Synbiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and cellobiose does not affect human gut bacterial diversity but increases abundance of lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and branched‐chain fatty acids: a randomized, double‐blinded cross‐over trial. Issue 1 (5th September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van Zanten, Gabriella C.; Krych, Lukasz; Röytiö, Henna; Forssten, Sofia; Lahtinen, Sampo J.; Al‐Soud, Waleed Abu; Sørensen, Søren; Svensson, Birte; Jespersen, Lene; Jakobsen, Mogens
• Is Part Of: FEMS microbiology ecology. Volume 90:Issue 1(2014)
• Page Start: 225
• Page End: 236
• Publication Date: 2014-09-05
• Subjects: Microbial ecology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579.17
• DOI: 10.1111/1574-6941.12397
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-6496

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="fem12397-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Probiotics, prebiotics, and combinations thereof, that is synbiotics, have been reported to modulate gut microbiota of humans. In this study, effects of a novel synbiotic on the composition and metabolic activity of human gut microbiota were investigated. Healthy volunteers (<italic>n</italic> = 18) were enrolled in a double‐blinded, randomized, and placebo‐controlled cross‐over study and received synbiotic [<italic>Lactobacillus acidophilus</italic> NCFM (10⁹ CFU) and cellobiose (5 g)] or placebo daily for 3 weeks. Fecal samples were collected and lactobacilli numbers were quantified by qPCR. Furthermore, 454 tag‐encoded amplicon pyrosequencing was used to monitor the effect of synbiotic on the composition of the microbiota. The synbiotic increased levels of <italic>Lactobacillus</italic> spp. and relative abundances of the genera <italic>Bifidobacterium</italic>, <italic> Collinsella, </italic> and <italic>Eubacterium</italic> while the genus <italic>Dialister</italic> was decreased (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). No other effects were found on microbiota composition. Remarkably, however, the synbiotic increased concentrations of branched‐chain fatty acids, measured by gas chromatography, while short‐chain fatty acids were not affected.</p> </abstract>