Selected Works of Dr. Atsutane Ohta, a Leading Researcher of
fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
This is the Home Page of Dr. Atsutane Ohta, donated as a
public service by Paul Mason.
Dr. Ohta's research with rats suggests that in humans each 1
gram per day of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) may increase Mg
uptake by 2-3 mg/day. Human research of FOS has not been done
yet.
FOS is a sweetener commonly used in Japan. The suitable level
of FOS intake is 3-7 grams per day. Maximum FOS intake per day
should not exceed 18-20 grams for males. (The suggested intake
for males is 0.3 g per kg body weight, for females: 0.4 g per
kg.)
Below are abstracts of seven papers which discuss
fructooligosaccharides and the absorption of magnesium.
- Effects of FOS and Other Saccharides on Ca,
Mg and P Absorption in Rats.
- Effects of FOS on the absorption of Mg and
Ca by Cecectomized Rats.
- Effects of FOS on the Absorption of Mg in
the Mg-Deficient Rats Model
- Effects of FOS on the absorption of Iron,Ca
and Mg in Iron-deficient Anemic Rats.
- Ca and Mg Absorption from the Colon and
Rectum Are Increased in Rats Fed FOS.
- Prevention of coprophagy modified Mg
absorption in rats fed FOS.
- FOS Stimulate the Absorption of Mg from the
Hindgut in Rats.
[Address for ordering reprints or for making
scientific inquiries]
[FOS Ordering Information]
[1] Effects of
Fructooligosaccharides and Other Saccharides on Ca, Mg and P
Absorption in Rats.
Atsutane OHTA, Naomi OSAKABE, Kazuhiko YAMADA,
Yasuhiro SAITO and Hidemasa HIDAKA
Journal of Japanese society Nutrition and Food science,
Vol. 46, No. 2, 123-129 (1993)
The effects of administration of Lactose (LA),
fructooligosaccharides and other oligosaccharides
(galactooligosaccharides: GO, isomaltooligosaccharides: IM,
raffinose: RF) in the diet on absorption of calcium (Ca),
magnesium (Mg) and phosphorus (P) in weanling male rats were
examined by in vivo studies. In rats fed FO diet, Ca, Mg and P
absorption were significantly higher than in rats fed the LA
diet. FO had dose-dependent effect on minerals absorption
(Exp.1). The enhancement of Ca, Mg and P absorption by FO
persisted for as long as one month. A significant increase in the
ash and mineral contents of the femur was observed in rats fed
the FO diet, as compared with controls (Exp.2). FO had a positive
effect on mineral absorption, and GO and RF had similar but
somewhat variable effects. However, IM had no effect (Exp.3).
There was a significantly positive correlation between mineral
absorption and L-lactate concentration in the cecum. It was
suggested that L-lactate concentration in the cecum had a direct
effect on mineral absorption (Exp.3).
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[2] Effects of
Fructooligosaccharides on the absorption of Magnesium and calcium
by Cecectomized Rats.
Atsutane OHTA, Masako OHTSUKI, Toshio TAKIZAWA, Hiromi
INABA, Takashi ADACHI and Shyuichi KIMURA
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research
Vol. 64, 316-323 (1994)
We reported previously that feeding of fructooligosaccharides
(FO) increased the apparent absorption of calcium (Ca), magnesium
(Mg) and phosphorus (P) in rats. We suggested that there was an
important correlation between this phenomenon and fermentation of
FO in the large intestine. However, the precise mechanism
remained to be characterized. Therefore, we performed a
mineral-balance study to identify the segment of lumen in which
FO affects mineral absorption, using cecectomized rats.
Sham-operated rats and cecectomized rats were fed a control diet
(without FO) or an FO-diet (containing 50 G of FO per kg of feed)
for 28 days. Feeding of the FO-diet decreased the luminal pH in
the cecum and colon in the sham-operated rats. In the
cecectomized rats, feeding of the FO-diet also decreased the
luminal pH in the colon. Thus, FO was fermented in the colon of
the cecectomized rats. However, the acid composition of feces was
altered by cecectomy. Feeding of the FO-diet increased the
absorption of Ca and Mg in the sham-operated rats. In the
cecectomized rats, the FO-diet increased the absorption of Mg but
did not increase the absorption of Ca. These results suggest the
mechanisms for the absorption of Ca and Mg when rats are fed an
FO are different.
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[3] Effects of
Fructooligosaccharides on the Absorption of Magnesium in the
Magnesium-Deficient Rats Model
Atsutane OHTA, Seigo BABA, Toshio TAKIZAWA and Takashi
ADACHI
Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology Vol. 40,
171-181 (1994)
Magnesium (Mg) is an essential dietary element that plays
important roles, acting as cofactor of many enzymes. Rat fed a
Mg-deficient diet have been reported to exhibit auricular and
facial peripheral hyperemia and hemorrhage. Moreover, increased
intake of calcium (Ca9 or phosphorus (P) has been reported to
impair apparent absorption of Mg. We tried to induce such typical
inflammation in Mg-deficient rats by feeding low-Mg, high-Ca and
high-P diet. Increasing concentrations of Ca or P in the
experimental diets significantly decreased the apparent
absorption of Mg. And all rats fed Low-Mg (0.25mg.g diet),
high-Ca(10.4mg/g diet) and high-P(12.0mg/g diet) diet exhibited
auricular and facial peripheral hyperemia and hemorrhage. Then we
used the low-Mg, High-Ca and high-P diet to investigate the
effects of the fructooligosaccharides (FO) on absorption of Mg
and skin inflammation. In the rats fed FO-containing (1 or 5%)
diet, apparent absorption of Mg was significantly increased as
compared with that of the control (FO 0%) group. In the rats fed
a 5% FO-containing diet and sufficient Mg (0.50 mg/g), auricular
and facial peripheral hyperemia and hemorrhage were significantly
reduced. We concluded that FO increased the Mg absorption in rats
fed a low-Mg, high-Ca and high-P diet. Moreover, FO reduced
inflammation in Mg-deficient rats, such as peripheral hyperemia
and hemorrhage.
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[4] Effects of
Fructooligosaccharides on the absorption of Iron, Calcium and
Magnesium in Iron-deficient Anemic Rats.
Atsutane OHTA, Masako OHTSUKI, Seigo BABA, Toshio
TAKIZAWA, Takashi ADACHI and Shuichi KIMURA
Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology Vol. 41,
281-291 (1995)
We investigated the effects of fructooligosaccharides
(FO)-feeding on the absorption of iron (Fe), calcium (Ca) and
magnesium (Mg) and on the biochemical parameters in Fe-deficient
anemic rats. Fe-deficient anemic rats were made by feeding an
Fe-deficient diet for 3 weeks. Then these Fe-deficient rats were
fed an experimental diet that contained one of two levels of Fe
(15 or 30 mg/kg diet), in the form of ferric pyrophosphate, and
one of two levels of FO( 0 or 50g/kg diet) for 2 weeks. After the
rats were fed these experimental diets, FO-feeding increased the
hemoglobin regeneration efficiency during the first week. Also,
the apparent absorption of Fe was increased by FO-feeding. The
levels of Fe in the diet did not affect the absorption of Ca and
Mg. However, FO-feeding increased the absorption of Ca and Mg .
FO-feeding lowered the pH and raised the solubility of Fe, Ca and
Mg in the cecal contents, suggesting that those increasing
effects of FO-feeding on absorption of these minerals is
correlated with fermentation of FO in the large intestine,
namely, the cecum and colon. We concluded that FO-feeding
improved recovery from anemia and increased the absorption of Fe,
Ca and Mg in Fe-deficient anemic rats.
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[5] Calcium and Magnesium
Absorption from the Colon and Rectum Are Increased in Rats Fed
Fructooligosaccharides.
Atsutane OHTA, Masako OHTSUKI, Seigo BABA, Takashi
ADACHI, Takashi SAKATA, Ei SAKAGUTI
Journal of Nutrition Vol. 125, 2417-2424 (1995)
We investigated the effects of fructooligosaccharides (FO) on
the absorption of Ca, Mg and water from the colon and rectum of
rats, using chromium-mordanted cellulose as an unabsorbable
marker to calculate apparent absorption of Ca and Mg. There was a
positive correlation (r=0.982, P<0.001 in rats fed control
diet, r=0.975, p<0.001 in rats fed FO-containing diet) between
the amount of Cr and the dry weight of each fecal pellet in the
colon and rectum. Ratios of Ca to Cr and Mg to Cr in fecal
pellets in the colon and rectum were calibrated from Ca to Cr and
Mg to Cr ratios of cecal contents. In rats fed the FO-containing
diet, but not in rats fed the control diet (FO-free), these
ratios were correlated with fractional length of transit (Lt)
along the colon and rectum indicating linear disappearance of Ca
and Mg during the colo-rectal passage. Total apparent absorption
of Ca and Mg, predicted from regression equations with Ca to Cr
and Mg to Cr ratios of cecal contents, agreed well with those
calculated from Ca to Cr and Mg to Cr ratios of feces. FO-feeding
did not affect net water absorption from the colon and rectum.
The above results indicated that FO increased significantly Ca
and Mg absorption, respectively, and that indigestive and
fermentable carbohydrate facilitates colo-rectal absorption of Ca
and Mg.
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[6] Prevention of coprophagy
modified magnesium absorption in rats fed
fructooligosaccharides.
Atsutane OHTA, Seigo BABA, Masako OHTSUKI, Adusa
TAGUTHI and Hiroshi HARA
British Journal of Nutrition (in press)
We developed a new type of anal cup for prevention of
coprophagy to determine whether the absorption of calcium (Ca)
and magnesium (Mg) and the stimulatory effects of feeding
fructooligosaccharides (FO) on the absorption of Ca and Mg are
altered by prevention of coprophagy in rats. Rats were fed on
FO-free diet or 5% FO-containing diet for 2 weeks with or without
prevention of coprophagy. FO-feeding increased the apparent
absorptive ratio of Ca and Mg in rats with or without prevention
of coprophagy. However, in the FO-fed groups, the absorptive
ratio of Mg in rats with prevention of coprophagy was higher than
in rats without prevention of coprophagy. The Ca content of the
femur was higher in rats fed FO-diet than in rats fed FO-free
diet both with and without coprophagy. In conclusion, FO-feeding
increased the absorption of Ca and Mg in rats both with and
without coprophagy. Moreover, prevention of coprophagy enhanced
the absorption of Mg in rats fed FO. Coprophagy has to be
considered when the effects of luminal fermentation or mineral
absorption are examined in rats.
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[7] Fructooligosaccharides
Stimulate the Absorption of Magnesium from the Hindgut in
Rats.
Seigo BABA, Atsutane OHTA, Masako OHTSUKI,
Toshio TAKIZAWA, Takashi ADACHI and Hiroshi HARA
Nutrition Research (in press)
We investigated the effects of feeding
fructooligosaccharides(FO) on the absorption of Mg from the
hindgut in cecal-cannulated rats in vivo. Male rats, four wks
old, were divided into four groups. Rats in two groups were fed
Mg-containing diet and the other two groups were fed Mg-free diet
with cecal infusion of Mg. Rats of both groups were fed FO-free
or FO-containing diet, respectively. The absorptive ratio of Mg
administrated into the cecum was similar to that of Mg fed orally
in rats fed FO-free and FO-containing diet respectively.
FO-feeding significantly increased the apparent absorption of Mg
in both rats fed Mg orally and rats infused Mg into the cecum.
Moreover, the extent of the increase in the absorption of Mg by
infusion into the cecum and by oral feeding was same. In a
separate experiment, we observed that only the rats fed Mg-free
diet exhibited auricular and facial peripheral hyperemia and
hemorrhage. However such symptoms were not observed in rats with
Mg infused into the cecum. In conclusion, these results indicate
that FO-feeding stimulates absorption of Mg mainly in the
hindgut.
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FOS Ordering Information
In Japan, FOS is available in commercial quantities
from:
Meiji Seika Kaisha LTD.
In the U.S.A. it is available from:
Golden Technologies Inc.,
1660 School St.,
Moraga, CA 94556.
Tel: (510) 376-8200
In Europe, FOS is available from:
Beghin-Meiji Industries,
14, Bd du General Leclerc,
F 92572 Neuilly sur Seine Cedex,
FRANCE
Tel. (33-1)41 43 11 36
Fax: (33-1)41 43 13 02
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Address for ordering reprints or
for making scientific inquiries:
Atsutane OHTA
Meiji Seika Kaisha, Ltd.
Bioscience Laboratories
5-3-1 Chiyoda,
Sakado-Shi Saitama 350-02,
JAPAN
Phone : (81)492-84-7597
Fax : (81)492-84-7569
e-mail : MSC00130@niftyserve.or.jp
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This page was first uploaded to The Magnesium Web Site on
November 16, 1995
http://www.mgwater.com/
Healthy Water
Association--USA