1. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2010 Nov;13(6):722-8.

Potential interest of gut microbial changes induced by non-digestible
carbohydrates of wheat in the management of obesity and related disorders.

Neyrinck AM, Delzenne NM.

Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute,
Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. audrey.neyrinck@uclouvain.be

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The modulation of the gut microbiota by nutrients is of
interest in order to reverse host metabolic alterations linked to gut microbiota 
dysbiosis. This review discusses how nondigestible carbohydrates (NDC) derived
from wheat may constitute functional cereal food products in the management of
obesity and diabetes, notably through modulation of gut microbiota.
RECENT FINDINGS: Recent evidences highlighted that alterations in the composition
of the gut microbiota participate in the development of obesity. Interesting
nutrients that target specific gut microbes (prebiotics) are able to reverse host
metabolic alterations linked to gut microbiota dysbiosis in obese individuals.
Recent data suggest that NDC prepared from wheat represent a new class of
nutrients exhibiting prebiotic properties.
SUMMARY: Processing technologies of wheat grain lead to production of original
NDC characterized by specific degree of polymerization and degree of
substitution. Those characteristics condition the gut compartment where
fermentation occurs, the changes of bacteria composition and the proportion of
bacterial metabolites (i.e., short-chain fatty acids) released in the gut.
Scientists may take into consideration a key question: could we help control
obesity and type 2 diabetes through the modulation of gut bacterial metabolism
and/or composition by wheat-derived NDC? This opens up an original area in
nutrition research.


PMID: 20823777 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]