Pilot Study of the Effect of Fructans on Fermentation in the Colon & Transit

Exclusion Criteria

• •Unable to abstain from smoking for the duration of the study (may affect breath hydrogen readings)
• •Self-declared vegetarian, vegan or kosher/ halal diet who cannot eat carmine red dye
• •Pregnancy declared by candidate
• •Female patients during their menstrual period
• •History declared by the candidate of pre-existing gastrointestinal disorder, including but not limited to:
• •Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• •Coeliac Disease
• •Pancreatitis
• •Gallstone disease (biliary colic, cholecystitis)
• •Diverticulitis
• •Cancer of the gastrointestinal tract
• •Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• •Reported history of previous resection of any part of the gastrointestinal tract other than appendix or gallbladder
• •Intestinal stoma
• •Any medical condition making participation potentially compromising participation in the study e.g. diabetes mellitus, respiratory disease limiting ability to lie in the scanner
• •Contraindications for MRI scanning i.e. metallic implants, pacemakers, history of metallic foreign body in eye(s) and penetrating eye injury
• •Reported alcohol dependence
• •Antibiotic or probiotic treatment in the past 4 weeks
• •Inability to lie flat or exceed scanner limits of weight \<120kg
• •Poor understanding of English language
• •Participation in night shift work the week prior to the study day. Night work is defined as working between midnight and 6.00 AM
• •Strenuous exercise greater than 10 hours per week (i.e. no competition training the week prior to the study).
• •Participation in any medical trials for the past 3 months
• •Anyone who in the opinion of the investigator is unlikely to be able to comply with the protocol e.g. cognitive dysfunction, chaotic lifestyle related to substance abuse