Jerusalem artichoke (JA) mainly consists of inulin. In many experimental studies, inulin has been shown to be beneficial for decreasing glucose level. Therefore, JA is lately attracting wide attention as an anti-diabetic food. Therefore, many patients ingest JA in extract form. However, there are no published clinical studies in patients with diabetes to demonstrate benefit from the use of inulin-type fructans. We experienced a diabetes inpatient with acute hyperglycemia associated with JA. We could not control the patient's blood glucose in spite of addition and increment of insulin. We found that she had taken extracts of JA and recommended cessation. After discontinuing JA extracts, her blood glucose was well controlled in spite of discontinuation of insulin. Thus, in this patient, JA had actually increased blood glucose. We suggest that JA may be dangerous for use in diabetic patients.
Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Fructans ; Glucose ; Helianthus* ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia* ; Inpatients ; Insulin ; Inulin

OBJECTIVETo study the polysaccharide of Condonopsis pilosula.

METHODThe polysaccharide, CPP-1, was purified by DE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-200 gel column chromatography. Purity and molecular weight of the polysaccharide were determined by gel permeation chromatography. Methylation analysis, periodate oxidation and degradation, IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR methods were adopted to elucidate the chemical structure.

RESULTThe molecular weight of CPP-1 was estimated to be 7.5 x 10(4), and the structure of CPP-1 was a beta-(2 --> 1) linked beta-D-fructosan.

CONCLUSIONCPP-1 was a neutral homosaccharide.

Codonopsis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fructans ; chemistry

AIMTo study the physicochemical properties and the structure of Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharide (AbPS).

METHODSAbPS was isolated from the roots of Achyranthes bidentata Bl., and purified by gel filtration chromatography. The distribution of the molecular weight of AbPS was determined by ESI-MS. The structure of AbPS was deduced by methylation analysis, reductive-cleavage and 13CNMR spectroscopy.

RESULTSAbPS was shown to compose of fructose residues and glucose residues and the molar ratio was 8:1. AbPS contain 2,1-linked fructose residue, 2,1-linked fructose residue, 1,2,6-linked fructose residue, terminal fructose residue and terminal glucose residue.

CONCLUSIONAbPS is a fructan and belong to graminan.

Achyranthes ; chemistry ; Fructans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Methylation ; Molecular Structure ; Molecular Weight ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

There is growing interest in using food choice/dietary change to influence clinical outcomes in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The low fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) diet is an evidence-based approach that is gaining popularity in many Western countries. The low FODMAP diet is based on restricting dietary intake of short chain carbohydrates that are slowly absorbed or indigestible and not absorbed during passage through the small intestine. These are collectively described as "FODMAPs" and comprise oligosaccharides (mostly fructans, galacto-oligosaccharides), sugar polyols, fructose in excess of glucose, and lactose in lactose malabsorbers. The general strategy of the diet is to avoid foods high in FODMAPs and replace them with foods low in FODMAPs, with long-term restriction limited to what is required to control symptoms. The likely mechanism of action is minimisation of the stimulation of mechanoreceptors exerted by distension of the intestinal lumen with water from osmotic effects and gases from bacterial fermentation in those with visceral hypersensitivity. The success of this dietary approach greatly depends on detailed knowledge about the FODMAP composition of food commonly consumed in that country. While the content of foods associated with East and Southeast Asian cuisines has not been fully explored, major high FODMAP sources are frequently used and include onion, garlic, shallots, legumes/pulses, and wheat-based products. Thus, this dietary approach holds great promise in treating IBS patients in East and Southeast Asia. The aim of this review is to highlight how the diet is implemented, its efficacy, and troublesome ingredients frequently used in Asian dishes.
Asia ; Asia, Southeastern* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carbohydrates ; Diet* ; Fermentation ; Fructans ; Fructose ; Garlic ; Gases ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Intestine, Small ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Lactose ; Mechanoreceptors ; Oligosaccharides ; Onions ; Shallots ; Water

BACKGROUND: Plasma clearance of iohexol (Omnipaque(r)) which used widely in radiologic procedure is considered as useful method for estimation of GFR because iohexol is neither reabsorbed nor secreted from tubule after filtered as inulin and its extrarenal clearance is negligible. Plasma clearance of iohexol can be calculated from two compartment model or one compartment model with Brochner-Mortensen (B-M) modification which convenient and reliable. But there were controversies about sufficient sampling numbers and times for B-M modification of iohexol clearance. METHODS: Nineteen healthy Korean without renal disease underwent measurement of iohexol clearance. Iohexol was given as a single iv dose, and 14 blood sample were drawn up to 300 min. A reference GFR was iohexol clearance calculated from two-compartment model using 14 samples (CL-T). From 8, 3 and 2 samples clearances were calculated by B-M modification (CL-M8, 3 and 2 respectively). The accuracy of estimates was evaluated as percent of estimates falling within 10% above or below the reference GFR. Accuracy of CCr and equations for GFR estimation were also compared. RESULTS: CL-T, CL-M8, CL-M3 and CL-M2 were not different (101.9+/-24.0, 101.9+/-18.7, 101.7+/-18.6, 101.9+/-19.5 mL/min/1.73 m2 respectively). Accuracy of CL-M8, 3 and 2 were not different (74%, 84% and 79% respectively, p>0.05). MDRD equation had higher accuracy (47%) compared with other equations. CONCIUSION: These results indicate that sampling number for measuring iohexol plasma clearance using simplified method might be reduced to only two without accuracy loss in Korean without renal disease.
Inulin ; Iohexol* ; Plasma*

Objectives: Probiotic supplementation often only leads to transient improvement in the gut microbiome. Potential prebiotics, such as the oligosaccharide-rich varieties of Dioscorea esculenta tubers, can potentially bridge the gap between supplementation and persistent colonization. Thus, this study aimed to assess the ability of D. esculenta tubers to promote the growth of probiotic Lactobacillus sp. in vitro selectively.

Methods: The prebiotic activity of the selected varieties of Dioscorea esculenta tubers was evaluated via compe titive growth assay, wherein the ratios of probiotic Lactobacillus sp. over enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) or "prebiotic ratios" were compared following treatment.

Results: Negative control (0.9% NaCl solution) produced a ratio of 0.88, Lowland and Highland varieties produced ratios of 1.26 and 1.29, respectively, and positive control (inulin) produced 1.54. The two varieties had comparable ratios to one another (p > 0.05), and significantly higher ratios than the negative control (p < 0.05). Both varieties have significant prebiotic activity. Compared to inulin, the two varieties' prebiotic activity was 84% as effective.

Conclusion: Overall, the tubers promoted the growth of Lactobacillus sp. over ETEC. The crude tuber samples, given their availability and affordability, can be easily integrated into the local diet to contribute to the improvement of the general population's health.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli ; Inulin ; Lactobacillus ; Prebiotics

The idea of body compartments has its origins in physiology and antedates their use in both physiologically-based predictive pharmacokinetic models and in the simpler compartmental models used to analyze pharmacokinetic data. Whereas physiologically-based pharmacokinetics has evolved to use increasingly sophisticated organ-based models, most compartmental models for data analysis are used without regard for their underlying physiological basis. However, detailed analysis of inulin and urea kinetics has offered some understanding of the physiological basis underlying some three-compartment pharmacokinetic models. In addition, these simple models have yielded new insight into physiological phenomena.
Inulin ; Kinetics ; Pharmacokinetics ; Physiological Phenomena ; Physiology ; Statistics as Topic ; Urea

Some authors have claimed that the endogenous creatinine chromogen clearance method may profitable be used in the measurement of glomerular filtration rate which is usually represented by inulin clearance method (Popper and Mandel, Popper Mandel and Mayer, Findley, Goudsmit, Hayman, Halsted and Seyler, Steinitz and Turkand). The obvious advantages of using the of the former are: it does not require continuous intravenous infusion, frequent withdrawal of blood, and elaborate analytical procedures. In the work presented here, whole blood creatinine concentration in 167 cases and endogenous blood creatinine clearance in 155 cases and both plasma creatinine concentration and endogenous plasma creatinine clearance in 41 cases, of the normal Korean subjects were determined. Also in a group of 13 cases 74 endogenous blood creatinine clearance tests were performed repeatedly during the period of two to seven days.
Creatinine* ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Inulin ; Plasma

Applying the constant infusion method for eight males, series of three or four clearance periods for each subject were followed by the measurement of Inulin space. The subjects had lower hematocrit values ranging between 20.4 and 43.0%. They gave frequent blood donations over several years and were in a state of chronic post-hemorrhagic anemia. Inulin in plasma and urine was treated with the resorcinol method. The following results were obtained. 1. Subjects with lower hematocrit value showed lower value of renal inulin clearance. Both of them correlated each other . 2. Subjects with the hematocrit value of less than 30% showed a renal clearance value of 89ml/ min/1.73 square meter. 3. Inulin space also had correlation with the hematocrit value. Inulin clearance was great with the subject whose inulin space had expanded.
Anemia ; Blood Donors ; Hematocrit ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Inulin* ; Male ; Plasma

As a type of prebiotics and dietary fiber, inulin performs plenty of significant physiological functions and is applied in food and pharmaceutical fields. Inulosucrase from microorganisms can use sucrose as the substrate to synthesize inulin possessing higher molecular weight than that from plants. In this work, a hypothetical gene coding inulosucrase was selected from the GenBank database. The catalytic domain was remained by N- and C- truncation strategies, constructing the recombinant plasmid. The recombinant plasmid was expressed in E. coli expression system, and after purifying the crude enzyme by Ni²⁺ affinity chromatography, a recombinant enzyme with a molecular weight of approximately 65 kDa was obtained. The optimal pH and temperature of the recombinant enzyme were 5.5 and 45 °C, respectively, when sucrose was used as the sole substrate. The activity of this enzyme was inhibited by various metal ions at different degrees. After purifying the produced polysaccharide, nuclear magnetic resonance analysis was used to determine that the polysaccharide was inulin connected by β-(2,1) linkages. Finally, the conditions for the production of inulin were optimized. The results showed that the inulin production reached the maximum, approximately 287 g/L after 7 h, when sucrose concentration and enzyme dosage were 700 g/L and 4 U/mL, respectively. The conversion rate from sucrose to inulin was approximately 41%.
Escherichia coli/genetics* ; Hexosyltransferases/genetics* ; Inulin ; Oligosaccharides ; Sucrose