Short-chain fructooligosaccharides in healthy elderly: gut bacteria and cholesterol
What it found
In 12 healthy elderly people, taking 8 g of short-chain fructooligosaccharides daily for 4 weeks increased fecal bifidobacteria and fecal cholesterol.
It also caused more gas and bloating, but these were very mild.
What they found
Studies in people
Bifidobacteria increase
Fecal bifidobacteria counts rose significantly during the 4 weeks of taking short-chain fructooligosaccharides, then returned to starting levels after the supplement stopped.
Fecal cholesterol rises
Fecal cholesterol concentration increased during the supplement period and went back to baseline afterwards.
Bile acids unchanged
Total bile acids and specific bile acid types did not change during the study.
Transit time unchanged
Oro-fecal transit time, stool weight, and water content did not change.
Mild gut symptoms
Excess gas and bloating were more frequent during the supplement period than at baseline, but the intensity was very mild.
Clostridium after stopping
Clostridium counts increased after the supplement was stopped, compared with both the baseline and supplement periods.
What the authors conclude
“Four-week 8 g/d scFOS ingestion is well tolerated and leads to a significant increase in fecal bifidobacteria in healthy elderly subjects.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that four-week 8 g/d scFOS ingestion is well tolerated and leads to a significant increase in fecal bifidobacteria in healthy elderly subjects.
- They state that whether the change in cholesterol metabolism found in our study could exert a beneficial action warrants further studies.
How it was done
The authors wanted to see whether short-chain fructooligosaccharides could counteract the decline in bifidobacteria that happens in the elderly gut, and whether this might affect colon cancer risk.
They studied 12 healthy volunteers aged 69 plus or minus 2 years. For 4 weeks the volunteers took 8 g per day of short-chain fructooligosaccharides, and their stools were tested before, during, and after.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a small study in 12 people, so the results may not apply to everyone.
- The study cannot show whether the changes in gut bacteria or cholesterol would affect colon cancer risk.
The paper
- Title
- Four-week short chain fructo-oligosaccharides ingestion leads to increasing fecal bifidobacteria and cholesterol excretion in healthy elderly volunteers
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Bouhnik Y, Achour L, Paineau D, Riottot M, Attar A, Bornet F (2007). Four-week short chain fructo-oligosaccharides ingestion leads to increasing fecal bifidobacteria and cholesterol excretion in healthy elderly volunteers. Nutrition journal. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-6-42Free full textPubMed 18053236DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error