June 20, 2007

US scientists develop new method to produce prebiotics
 

US scientists have developed a new method for converting certain sugars from corn and other crops into complex carbohydrates called oligosaccharides, which may be used as prebiotics to bolster intestinal health in livestock.

Prebiotics are added to feed to nourish populations of lactobacillus, bifidobacterium and other beneficial bacteria that reside within the animal's digestive system.

Greg Cote of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Bioproducts and Biocatalysis Research Unit at Peoria, Illinois state, co-developed the oligosaccharides with Scott Holt, an associate professor with Western Illinois University's Department of Biological Sciences.

Both scientists employ a production method that uses a microbial enzyme called alternansucrase to catalyse a series of biochemical reactions that convert sugars such as sucrose, glucose or maltitol into different kinds of oligosaccharides.

Cote and Holt hope to formulate the oligosaccharides as a prebiotic product that could be administered orally.