The influence of daily honey-sweetened yogurt intake on outcomes of low-grade inflammation and microbial metabolites in postmenopausal women
Yogurt is often sweetened with added sugars, which can negatively impact cardiometabolic health. Honey, rich in oligosaccharides and phenolics, makes a good alternative as a natural sweetener and contributes to the probiotic survivability of the yogurt itself. This study aimed to assess the impact of a yogurt sweetened with commercial clover blossom honey on pro-inflammatory Th17 cytokines and microbial-derived metabolites in healthy postmenopausal women. This single-blind, crossover, two-arm dietary intervention trial included healthy women (aged 45-65 years) with a body mass index (BMI) of 25–30 kg/m2. A total of 20 participants were instructed to consume either two servings of yogurt (150 g) sweetened with clover blossom honey or cane sugar for breakfast for four weeks. Anthropometric measurements, stool samples, blood samples, and blood pressure were measured before and after each study arm. Interleukin (IL)-33 was significantly reduced after four weeks of consuming honey-sweetened yogurt compared to sugar-sweetened yogurt. IL-23, plasma lipids, fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and plasma bile acids were not significantly changed after either dietary intervention. However, SCFA differences were larger amongst participants with high IL-6. Overall, the addition of clover blossom honey as a prebiotic source into yogurt represents an innovative approach to facilitate the incorporation of prebiotics and probiotics into everyday foods. Nonetheless, larger studies are needed to confirm these effects, particularly in populations with pre-existing gut dysbiosis.
Key Takeaways:
- Yogurt often contains added sugars, while honey can naturally sweeten and provide beneficial prebiotics like oligosaccharides and phenolic compounds.
- Adding honey had minimal metabolic and microbial impact in this relatively healthy population.
- Using honey as a prebiotic sweetener may be a practical strategy to replace added sugars while supporting probiotic functionality, though larger studies are needed to confirm.
Access the study: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/3/522
Chen, Y., Medici, V., Keen, C. L., & Holt, R. R. (2026). The Influence of Daily Honey-Sweetened Yogurt Intake on Outcomes of Low-Grade Inflammation and Microbial Metabolites in Postmenopausal Women. Nutrients, 18(3), 522. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18030522
Preliminary clinical study on the synergistic effects of prebiotics and β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate in improving muscle function and intestinal barrier function in elderly patients with sarcopenia
Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome characterized by reductions in skeletal muscle mass and strength, leading to increased risk of falls, fractures, disability, and mortality. This randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of prebiotics combined with β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) on muscle function, intestinal barrier integrity, and inflammation in elderly patients (age ≥ 65 years) with sarcopenia. A total of 78 elderly sarcopenic patients received a standard diet with either: A) HMB-supplement (1.5 g HMB-Ca) twice daily; B) HMB (1.5 g HMB-Ca) + fructooligosaccharides (FOS: 5 g) twice daily; or, C) standard diet alone (control) for 30 days. Muscle function, intestinal barrier markers, and inflammatory and nutritional markers were measured throughout the study duration. After intervention, skeletal muscle mass index and grip strength significantly improved in groups A and B, compared to the control. Markers of intestinal barrier function (serum diamine oxidase, D-lactic acid, and endotoxin) were significantly decreased in groups A and B compared to their respective pre-intervention levels, with group B having the most pronounced difference. Group B also demonstrated significant reductions in inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and systemic inflammatory index levels compared to control. Overall, the combination of FOS with HMB showed potential to reduce inflammation and improve intestinal barrier function and strength in elderly patients with sarcopenia.
Key Takeaways:
- Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome characterized by reductions in skeletal muscle mass and strength, significantly impacting quality of life.
- The combination of prebiotics and HMB may help improve gut barrier integrity and reduce inflammation among elderly sarcopenic patients.
Access the study: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12872658/
Reference: Zhuo, J., Han, T., Yang, N., Qu, Z., Li, Z., & Hong, F. (2026). Preliminary clinical study on the synergistic effects of prebiotics and β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate in improving muscle function and intestinal barrier function in elderly patients with sarcopenia. Aging clinical and experimental research, 38(1), 63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-025-03307-x
Inclusion of stabilised rice bran in ready-to-use therapeutic food supports growth in Indonesian children with severe and moderate acute malnutrition: solutions to enhance health with alternative treatments (SEHAT), a double-blinded, randomised clinical trial
Acute malnutrition currently affects 45 million children globally, increasing the risk of illness and mortality due to infectious diseases. This 16-week, two-arm, double-blinded, randomised controlled trial, aimed to determine the efficacy of ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) with a prebiotic compared to a RUTF alone in the treatment of acute malnutrition in children. A total of 200 children (aged 6-59 months) with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) or approaching SAM were included. Participants were randomized into either: 1) RUTF with no rice bran or 2) RUTF with 5% rice bran. The RUTF consisted of ingredients such as palm oil, whole and skim milk powder, peanut butter, sugar, whey protein concentrate, wheat and rice flour, a premix of vitamins and minerals, maltodextrin, and either vanilla or cocoa powder. Some ingredients were partially replaced in the RUTF and rice bran group. Weight, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), and anthropometric measures were assessed at various timepoints throughout the study. Children were also grouped into age groups given that based on microbiome maturity, they would respond differently to treatment. After four weeks, the group consuming RUTF and rice bran showed significant increases in weight gain and MUAC velocity compared to the group consuming RUTF alone. However, weight gain velocity decreased in both treatment groups and for all age groups after the first four weeks. There were no significant differences in anthropometric markers. Overall, this study highlights the promising effects of incorporating a prebiotic ingredient such as rice bran into RUTFs to support improved growth outcomes in children with SAM.
Key Takeaways:
- Millions of children worldwide suffer from acute malnutrition, increasing their risk of illness and mortality.
- This 16-week, two-arm, double-blinded, randomised controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of RUTFs with a prebiotic versus RUTF alone in treating acute malnutrition in children.
- Adding rice bran to RUTF improved weight gain and MUAC velocity in children with SAM.
- Further research is needed to identify strategies for sustaining long-term weight gain in these children.
Access the study: https://doi.org/10.1017/jns.2025.10074
Reference: Barbazza, S., Weber, A. M., Fauzi, M. D., Rachmadewi, A., Zuhrina, R., Putri, F., Campos Ponce, M., van der Hoeven, M., Fortin, S., Rimbawan, R., Nasution, Z., Giriwono, P. E., Wieringa, F. T., Soekarjo, D. D., & Ryan, E. P. (2026). Inclusion of stabilised rice bran in ready-to-use therapeutic food supports growth in Indonesian children with severe and moderate acute malnutrition: solutions to enhance health with alternative treatments (SEHAT), a double-blinded, randomised clinical trial. Journal of nutritional science, 15, e13. https://doi.org/10.1017/jns.2025.10074
The impact of probiotics and prebiotics on ocular and systemic inflammation in dry eye disease: a double-masked, randomised controlled trial
Dry eye disease is a disorder characterized by tear film instability, hyperosmolarity, neurosensory abnormalities, and ocular surface inflammation. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 32 participants (aged 18 years and older) with a documented history of dry eye disease. Participants received either: 1) probiotic (21.075 billion colony forming units (CFU) per capsule) and prebiotic (red sorghum flour) supplements, or 2) placebo. Tears and blood samples were collected throughout the study to assess tear inflammatory biomarkers, including matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), the MMP-9:TIMP-1 ratio, as well as systemic inflammation markers such as CRP. Results showed that there were no significant changes in MMP-9, TIMP-1, or CRP concentrations in either group during treatment at the four-month visit. Overall, the study concluded that consumption of probiotics and prebiotics may not lead to significant changes in tear or systemic inflammatory outcomes. While no significant effects were observed in this population, further studies are needed to evaluate the use of alternative prebiotic types in individuals with dry eye disease or other eye-related conditions.
Key Takeaways:
- Dry eye disease involves tear film instability, hyperosmolarity, neurosensory abnormalities, and ocular surface inflammation.
- The use of probiotics and prebiotics did not significantly affect tear or systemic inflammatory outcomes in this population.
- Further research is needed to determine whether specific prebiotics may benefit individuals with eye-related conditions.
Access the study: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08164622.2025.2502529
Reference: Tavakoli, A., Flanagan, J., Papas, E., & Markoulli, M. (2026). The impact of probiotics and prebiotics on ocular and systemic inflammation in dry eye disease: a double-masked, randomised controlled trial. Clinical & experimental optometry, 109(1), 75–82. https://doi.org/10.1080/08164622.2025.2502529