7