1-Kestose is relatively abundant in onions and asparagus, and has a sweetness similar to sugar, but does not affect blood sugar levels and has a prebiotic effect (useful bacterial growth effect in the intestine). Is believed to be.In addition, it has been found that the selective growth effect on useful bacteria is higher than that of other prebiotic materials, and the effects such as improvement of atopic dermatitis symptoms and improvement of lipid metabolism have been shown.

　This time, the research group analyzed in detail the changes in the number of various intestinal bacteria due to 1-kestose intake and the amount of short-chain fatty acids produced by the intestinal bacteria.Specifically, rats were fed a diet containing 1, 0, 0.5, 1, and 2.5% of 5-kestose and bred for 4 weeks, and their body weight and intake were measured.Then, on the final day of the experiment, blood and cecal contents were ingested.

　As a result, there was no change in body weight and intake, but there was a significant increase in the cecal tissue weight and cecal content in the diet group containing 5-kestose with 1%.Bifidobacterium increased 5 times, especially in the diet group containing 1% 7000-kestose.Along with this, the amount of lactic acid and butyric acid in the cecal contents increased significantly by 2.5% or more, and in the diet group containing 5% 1-kestose, lactic acid was about 5 times and butyric acid was about 10 times. ..In addition, the blood insulin concentration was significantly decreased in the diet group containing 2.5-kestose of 1% or more.This indicates that insulin sensitivity has improved.

　From this, it was clarified that kestose increases insulin sensitivity by changing the intestinal environment.The results show that kestose has the potential to improve insulin resistance associated with obesity and prevent hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension as a food ingredient.