Table 2 Effect of age and inulin intake and their interaction on cecum fermentation parameters and cecal Ca and Mg levels in rats

6.92 ± 0.24

6.87 ± 0.17

6.72 ± 0.58

6.62 ± 0.31

5.71 ± 0.58

5.41 ± 0.22

5.64 ± 0.37

5.57 ± 0.22

<0.0001

NS

NS

2.20 ± 0.35

2.34 ± 0.68

2.53 ± 0.97

2.86 ± 0.74

6.18 ± 1.68

6.46 ± 1.57

7.09 ± 2.31

7.10 ± 1.91

<0.0001

NS

NS

0.87 ± 0.07

1.11 ± 0.22

1.32 ± 0.29

1.25 ± 0.15

1.80 ± 0.37

2.32 ± 0.29

2.51 ± 0.39

2.46 ± 0.30

<0.0001

NS

NS

22.4 ± 6.3

24.5 ± 9.4

24.4 ± 11.8

28.0 ± 8.5

49.2 ± 22.3

70.4 ± 16.7

54.3 ± 17.3

63.5 ± 11.4

<0.0001

0.033

NS

5.49 ± 1.48

6.31 ± 2.20

5.11 ± 2.10

6.11 ± 1.72

15.56 ± 12.29

12.84 ± 5.04

9.96 ± 4.86

11.26 ± 3.92

<0.0001

NS

NS

9.90 ± 2.70

8.63 ± 3.10

6.37 ± 2.78

8.01 ± 3.38

48.13 ± 25.12

69.51 ± 32.50

39.98 ± 18.42

43.15 ± 8.63

<0.0001

0.018

0.037

37.8 ± 9.1

39.5 ± 13.5

35.9 ± 15.9

42.2 ± 12.6

112.9 ± 50.8

152.8 ± 40.0

104.2 ± 27.7

117.9 ± 17.3

<0.0001

0.024

0.049