Molecular properties and gut health benefits of enzyme-hydrolyzed konjac glucomannans

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) with a molecular weight (MW) of 823.4 kDa was partially degraded by endo-1,4-β-mannanase. Two hydrolyzed KGM fractions (KGM-M-1: 147.2 kDa and KGM-M-2: 21.5 kDa) were characterized and applied to the animal tests in comparison with the native KGM. After oral feeding to the mice, KGM-M-1 and KGM-M-2 significantly increased the levels of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the colonic contents and the native KGM increased...