Table 1 Faecal bacterial counts (log cfu/g wet weight) and pH in elderly healthy volunteers during basal (2 wks), scFOS (4 wks) and follow-up (4 wks) periods (n = 12, mean ± SEM)

Bifidobacteria

8.52 ± 0.26

9.17 ± 0.17^a

8.37 ± 0.21

Total anaerobes

10.09 ± 0.07

10.22 ± 0.06^b

9.94 ± 0.09

Clostridium

3.25 ± 0.25

3.45 ± 0.26^b

4.29 ± 0.30^c

Enterobacteria

7.69 ± 0.21

7.45 ± 0.28

7.48 ± 0.24

PH

6.57 ± 0.10

6.32 ± 0.10

6.26 ± 0.07