In vitro modulation of composition and metabolism of the fecal microbiota by different dietary polysaccharides and mucin

The metabolic activity of colon microbiota is fibre specific (monomer composition, degree of polymerization and branching) and variation of dietary fibres support the diversity of gut microbial communities, which is important for wellbeing of the host. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of different polysaccharides (resistant starch, levan, inulin, arabinogalactan, xylan, pectin, chitin) and a glycoprotein mucin on growth and metabolism of the fecal microbiota in vitro by using isothermal microcalorimetry (IMC). Fecal samples from healthy donors were incubated in phosphate-buffered defined medium with or without supplementation of a dietary fiber. The generation of heat, microbiota composition, and concentrations of metabolites during the growth were determined.