Prebiotic Properties of Epilactose

Numbers of total (A) anaerobes, (B) lactobacilli, and (C) bifidobacteria in the cecal contents of rats fed the control (Con), lactose (Lac), epilactose (Epi), or fructooligosaccharide (FOS) diet. Quantification of total anaerobes was done by a culture method, whereas quantification of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria was done by real-time PCR. Numbers of total anaerobes, lactobacilli, and bifidobacteria are shown as logarithmic colony-forming units per gram and logarithmic copies per gram, respectively. Different letters show significant differences among the groups.

Time course of plasma glucose concentrations in ddY mice after oral administration of epilactose (open circles) or lactose (filled circles). Female ddY mice were orally administered 0.15mmol of epilactose or lactose dissolved in 200μL of tap water, and plasma glucose concentrations were determined 30, 60, and 120min after the administration. Asterisks show significant differences when compared with 0min.

Thin-layer chromatography profiles of cellobiose 2-epimerase (CE) products of (A) dairy milk and (B) permeate. Cow milk and permeate were treated with CE at 10°C for 1, 3, 5, and 10h. The chromatograms were developed by the anisaldehyde-sulfuric acid procedure. Lac=CE product of lactose. Arrows show the spots corresponding to epilactose.