What’s the Latest in Prebiotic Research? – December 2023 Edition
Effects of Synbiotic Supplementation on Metabolic Syndrome Traits and Gut Microbial Profile among Overweight and Obese Hong Kong Chinese Individuals: A Randomized Trial
Obesity has increased in prevalence among Chinese adults in the past decade. Scientific evidence shows that obese individuals harbor distinct gut microbiota compared with lean counterparts, indicating that targeting the gut microbiota to reduce energy harvest from diet may be a promising approach to obesity treatment. This randomized, open-label, parallel-design clinical trial assessed metabolic syndrome traits and fecal gut microbiota profiling in obese Hong Kong Chinese individuals after dietary intervention with an 8-week increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and/or synbiotic consumption. Fifty-five overweight or obese individuals were randomized to a synbiotic group (SG), receiving a formulation containing a prebiotic (1.7 g of polydextrose) and two probiotics (5×109 colony forming units (CFU) of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and 5×109 CFU of Bifidobacterium lactis HN019), a dietary intervention group (DG), and a group receiving combined interventions (DSG). DSG had the greatest weight loss effects with several significant differences in clinical parameters, including a decrease in fasting glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglycerides, and an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. This study showed that increasing dietary fiber consumption from fruits and vegetables combined with synbiotic supplementation in obese and overweight Hong Kong Chinese individuals is more effective than either approach alone. As such, these findings contribute to understanding the role of the gut microbiota and dietary interventions in managing obesity and the metabolic syndrome, particularly in the Chinese population in Hong Kong.
Key takeaways:
- The synergistic action of weight loss diet containing high content of fruits and vegetables with synbiotic supplementation may be more effective in improving metabolic health and reducing obesity-related parameters compared to individual interventions.
- The study provides valuable insights into the potential of synbiotic supplementation and dietary interventions in modulating metabolic syndrome traits and the gut microbiota in overweight and obese Chinese individuals.
- Future studies may include a placebo group to determine whether the analyzed parameters would undergo modifications without any intervention.
Access the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37836532/
Reference: Lauw, S., Kei, N., Chan, P. L., Yau, T. K., Ma, K. L., Szeto, C. Y. Y., Lin, J. S., Wong, S. H., Cheung, P. C. K., & Kwan, H. S. (2023). Effects of Synbiotic Supplementation on Metabolic Syndrome Traits and Gut Microbial Profile among Overweight and Obese Hong Kong Chinese Individuals: A Randomized Trial. Nutrients, 15(19), 4248. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15194248
Effects of 24-week prebiotic intervention on self-reported upper respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, and markers of immunity in elite rugby union players
Elite rugby union players are highly susceptible to upper respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses due to the physiological and psychological stressors they experience in their careers. Upper respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses affect the players’ training and competitive performance. As such, this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of 24-week prebiotic supplementation on the severity, duration, and incidence of upper respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, and immune function markers (salivary immunoglobulin A (sIgA), plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)) in elite rugby union players during a competitive season. Thirty-three rugby players randomly received either 2.8 g/day galactooligosaccharides (GOS; prebiotic) or 2.8 g/day maltodextrin (placebo) for 168 days and completed daily and weekly questionnaires reporting their upper respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. Blood and saliva samples were also collected at various time points to assess immune function markers. The prebiotic group experienced a two-day reduction in upper respiratory symptom duration and lower gastrointestinal symptom severity and incidence compared to the placebo group. Furthermore, sIgA secretion was 42% higher in the prebiotic group compared to the placebo at day 168. Therefore, this study suggests that seasonal prebiotic interventions may be beneficial for decreasing respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses in elite rugby union players, enhancing their training and competing availability.
Key takeaways:
- Elite athletes are susceptible to upper respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms, impacting their training availability and competitive performance.
- Dietary prebiotic supplementation can decrease the duration of upper respiratory symptoms by two days and improve the incidence and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms in elite athletes.
- Prebiotics may be used due to their immune function modulation potential and illness management in elite athletes, maintaining their health and performance for training and competition.
Access the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37331347/
Reference: Parker, C., Hunter, K. A., Johnson, M. A., Sharpe, G. R., Gibson, G. R., Walton, G. E., Poveda, C., Cousins, B., & Williams, N. C. (2023). Effects of 24-week prebiotic intervention on self-reported upper respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, and markers of immunity in elite rugby union players. European journal of sport science, 23(11), 2232–2239. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2023.2216657
Alterations of milk oligosaccharides in mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus impede colonization of beneficial bacteria and development of RORγt+ Treg cell-mediated immune tolerance in neonates
Gastrointestinal diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a glucose tolerance impairment that is commonly diagnosed during pregnancy and affects approximately 5-20% of pregnancies. GDM affects both the mother and the offspring, significantly increasing the risk of early allergic diseases in children. This study compared total and specific human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in the colostrum of healthy Chinese mothers and GDM Chinese mothers as well as fecal samples of their breast-fed infants. Additionally, it investigated how GDM affects the development of beneficial gut bacteria and regulatory T (Treg) cell-mediated immune tolerance associated with the retinoid acid receptor (RAR)-related orphan receptor gamma (RORγt+) in mice offspring. The study revealed significantly lower levels of total and specific HMOs in the colostrum of GDM mothers compared to healthy mothers, which significantly delayed colonization of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp. in their breast-fed infants, resulting in a distinct gut microbial structure and metabolome. In vitro experiments in GDM mouse models showed a decreased content of milk oligosaccharides, mainly 3’-sialyllactose (3’-SL), was proportional to reduced colonization of bacteria in the neonatal gut, which consequently impeded the development of RORγt+ Treg cell-mediated immune tolerance. As such, the study concluded that GDM alters the composition of milk oligosaccharides, leading to delayed colonization of beneficial gut bacteria and impaired immune tolerance in neonates. This study provides new insights into gut microbiota and immune tolerance development in GDM newborns.
Key takeaways:
- GDM is an increasing public health concern, significantly increasing the risk of early childhood allergic diseases.
- The study investigated the impact of GDM on neonatal gut microbiota and immune development.
- The study found that alteration of milk oligosaccharides in GDM mothers impedes the development of beneficial gut bacteria and RORγt+ Treg cell-mediated immune tolerance in their offspring.
Access to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37741825/
Reference: Li, X., Ning, X., Rui, B., Wang, Y., Lei, Z., Yu, D., Liu, F., Deng, Y., Yuan, J., Li, W., Yan, J., & Li, M. (2023). Alterations of milk oligosaccharides in mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus impede colonization of beneficial bacteria and development of RORγt+ Treg cell-mediated immune tolerance in neonates. Gut microbes, 15(2), 2256749. https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2023.2256749
Efficacy and Safety of Synbiotics in Patients Undergoing Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Randomized, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled Pilot Study
Malignant lymphoma, the most common hematological malignancy in Japan, has novel treatment options, including high-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) as one of the most effective. However, patients undergoing auto-HSCT frequently experience therapy-related toxicities, specifically gastrointestinal symptoms. As such, synbiotics may relieve nutritional and gastrointestinal problems experienced by the patients. This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot study assessed the efficacy and safety of synbiotics in patients undergoing auto-HSCT. Twelve patients with malignant lymphoma scheduled for auto-HSCT were enrolled and randomly administered either one package of the synbiotic supplement (5×109 CFU Bifidobacterium longum (BB536) and 5.0 g guar gum) or the placebo (5.6 g dextrin) twice daily from the start of conditioning chemotherapy up to 28 days after auto-HSCT. The primary endpoint was the duration of total parenteral nutrition (TPN). No significant difference was observed in the duration of TPN administration between the synbiotic and placebo groups, with a median duration of TPN at 15 (12-33) days in the synbiotic group and 17.5 (range 0-32) days in the placebo group. The median duration of grade ≥3 diarrhea was shorter in the synbiotic group than in the placebo group (2.5 vs. 6.5 days), as was the duration of hospital stay (31.5 vs. 43 days) and the oral intake and quality of life regarding diarrhea and anorexia improved in the synbiotic group after engraftment. From these results, it can be concluded that synbiotics may reduce gastrointestinal toxicity, improving nutritional problems and the quality of life in patients undergoing auto-HSCT.
Key takeaways:
- Auto-HSCT, one of the most effective therapies for hematological malignancy, causes therapy-related toxicities, including gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Synbiotics may help resolve nutritional and gastrointestinal problems experienced by patients undergoing auto-HSCN.
- This study showed that prophylactic use of synbiotics is safe and may reduce the duration of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea, improve life quality related to diarrhea, anorexia, and oral intake, and shorten hospital stays in patients undergoing auto-HSCT.
- Further studies with larger subject groups are needed to validate the effects of synbiotics in patients undergoing auto-HSCT.
Access to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36792187/
Reference: Mizutani, Y., Kawamoto, S., Takahashi, M., Doi, H., Wakida, K., Tabuchi, S., Tanda, M., Soga, A., Chijiki, R., Takakura, H., Kawaguchi, K., Higashime, A., Watanabe, M., Ichikawa, H., Matsumoto, S., Sakai, R., Goto, H., Kurata, K., Kakiuchi, S., Miyata, Y., … Minami, H. (2023). Efficacy and Safety of Synbiotics in Patients Undergoing Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Randomized, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled Pilot Study. Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan), 62(20), 2949–2958. https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.1314-22