3.3. 16S rRNA Gene Metagenomic Analysis of Intestinal Microbiota before and after Kestose Ingestion
The 16S rRNA metagenomic analysis was performed for the 0- and 8-week stool samples from the kestose group and for the 0-week sample from the maltose group. Mean (±standard error) total numbers of reads analyzed at 0 and 8 weeks from the kestose group and 0 weeks from the maltose group were 28,416 ± 937, 29,984 ± 1210, and 28,655 ± 633, respectively. Shannon’s alpha diversity index (25–75%) calculated from the number of species reads was 2.60 (2.40–2.86), 2.71 (2.57–2.89), and 2.67 (2.49–2.89), respectively. No significant differences were identified in either case. Relative abundance ratios of each bacterial genus, calculated from the number of reads, are shown for the 16 bacterial genera that had a median relative abundance ratio of at least 0.5% at either time point. Group comparisons of occupancy between the kestose and maltose groups at 0 weeks showed no significant differences in any bacterial genera. Results for the 0- and 8-week samples from the kestose group are shown in 