Gut microbiome and inflammation among athletes in wheelchair in a crossover randomized pilot trial of probiotic and prebiotic interventions.

Disorders related to gut health are a significant cause of morbidity among athletes in wheelchair. This pilot feasibility trial aims to investigate whether probiotics compared to prebiotics can improve inflammatory status and gut microbiome composition in elite athletes in wheelchair. We conducted a 12-week, randomized, cross-over controlled trial involving 14 elite Swiss athletes in wheelchair. Participants were given a multispecies-multistrain probiotic or prebiotic (oat bran) daily for 4 weeks (Clinical trials.gov NCT04659408 09/12/2020). This was followed by a 4-week washout and then crossed over. Thirty inflammatory markers were assessed using bead-based multiplex immunoassays (LegendPlex) from serum samples. The gut microbiome was characterized via 16S rRNA sequencing of stool DNA samples. Statistical analyses were conducted using linear mixed-effect models (LMM). At baseline, most athletes (10/14) exhibited low levels of inflammation which associated with higher gut microbiome alpha diversity indices compared to those with high inflammation levels. The use of probiotic had higher decrease in 25 (83%) inflammatory markers measured compared to prebiotic use. Probiotic has the potential in lowering inflammation status and improving the gut microbiome diversity. The future trial should focus on having sufficient sample sizes, population with higher inflammation status, longer intervention exposure and use of differential abundance analysis.

The effects of gut microbiome manipulation on glycemic indices in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a comprehensive umbrella review.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a significant risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Increased fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting insulin (FI), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) are observed in patients with NAFLD. Gut microbial modulation using prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics has shown promise in NAFLD treatment. This meta-umbrella study aimed to investigate the effects of gut microbial modulation on glycemic indices in patients with NAFLD and discuss potential mechanisms of action. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library until March 2023 for meta-analyses evaluating the effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on patients with NAFLD. Random-effect models, sensitivity analysis, and subgroup analysis were employed. RESULTS: Gut microbial therapy significantly decreased HOMA-IR (ES: -0.41; 95%CI: -0.52, -0.31; P < 0.001) and FI (ES: -0.59; 95%CI: -0.77, -0.41; P < 0.001). However, no significant effect was observed on FBS (ES: -0.17; 95%CI: -0.36, 0.02; P = 0.082). Subgroup analysis revealed prebiotics had the most potent effect on HOMA-IR, followed by probiotics and synbiotics. For FI, synbiotics had the most substantial effect, followed by prebiotics and probiotics. CONCLUSION: Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics administration significantly reduced FI and HOMA-IR, but no significant effect was observed on FBS.

Chitin-glucan improves important pathophysiological features of irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most frequent and debilitating conditions leading to gastroenterological referrals. However, recommended treatments remain limited, yielding only limited therapeutic gains. Chitin-glucan (CG) is a novel dietary prebiotic classically used in humans at a dosage of 1.5-3.0 g/d and is considered a safe food ingredient by the European Food Safety Authority. To provide an alternative approach to managing patients with IBS, we performed preclinical molecular, cellular, and animal studies to evaluate the role of chitin-glucan in the main pathophysiological mechanisms involved in IBS. AIM: To evaluate the roles of CG in visceral analgesia, intestinal inflammation, barrier function, and to develop computational molecular models. METHODS: Visceral pain was recorded through colorectal distension (CRD) in a model of long-lasting colon hypersensitivity induced by an intra-rectal administration of TNBS [15 milligrams (mg)/kilogram (kg)] in 33 Sprague-Dawley rats. Intracolonic pressure was regularly assessed during the 9 wk-experiment (weeks 0, 3, 5, and 7) in animals receiving CG (n = 14) at a human equivalent dose (HED) of 1.5 g/d or 3.0 g/d and compared to negative control (tap water, n = 11) and positive control (phloroglucinol at 1.5 g/d HED, n = 8) groups. The anti-inflammatory effect of CG was evaluated using clinical and histological scores in 30 C57bl6 male mice with colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) administered in their drinking water during 14 d. HT-29 cells under basal conditions and after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were treated with CG to evaluate changes in pathways related to analgesia (µ-opioid receptor (MOR), cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, inflammation [interleukin (IL)-10, IL-1b, and IL-8] and barrier function [mucin 2-5AC, claudin-2, zonula occludens (ZO)-1, ZO-2] using the real-time PCR method. Molecular modelling of CG, LPS, lipoteichoic acid (LTA), and phospholipomannan (PLM) was developed, and the ability of CG to chelate microbial pathogenic lipids was evaluated by docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Data were expressed as the mean ± SEM. RESULTS: Daily CG orally-administered to rats or mice was well tolerated without including diarrhea, visceral hypersensitivity, or inflammation, as evaluated at histological and molecular levels. In a model of CRD, CG at a dosage of 3 g/d HED significantly decreased visceral pain perception by 14% after 2 wk of administration (P < 0.01) and reduced inflammation intensity by 50%, resulting in complete regeneration of the colonic mucosa in mice with DSS-induced colitis. To better reproduce the characteristics of visceral pain in patients with IBS, we then measured the therapeutic impact of CG in rats with TNBS-induced inflammation to long-lasting visceral hypersensitivity. CG at a dosage of 1.5 g/d HED decreased visceral pain perception by 20% five weeks after colitis induction (P < 0.01). When the CG dosage was increased to 3.0 g/d HED, this analgesic effect surpassed that of the spasmolytic agent phloroglucinol, manifesting more rapidly within 3 wk and leading to a 50% inhibition of pain perception (P < 0.0001). The underlying molecular mechanisms contributing to these analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of CG involved, at least in part, a significant induction of MOR, CB2 receptor, and IL-10, as well as a significant decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1b and IL-8. CG also significantly upregulated barrier-related genes including muc5AC, claudin-2, and ZO-2. Molecular modelling of CG revealed a new property of the molecule as a chelator of microbial pathogenic lipids, sequestering gram-negative LPS and gram-positive LTA bacterial toxins, as well as PLM in fungi at the lowesr energy conformations. CONCLUSION: CG decreased visceral perception and intestinal inflammation through master gene regulation and direct binding of microbial products, suggesting that CG may constitute a new therapeutic strategy for patients with IBS or IBS-like symptoms.

The use of probiotics and prebiotics in decolonizing pathogenic bacteria from the gut; a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical outcomes.

Repeated exposure to antibiotics and changes in the diet and environment shift the gut microbial diversity and composition, making the host susceptible to pathogenic infection. The emergence and ongoing spread of AMR pathogens is a challenging public health issue. Recent evidence showed that probiotics and prebiotics may play a role in decolonizing drug-resistant pathogens by enhancing the colonization resistance in the gut. This review aims to analyze available evidence from human-controlled trials to determine the effect size of probiotic interventions in decolonizing AMR pathogenic bacteria from the gut. We further studied the effects of prebiotics in human and animal studies. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL were used to collect articles. The random-effects model meta-analysis was used to pool the data. GRADE Pro and Cochrane collaboration tools were used to assess the bias and quality of evidence. Out of 1395 citations, 29 RCTs were eligible, involving 2871 subjects who underwent either probiotics or placebo treatment to decolonize AMR pathogens. The persistence of pathogenic bacteria after treatment was 22%(probiotics) and 30.8%(placebo). The pooled odds ratio was 0.59(95% CI:0.43-0.81), favoring probiotics with moderate certainty (p = 0.0001) and low heterogeneity (I2 = 49.2%, p = 0.0001). The funnel plot showed no asymmetry in the study distribution (Kendall'sTau = -1.06, p = 0.445). In subgroup, C. difficile showed the highest decolonization (82.4%) in probiotics group. Lactobacillus-based probiotics and Saccharomyces boulardii decolonize 71% and 77% of pathogens effectively. The types of probiotics (p < 0.018) and pathogens (p < 0.02) significantly moderate the outcome of decolonization, whereas the dosages and regions of the studies were insignificant (p < 0.05). Prebiotics reduced the pathogens from 30% to 80% of initial challenges. Moderate certainty of evidence suggests that probiotics and prebiotics may decolonize pathogens through modulation of gut diversity. However, more clinical outcomes are required on particular strains to confirm the decolonization of the pathogens. Protocol registration: PROSPERO (ID = CRD42021276045).

Nutraceutical blends predict enhanced health via microbiota reshaping improving cytokines and life quality: a Brazilian double-blind randomized trial.

Nutraceutical interventions supporting microbiota and eliciting clinical improvements in metabolic diseases have grown significantly. Chronic stress, gut dysbiosis, and metainflammation have emerged as key factors intertwined with sleep disorders, consequently exacerbating the decline in quality of life. This study aimed to assess the effects of two nutraceutical formulations containing prebiotics (fructooligosaccharides (FOS), galactooligosaccharides (GOS), yeast ß-glucans), minerals (Mg, Se, Zn), and the herbal medicine Silybum marianum L. Gaertn., Asteraceae (Milk thistle or Silymarin). These formulations, namely NSupple (without silymarin) and NSupple_Silybum (with silymarin) were tested over 180 days in overweight/obese volunteers from Brazil's southeastern region. We accessed fecal gut microbiota by partial 16S rRNA sequences; cytokines expression by CBA; anthropometrics, quality of life and sleep, as well as metabolic and hormonal parameters, at baseline (T0) and 180 days (T180) post-supplementation. Results demonstrated gut microbiota reshaping at phyla, genera, and species level post-supplementation. The Bacteroidetes phylum, Bacteroides, and Prevotella genera were positively modulated especially in the NSupple_Silybum group. Gut microbiota modulation was associated with improved sleep patterns, quality-of-life perception, cytokines expression, and anthropometric parameters post-supplementation. Our findings suggest that the nutraceutical blends positively enhance cardiometabolic and inflammatory markers. Particularly, NSupple_Silybum modulated microbiota composition, underscoring its potential significance in ameliorating metabolic dysregulation. Clinical trial registry number: NCT04810572. 23/03/2021.

Effect of weight loss program using prebiotics and probiotics on body composition, physique, and metabolic products: longitudinal intervention study.

The relationship between gut microbiota and obesity has recently been an important subject for research as the gut microbiota is thought to affect body homeostasis including body weight and composition, intervening with pro and prebiotics is an intelligent possible way for obesity management. To evaluate the effect of hypo caloric adequate fiber regimen with probiotic supplementation and physical exercise, whether it will have a good impact on health, body composition, and physique among obese Egyptian women or has no significant effect. The enrolled 58 women, in this longitudinal follow-up intervention study; followed a weight loss eating regimen (prebiotic), including a low-carbohydrate adequate-fiber adequate-protein dietary pattern with decreased energy intake. They additionally received daily probiotic supplements in the form of yogurt and were instructed to exercise regularly for 3 months. Anthropometric measurements, body composition, laboratory investigations, and microbiota analysis were obtained before and after the 3 months weight loss program. Statistically highly significant differences in the anthropometry, body composition parameters: and obesity-related biomarkers (Leptin, ALT, and AST) between the pre and post-follow-up measurements at the end of the study as they were all decreased. The prebiotic and probiotic supplementation induced statistically highly significant alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota with increased relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria, and Bacteroidetes and decreased relative abundance of Firmicutes and Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes Ratio. Hypo caloric adequate fiber regimen diet with probiotics positively impacts body composition and is effective for weight loss normalizing serum Leptin and AST.

Readily Available Oral Prebiotic Protein Reactive Oxygen Species Nanoscavengers for Synergistic Therapy of Inflammation and Fibrosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

A significant gap exists in the demand for safe and effective drugs for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and its associated intestinal fibrosis. As oxidative stress plays a central role in the pathogenesis of IBD, astaxanthin (AST), a good antioxidant with high safety, holds promise for treating IBD. However, the application of AST is restricted by its poor solubility and easy oxidation. Herein, different protein-based nanoparticles (NPs) are fabricated for AST loading to identify an oral nanovehicle with potential clinical applicability. Through systematic validation via molecular dynamics simulation and in vitro characterization of properties, whey protein isolate (WPI)-driven NPs using a simple preparation method without the need for cross-linking agents or emulsifiers were identified as the optimal carrier for oral AST delivery. Upon oral administration, the WPI-driven NPs, benefiting from the intrinsic pH sensitivity and mucoadhesive properties, effectively shielded AST from degradation by gastric juices and targeted release of AST at intestinal lesion sites. Additionally, the AST NPs displayed potent therapeutic efficacy in both dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis and chronic colitis-associated intestinal fibrosis by ameliorating inflammation, oxidative damage, and intestinal microecology. In conclusion, the AST WPI NPs hold a potential therapeutic value in treating inflammation and fibrosis in IBD.

The development of probiotics and prebiotics therapy to ulcerative colitis: a therapy that has gained considerable momentum.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is increasingly common, and it is gradually become a kind of global epidemic. UC is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and it is a lifetime recurrent disease. UC as a common disease has become a financial burden for many people and has the potential to develop into cancer if not prevented or treated. There are multiple factors such as genetic factors, host immune system disorders, and environmental factors to cause UC. A growing body of research have suggested that intestinal microbiota as an environmental factor play an important role in the occurrence and development of UC. Meanwhile, evidence to date suggests that manipulating the gut microbiome may represent effective treatment for the prevention or management of UC. In addition, the main clinical drugs to treat UC are amino salicylate and corticosteroid. These clinical drugs always have some side effects and low success rate when treating patients with UC. Therefore, there is an urgent need for safe and efficient methods to treat UC. Based on this, probiotics and prebiotics may be a valuable treatment for UC. In order to promote the wide clinical application of probiotics and prebiotics in the treatment of UC. This review aims to summarize the recent literature as an aid to better understanding how the probiotics and prebiotics contributes to UC while evaluating and prospecting the therapeutic effect of the probiotics and prebiotics in the treatment of UC based on previous publications.

Novel strategies for modulating the gut microbiome for cancer therapy.

Recent advancements in genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics have significantly advanced our understanding of the human gut microbiome and its impact on the efficacy and toxicity of anti-cancer therapeutics, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy. In particular, prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics are recognized for their unique properties in modulating the gut microbiota, maintaining the intestinal barrier, and regulating immune cells, thus emerging as new cancer treatment modalities. However, clinical translation of microbiome-based therapy is still in its early stages, facing challenges to overcome physicochemical and biological barriers of the gastrointestinal tract, enhance target-specific delivery, and improve drug bioavailability. This review aims to highlight the impact of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics on the gut microbiome and their efficacy as cancer treatment modalities. Additionally, we summarize recent innovative engineering strategies designed to overcome challenges associated with oral administration of anti-cancer treatments. Moreover, we will explore the potential benefits of engineered gut microbiome-modulating approaches in ameliorating the side effects of immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

Effects of dietary fiber and biotic supplementation on apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility and the fecal characteristics, metabolites, and microbiota of healthy adult dogs.

Dietary fibers and biotics have been shown to support gastrointestinal health in dogs, but are usually tested individually. There is value in testing fiber-biotic combinations that are commonly used commercially. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility (ATTD) of diets supplemented with fibers or biotics and to evaluate their effects on the fecal characteristics, metabolites, microbiota, and immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations of dogs. Twelve healthy adult female beagle dogs (age = 6.2 ±â€…1.6 yr; body weight = 9.5 ±â€…1.1 kg) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design to test three treatments: 1) control diet based on rice, chicken meal, tapioca starch, and cellulose + a placebo treat (CT); 2) diet based on rice, chicken meal, garbanzo beans, and cellulose + a placebo treat (GB); 3) diet based on rice, chicken meal, garbanzo beans, and a functional fiber/prebiotic blend + a probiotic-containing treat (GBPP). In each 28-d period, a 22-d diet adaptation was followed by a 5-d fecal collection phase. Fasted blood samples were collected on day 28. Data were analyzed using the Mixed Models procedure of SAS 9.4, with P < 0.05 being significant and P < 0.10 being trends. ATTD of dry matter (DM), organic matter, and energy were lower (P < 0.001) and DM fecal output was higher (P < 0.01) in dogs fed GBPP than CT or GB, whereas ATTD of crude protein was higher (P < 0.001) in dogs fed CT and GBPP than GB. ATTD of fat was higher (P < 0.001) and wet fecal output was lower (P < 0.01) in dogs fed CT than GB or GBPP. Fecal DM% was higher (P < 0.001) in dogs fed CT than GBPP or GB, and higher in dogs fed GBPP than GB. Fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations were higher (P < 0.001) in dogs fed GB than CT or GBPP, and higher in dogs fed GB than GBPP. Fecal IgA concentrations were higher (P < 0.01) in dogs fed GB than CT. Fecal microbiota populations were affected by diet, with alpha diversity being higher (P < 0.01) in dogs fed GB than CT, and beta diversity shifting following dietary fiber and biotic supplementation. The relative abundance of 24 bacterial genera was altered in dogs fed GB or GBPP than CT. Serum triglyceride concentrations were lower in dogs fed GB than GBPP or CT. Our results demonstrate that legume-based dietary fibers, with or without prebiotics and probiotics, reduce ATTD, increase stool output, beneficially shift fecal metabolites and microbiota, and reduce blood lipids in adult dogs.

Functional fibers and biotics have demonstrated the potential to modulate the gut microbiome and improve gastrointestinal health in dogs, but are often tested individually. Research investigating unique fiber/biotic combinations is needed. Twelve dogs were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design to test the efficacy of three dietary treatments on apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility (ATTD) and the fecal characteristics, metabolites, microbiota, and immunoglobulin A concentrations of dogs. Treatments included a low-fiber control diet without prebiotics or probiotics + a placebo treat, a diet containing garbanzo beans + a placebo treat (GB), and a diet containing garbanzo beans and a prebiotic blend + a probiotic (Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) treat (GBPP). ATTD was reduced and stool output was greater in dogs fed GB or GBPP than controls. Fecal short-chain fatty acids were higher in dogs fed GB or GBPP than controls. Fecal immunoglobulin A was higher, while blood lipids were lower in dogs fed GB than control. Finally, GB and GBPP shifted fecal bacterial populations. Our results demonstrate that legume-based dietary fibers, with or without prebiotics and probiotics, reduce ATTD, increase stool output, beneficially shift fecal metabolites and microbiota, and reduce blood lipids in adult dogs.

Prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics and postbiotics to adolescents in metabolic syndrome.

The prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity has globally reached alarming dimensions and many adolescents affected by obesity already present one or more obesity-related comorbidities. In recent years, emerging evidence supporting the role of gut microbiota in the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases has been reported and the use of prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics and postbiotics as a strategy to manipulate gut microbiota has become popular. The aim of this review is to explore the relationship between gut microbiota and metabolic syndrome in adolescents and to discuss the potential use of prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics and postbiotics for the prevention and treatment of this clinical picture in adolescence. According to the most recent literature, prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics have no clear effect on MetS, but a possible modulation of anthropometric parameters has been observed after synbiotic supplementation. Only one study has examined the role of postbiotics in alleviating metabolic complications in children with obesity but not in adolescents. More extensive research is needed to support the conclusions drawn so far and to develop effective microbiome-based interventions that may help improving the quality of life of children and adolescents exposed to the increasing prevalence of MetS.

Compound prebiotics as prophylactic and adjunctive treatments ameliorate DSS-induced colitis through gut microbiota modulation effects.

The prophylactic and adjunctive impacts of compound prebiotics (CP), comprising galacto-oligosaccharides, fructo-oligosaccharides, and isomalto-oligosaccharides, on colitis remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of CP on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis via modulation of the gut microbiota. Mice received prophylactic CP (PCP) for three weeks and DSS in the second week. In the third week, therapeutic CP, mesalazine, and a combination of CP and mesalazine (CPM) were administered to mice with DSS-induced colitis. The administration of PCP and CPM was found to ameliorate colitis, as evidenced by increases in body weight and colon length, elevation of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, and reductions in the disease activity index, histological scores, and levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in mice with DSS-induced colitis on days 14 or 21. Furthermore, an increase in the relative abundance of probiotics (Ligilactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Limosilactobacillus), alpha diversity indices, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) contents, and microbial network complexity was observed following PCP or CPM treatment. Correlation analysis revealed positive associations between these probiotics and both SCFA and IL-10, and negative associations with pro-inflammatory cytokines. This study highlighted the potential of CP as novel prophylactic and adjunctive treatments for alleviating DSS-induced intestinal inflammation and maintaining gut microbiota homeostasis.

Identifying Gut Microbiome Features that Predict Responsiveness Toward a Prebiotic Capable of Increasing Calcium Absorption: A Pilot Study.

Previously, we demonstrated that prebiotics may provide a complementary strategy for increasing calcium (Ca) absorption in adolescents which may improve long-term bone health. However, not all children responded to prebiotic intervention. We determine if certain baseline characteristics of gut microbiome composition predict prebiotic responsiveness. In this secondary analysis, we compared differences in relative microbiota taxa abundance between responders (greater than or equal to 3% increase in Ca absorption) and non-responders (less than 3% increase). Dual stable isotope methodologies were used to assess fractional Ca absorption at the end of crossover treatments with placebo, 10, and 20 g/day of soluble corn fiber (SCF). Microbial DNA was obtained from stool samples collected before and after each intervention. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was used to taxonomically characterize the gut microbiome. Machine learning techniques were used to build a predictive model for identifying responders based on baseline relative taxa abundances. Model output was used to infer which features contributed most to prediction accuracy. We identified 19 microbial features out of the 221 observed that predicted responsiveness with 96.0% average accuracy. The results suggest a simplified prescreening can be performed to determine if a subject's bone health may benefit from a prebiotic. Additionally, the findings provide insight and prompt further investigation into the metabolic and genetic underpinnings affecting calcium absorption during pubertal bone development.

Application of Microbiome-Based Therapies in Chronic Respiratory Diseases.

The application of microbiome-based therapies in various areas of human disease has recently increased. In chronic respiratory disease, microbiome-based clinical applications are considered compelling options due to the limitations of current treatments. The lung microbiome is ecologically dynamic and affected by various conditions, and dysbiosis is associated with disease severity, exacerbation, and phenotype as well as with chronic respiratory disease endotype. However, it is not easy to directly modulate the lung microbiome. Additionally, studies have shown that chronic respiratory diseases can be improved by modulating gut microbiome and administrating metabolites. Although the composition, diversity, and abundance of the microbiome between the gut and lung are considerably different, modulation of the gut microbiome could improve lung dysbiosis. The gut microbiome influences that of the lung via bacterial-derived components and metabolic degradation products, including short-chain fatty acids. This phenomenon might be associated with the cross-talk between the gut microbiome and lung, called gut-lung axis. There are multiple alternatives to modulate the gut microbiome, such as prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics ingestion and fecal material transplantation. Several studies have shown that high-fiber diets, for example, present beneficial effects through the production of short-chain fatty acids. Additionally, genetically modified probiotics to secrete some beneficial molecules might also be utilized to treat chronic respiratory diseases. Further studies on microbial modulation to regulate immunity and potentiate conventional pharmacotherapy will improve microbiome modulation techniques, which will develop as a new therapeutic area in chronic respiratory diseases.

Prebiotic utilisation provides Lactiplantibacillus plantarum a competitive advantage in vitro, but is not reflected by an increased intestinal fitness.

Synbiotics combine the concepts of probiotics and prebiotics to synergistically enhance the health-associated effects of both components. Previously, we have shown that the intestinal persistence of inulin-utilizing L. plantarum Lp900 is significantly increased in rats fed an inulin-supplemented, high-calcium diet. Here we employed a competitive population dynamics approach to demonstrate that inulin and GOS can selectively enrich L. plantarum strains that utilize these substrates for growth during in vitro cultivation, but that such enrichment did not occur during intestinal transit in rats fed a GOS or inulin-supplemented diet. The intestinal persistence of all L. plantarum strains increased irrespective of their prebiotic utilization phenotype, which was dependent on the calcium level of the diet. Analysis of fecal microbiota and intestinal persistence decline rates indicated that prebiotic utilization capacity did not selectively stimulate intestinal persistence in prebiotic supplemented diets. Moreover, microbiota and organic acid profile analyses indicate that the prebiotic utilizing probiotic strains are vastly outcompeted by the endogenous prebiotic-utilizing microbiota, and that the collective enhanced persistence of all L. plantarum strains is most likely explained by their well-established tolerance to organic acids.

Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics in childhood diarrhea.

Acute diarrhea is the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality attributed to infections in children under five years of age worldwide, with 1.7 million annual estimated cases and more than 500,000 deaths. Although hydroelectrolytic replacement is the gold standard in treating diarrhea, it does not interfere with the restoration of the intestinal microbiota. Several studies have searched for an adequate alternative in restructuring intestinal homeostasis, finding that treatments based on probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics are effective, which made such treatments increasingly present in clinical practice by reducing illness duration with minimal side effects. However, there are still controversies regarding some unwanted reactions in patients. The diversity of strains and the peculiarities of the pathogens that cause diarrhea require further studies to develop effective protocols for prevention and treatment. Here, we provide a descriptive review of childhood diarrhea, emphasizing treatment with probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics.

Efficacy of an inulin-based treatment on intestinal colonization by multidrug-resistant E. coli: insight into the mechanism of action.

Inulin, an increasingly studied dietary fiber, alters intestinal microbiota. The aim of this study was to assess whether inulin decreases intestinal colonization by multidrug resistant E. coli and to investigate its potential mechanisms of action. Mice with amoxicillin-induced intestinal dysbiosis mice were inoculated with extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing E. coli (ESBL-E. coli). The combination of inulin and pantoprazole (IP) significantly reduced ESBL-E. coli fecal titers, whereas pantoprazole alone did not and inulin had a delayed and limited effect. Fecal microbiome was assessed using shotgun metagenomic sequencing and qPCR. The efficacy of IP was predicted by increased abundance of 74 taxa, including two species of Adlercreutzia. Preventive treatments with A. caecimuris or A. muris also reduced ESBL-E. coli fecal titers. Fecal microbiota of mice effectively treated by IP was enriched in genes involved in inulin catabolism, production of propionate and expression of beta-lactamases. They also had increased beta-lactamase activity and decreased amoxicillin concentration. These results suggest that IP act through production of propionate and degradation of amoxicillin by the microbiota. The combination of pantoprazole and inulin is a potential treatment of intestinal colonization by multidrug-resistant E. coli. The ability of prebiotics to promote propionate and/or beta-lactamase producing bacteria may be used as a screening tool to identify potential treatments of intestinal colonization by multidrug resistant Enterobacterales.

A systematic review of the beneficial effects of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics on ADHD.

BACKGROUND: Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may benefit from probiotics and prebiotics, but the effects are unclear. To determine whether probiotics and prebiotics affect children with ADHD, a systematic review was conducted. METHODS: The present systematic review analyzed cohort studies and randomized controlled trials that examined whether prebiotics and probiotics are associated with ADHD. Seven randomized controlled trials and two cohort studies met our inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Research on Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) probiotic supplementation showed that children with ADHD had better emotional, physical, social, and school functioning, and a higher health-related quality of life compared to the placebo group. The studies also showed that Synbiotic 2000 reduces markers of intestinal and vascular inflammation in children with ADHD, in part through increasing SCFA levels. CONCLUSION: The use of probiotics and prebiotics as adjuvants therapy in patients with ADHD is beneficial. Further studies with longer duration, including more participants and a variety of age groups, and using various evaluation techniques such as in vivo observation are required to examine the effects of prebiotics and probiotics on ADHD.

Recent progress on engineered micro/nanomaterials mediated modulation of gut microbiota for treating inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a type of chronic recurrent inflammation disease that mainly includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Currently, the treatments for IBD remain highly challenging, with clinical treatment drugs showing limited efficacy and adverse side effects. Thus, developing drug candidates with comprehensive therapeutic effects, high efficiency, and low toxicity is urgently needed. Recently, micro/nanomaterials have attracted considerable interest because of their bioavailability, multitarget and efficient effects on IBD. In addition, gut modulation plays a substantial role in restoring intestinal homeostasis. Therefore, efficient microbiota-based strategies modulating gut microenvironment have great potential in remarkably treating IBD. With the development of micro- and nanomaterials for the treatment of IBD and more in-depth studies of their therapeutic mechanisms, it has been found that these treatments also have a tendency to positively regulate the intestinal flora, resulting in an increase in the beneficial flora and a decrease in the level of pathogenic bacteria, thus regulating the composition of the intestinal flora to a normal state. In this review, we first present the interactions among the immune system, intestinal barrier, and gut microbiome. In addition, recent advances in administration routes and methods that positively arouse the regulation of intestinal flora for IBD using probiotics, prebiotics, and redox-active micro/nanomaterials have been reviewed. Finally, the key challenges and critical perspectives of gut microbiota-based micro/nanomaterial treatment are also discussed.

Effectiveness of Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum on Cognitive Function and Sleep Efficiency in Healthy Elderly Subjects in a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, and Parallel-Group Study.

The consumption of functional foods in a daily diet is a promising approach for the maintenance of cognitive health. The present study examines the effects of water-soluble prebiotic dietary-fiber, partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG), on cognitive function and mental health in healthy elderly individuals. Participants consumed either 5 g/day of PHGG or a placebo daily for 12 weeks in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and parallel-group study. An assessment of cognitive functions, sleep quality, and subjective mood evaluations was performed at baseline and after 8 and 12 weeks of either PHGG or placebo intake. The visual memory scores in cognitive function tests and sleepiness on rising scores related to sleep quality were significantly improved in the PHGG group compared to the placebo group. No significant differences were observed in mood parameters between the groups. Vigor-activity scores were significantly improved, while the scores for Confusion-Bewilderment decreased significantly in the PHGG group when compared to the baseline. In summary, supplementation with PHGG was effective in improving cognitive functions, particularly visual memory, as well as enhancing sleep quality and vitality in healthy elderly individuals (UMIN000049070).