Probiotic mitigates the toxic effects of potassium dichromate in a preclinical study: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to evaluate the nutritional, physiological and biochemical effects of dietary supplementation of an association of probiotic bacteria in rats intoxicated with chromium (VI). Ninety-six male rats, recently weaned, were randomly divided into eight groups (n = 12): Control, DK12, DK24 and DK36 (0, 0.12, 0.24 and 0.36 g kg-1 of K2 Cr2 O7 incorporated in the basal feed, respectively) and groups Prob, DK12 + Prob, DK24 + Prob and DK36 + Prob received a progressive dose of 0, 0.12, 0.24 and 0.36 g kg-1 of K2 Cr2 O7 incorporated in the basal feed and supplemented with 0.02 g kg-1 of an association of probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecium, Bifidobacterium thermophilum and Bifidobacterium longum). RESULTS: After 90 days, we observed significant (P < 0.05) and dose-dependent alterations from incorporation of increasing doses of chromium (VI) related to nutritional, physiological and biochemical parameters. These changes were attenuated (P < 0.05) with probiotic supplementation. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with probiotics in the diet beneficially modified the nutritional and physiological parameters, as well as hepatic, renal, glycemic and lipid profiles, of animals intoxicated with increasing doses of K2 Cr2 O7 . © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Synbiotics improve clinical indicators of ulcerative colitis: systematic review with meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Inflammatory bowel diseases are chronic, relapsing diseases that compromise life quality and expectancy. The increased incidence and prevalence of these diseases reinforce the need for research on prevention, therapy, and management innovations. Synbiotics (ie, probiotic plus prebiotic combinations) are suggested as an alternative or complementary therapy to conventional treatments for inflammatory bowel disease. OBJECTIVE: The aim for this systematic review was to gather and analyze data from randomized controlled trials to provide more information to increase the current evidence level about the safety and efficacy of synbiotic use as a supplemental treatment for ulcerative colitis. DATA SOURCES: Searches were performed in the Medline, Science Direct, Scielo, Scopus, and Embase databases between January 2017 and March 2019, using the keywords "colitis" and "synbiotics". DATA EXTRACTION: The data extraction method performed for each trial was based on the recommendations of the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials for randomized clinical trials. The trials included in this meta-analysis presented low risk of bias, based on the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions guidelines. DATA ANALYSIS: The results demonstrated that synbiotics significantly improved colonic endoscopic and histologic scores, the Clinical Activity Index, serum C-reactive protein levels, intestinal microbiota, Bowel Habits Index, and levels of messenger RNAs, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1α, interleukin-10, and myeloperoxidase in the patients. In addition, the use of synbiotics increased probiotic microorganisms, reduced proinflammatory colonic cytokines, and elevated anti-inflammatory cytokines. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, the results of this meta-analysis reinforce the evidence that synbiotics provide benefits to patients when used as an alternative or complementary therapy for those with ulcerative colitis.

Prebiotics improve osteoporosis indicators in a preclinical model: systematic review with meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Studies using experimental models have demonstrated that prebiotics are involved in antiosteoporotic mechanisms. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the impact of supplementation with prebiotics in the basal diet of ovariectomized rats with induced osteoporosis as a preclinical model. METHODS: A comprehensive systematic search was carried out in the electronic databases PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Scielo, and Google through March 2022 for studies that investigated the impact of prebiotics on bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone biomechanics. RESULTS: The search returned 844 complete articles, abstracts, or book chapters. After detailed screening, 8 studies met the inclusion criteria. Rats (n = 206), were randomly divided between control and treatment groups. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) with the 95%CIs were used to estimate the combined effect size. Compared with the control group, dietary intake of prebiotics significantly increased bone density in the BMD subgroups, with WMDs as follows: 0.03 g/cm3, 95%CI, 0.01-0.05, P < 0.00001, n = 46; and 0.00 g/cm2, 95%CI, 0.00-0.02, P < 0.00001, n = 81; total BMD: WMD, 0.01, 95%CI, 0.01-0.02, P < 0.00001, n = 127; bone content in BMC: WMD, 0.02 g, 95%CI, 0.00-0.04, P = 0.05, n = 107; and the 3-point-bend test: WMD, 15.20 N, 95%CI, 5.92-24.47, P = 0.00001, n = 120. CONCLUSION: Prebiotics improve indicators of osteoporosis, BMD, BMC, and bone biomechanics in ovariectomized rats. More studies are needed to increase the level of evidence. SYSTEMIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: Systematic Review Protocol for Animal Intervention Studies.

Prebiotics mannan-oligosaccharides accelerate sexual maturity in rats: A randomized preclinical study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The prebiotics, mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), demonstrate the ability to increase probiotic microorganisms and fixation and removal of pathogens associated with chronic systemic inflammation in the digestive system. Inflammatory processes play an important role in modulating the brain-intestinal axis, including maintaining male reproductive function and spermatogenesis and regulating stress. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the action of MOS on testosterone and corticosterone concentrations and the reproductive system development of rats in the growth phase as an animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 128 male rats were used, randomly divided into four experimental groups (n=32): Control; MOS 1; MOS 2; and MOS 3. From each group, eight animals were sacrificed in four experimental moments (14, 28, 42, and 56 days, respectively, moments 1, 2, 3, and 4) and hormonal measurements and histological evaluations were performed. RESULTS: The results revealed the effect of diet, MOS, and timing on testicle weight (p<0.05). At moments 3 and 4, the groups supplemented with MOS showed higher concentrations of testosterone and decreased corticosterone levels throughout the experimental period. Groups supplemented with MOS showed an increase in the frequency of relative sperm and sperm scores. The radii of the seminiferous tubules presented a significant statistical effect of the diet, moments, and diet + moment interaction. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the three different MOS prebiotics brought forward sexual maturity.

Mineral composition, histomorphometry, and bone biomechanical properties are improved with probiotic, prebiotic, and symbiotic supplementation in rats chronically exposed to passive smoking: a randomized pre-clinical study / Composição mineral, histomorfometria e propriedades biomecânicas óssea são melhoradas com a suplementação de probióticos, prebióticos e simbióticos em ratos expostos cronicamente ao tabagismo passivo: estudo pré-clínico randomizado

ABSTRACT: Cigarette smoke in large centers is one of the most important causes of chronic inflammatory diseases in public health and is associated with a decrease in bone mass, consolidation process, and bone remodeling. Due to their ability to improve intestinal absorption and compete with pathogenic microorganisms, dietary supplementation with functional foods may contribute to improvement in bone quality. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of functional, probiotic, prebiotic, or symbiotic food supplementation on mineral composition, histomorphometry, and bone biomechanical properties of rats in the growth phase, chronically exposed to cigarette smoke (T).Sixty-four young male rats were randomly assigned to eight groups (n=8): control (C) [standard diet (SD)]; probiotic (Pro) [SD + probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecium, Bifidobacterium thermophilum and Bifidobacterium longum) (2-5 109 UFC each)]; prebiotic (Pre) [SD+ prebiotic (mannan oligosaccharide)]; symbiotic (Sym) (SD + probiotic + prebiotic); control smoking (SC) [(SD + exposure protocol to passive smoking (PS)]; probiotic smoking (ProS) (SD + probiotic + PS); prebiotic smoking (PreS) (SD + prebiotic + PS), and symbiotic smoking (SymS)(SD + prebiotic + probiotic + PS). The animals were euthanized after 189 days of the experimental protocol. Results showed that supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics significantly improved (P<0.05) the parameters: P, Ca, Mg, BMD, BMC, strength, resilience, and size of area of the femoral diaphysis of the animals chronically exposed or not cigarette smoke. We concluded that functional food supplementation improved the bone health of rats chronically exposed or not to cigarette smoke.

RESUMO: A fumaça de cigarro em grandes centros é uma das causas mais importantes de doenças inflamatórias crônicas em saúde pública e esta associada à diminuição de massa óssea, processo de consolidação e remodelação óssea. Os alimentos funcionais suplementados na dieta, devido sua capacidade de melhorar a absorção intestinal e competir com microrganismos patógenos, podem contribuir para a melhora da qualidade óssea. Portanto, o objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da suplementação de alimentos funcionais, probiótico, prebiótico ou simbiótico, na composição mineral, histomorfometria e nas propriedades biomecânicas ósseas de ratos em fase de crescimento expostos cronicamente a fumaça do cigarro (T). Sessenta e quatro ratos machos jovens foram randomicamente distribuídos em oito grupos (n=8): controle (C) [dieta basal (DB)]; probiótico (Pro) [DB + probiótico (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterecoccusfaecium, Bifidobacterium thermophilumandBifidobacterium longum (2-5 109 UFC cada)]; prebiótico (Pre) [DB + prebiótico (mananoligossacarídeo)]; simbiótico (Sym) (DB + probiótico + prebiótico); controle fumante (CS) [(DB + protocolo de exposição ao tabagismo passivo(PT)]; probiótico fumante (ProS) (DB + probiótico + PT); prebiótico fumante (PreS) (DB + prebiótico + PT); e simbiótico fumante (SymS) (DB + prebiótico + probiótico + PT). Os animais foram mortos após 189 dias de período experimental.Os resultados revelaram que a suplementação com probióticos, prebióticos e simbióticos melhoraram significativamente (P<0,05) os parâmetros: P, Ca, Mg, DMO, CMO, resistência, resiliência e tamanho da área das diáfises dos fêmures dos animais expostos, cronicamente ou não, a fumaça do cigarro. Os resultados permitem concluir que a suplementação dos alimentos funcionais melhorou a saúde óssea de ratos expostos cronicamente ou não a fumaça do cigarro.