The different health effects between
starch and whole flour from tubers are rarely studied. Here, we investigated the effects of cassava flour (CF), cassava
starch (CS), potato flour (PF), and potato
starch (PS) on gut health and gut microbiota of normal rats. Feed analysis showed that CF and PF diet provided significantly more slowly digestible and
resistant starch, less rapidly digestible
starch. Compared with rats fed with PS and CS diets, rats fed with PF and CF diets gained less
body weight and have tighter intestinal barrier.
Butyric acid contents were increased by tuber flours. CF and PF selectively promoted the relative abundance of Akkermansia and Eubacterium ruminantium in cecal and colonic content. In conclusion, tuber flour has intestinal protection,
body weight control, and gut microbiota improving ability compared with
starch. The different composition of
starch might be the basis for these effects.