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Effects of Blackcurrant and Dietary Fibers on Large Intestinal Health Biomarkers in Rats

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Abstract

This study examined the effects of anthocyanin-rich blackcurrant extract and dietary fibers individually and their combinations on biomarkers of large intestinal health in rats. After six weeks of feeding, rats fed diets with blackcurrant gained significantly less body weight and reduced their food intake resulting in a lower food efficiency compared with those rats fed control diets. Combining dietary fiber (apple or broccoli) with blackcurrant in the diet was more effective in reducing the body weight gain and food intake. Cecal bacterial populations and short-chain fatty acids differed between the experimental diets. Blackcurrants significantly altered the bacterial populations by increasing the abundance of Bacteroides-Prevotella-Porphyromonas group and Lactobacillus spp., while decreasing the abundance of Bifidobacterium spp. and Clostridium perfringens. Propionic acid concentrations were increased by the diets with blackcurrant. Butyric acid concentrations were increased by dietary fiber supplementation. Dietary fiber increased the number of goblet cells in the colon. Diets with blackcurrant were more effective in altering the biomarkers of large intestinal health than those without blackcurrant.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Sheridan Martell, Hannah Dinnan and Janice Rhodes for animal care, Dongxiao Sun-Waterhouse and Reginald Wibisono for apple fiber preparation, Cloe Erika De Guzman for broccoli fiber preparation, Halina Stoklosinski for SCFAs analysis, and Juliet Ansell and Margot Skinner for helpful discussions. E. faecalis culture stock was obtained from AgResearch Grasslands culture collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 92169, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand

    Gunaranjan Paturi

  2. The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand

    Christine A. Butts, John A. Monro & Duncan Hedderley

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  1. Gunaranjan Paturi
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  2. Christine A. Butts
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  3. John A. Monro
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  4. Duncan Hedderley
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Correspondence to Gunaranjan Paturi.

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Paturi, G., Butts, C.A., Monro, J.A. et al. Effects of Blackcurrant and Dietary Fibers on Large Intestinal Health Biomarkers in Rats. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 73, 54–60 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-018-0652-7

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