Influence of viscosity on human intestinal microbiota growth under simulated physiological conditions

Abstract

We studied whether viscosity influence gut microbiota growth by supplementing the medium with bacteriological agar. Depending on the species, the bacteria growth is different; also bacteria changed the medium, even keeping constant GNM conditions (temperature and pH). Along the gastrointestinal tract, there is a constant change in viscosity that is not usually taken into account. We believe that these changes need to be characterized not only for nutrients diffusion but also for gut microbial developing. Viscosity has to be taken into account for improving in vitro studies where for example fibre ingredients are involved. Additionally, from the small intestine till the descending colon water is being absorbed, then viscosity is changing in an increase fashion, as it is influencing in different growth of bacteria species, it is a key factor to approximate to the reality the gut in vitro systems.