Table 2.
Faecal characteristics
| Parameter | Group | Basal period | Inulin period | Washout period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faecal pH | I (n = 10) | 6.8 ± 0.5 | 6.7 ± 0.6 | 6.9 ± 0.7 |
| II (n = 9) | 6.8 ± 0.6 | 6.3 ± 0.5* | 6.6 ± 0.4 | |
| III (n = 9) | 6.7 ± 0.7 | 5.9 ± 0.3* | 6.4 ± 0.6 | |
| IV (n = 8) | 7.1 ± 0.6 | 7.2 ± 0.4 | 7.4 ± 0.5 | |
| Defecation frequency (per day) | I (n = 10) | 1.07 ± 0.25 | 1.13 ± 0.25 | 1.33 ± 0.15 |
| II (n = 9) | 1.28 ± 0.13 | 1.22 ± 0.18 | 1.17 ± 0.17 | |
| III (n = 9) | 1.56 ± 0.17 | 1.48 ± 0.15 | 1.52 ± 0.15 | |
| IV (n = 8) | 1.11 ± 0.19 | 1.12 ± 0.20 | 1.19 ± 0.23 | |
| Faecal mass (g/day) | I (n = 10) | 43.9 ± 12.8 | 55.8 ± 14.8 | 57.2 ± 12.8 |
| II (n = 9) | 44.2 ± 11.6 | 49.7 ± 13.8 | 48.5 ± 10.6 | |
| III (n = 9) | 54.3 ± 14.1 | 58.0 ± 11.4 | 51.3 ± 14.1 | |
| IV (n = 8) | 44.1 ± 12.9 | 44.2 ± 12.7 | 44.4 ± 12.6 | |
| Faecal consistency | I (n = 10) | 2.9 ± 3.7 | 2.4 ± 3.9 | 2.8 ± 4.2 |
| [scored from 1: watery–5: hard pellets ] | II (n = 9) | 2.3 ± 2.6 | 2.0 ± 2.7 | 1.9 ± 3.2 |
| III (n = 9) | 2.6 ± 4.2 | 2.1 ± 3.7 | 2.2 ± 4.2 | |
| IV (n = 8) | 2.7 ± 3.8 | 2.8 ± 3.6 | 2.6 ± 3.9 |
Group I: 0.75 g/d of inulin during supplementation, Group II: 1.00 g/d of inulin; Group III: 1.25 g/d of inulin. Group IV: 0 g/d of inulin. All data are given as the average ± SD. *Significant changes as compared to basal period (p<0.05) during inulin supplementation.