Supplementing kindergarten children during a cold season with a prebiotic inulin-type fructans product with shorter and longer fructan chains has been shown to reduce febrile episodes requiring medical attention and to lower the incidence of sinusitis. These beneficial effects may be connected to the specific modulation of children’s gut microbiota. By applying quantitative and qualitative microbiota analysis this study aimed at characterising the gut microbiota composition and at exploring effects of prebiotic intervention on the gut microbiota during a 24-weeks intervention and during antibiotic treatment in healthy children. The study was a randomised, placebo-controlled trial with 258 healthy children aged 3 to 6 years consuming 6 g/day prebiotic inulin-type fructans or maltodextrin. During the course of the study, faecal samples were collected and subject to targeted qPCR analysis and phylogenetic profiling by multiplexed high throughput sequencing of the prokaryotic 16S rRNA gene PCR amplicons. The microbiota composition of the cohort could be clustered into three distinct constellations (enterotypes). Prebiotic intake resulted in a selective modulation of the gut microbiota composition. Relative abundance of Bifidobacterium was significantly higher in the prebiotic group (n=104) compared to control group (n=105) and this effect was found for all three enterotypes. Antibiotic administration decreased the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium in both groups. Nonetheless, children of the prebiotic group receiving antibiotic treatment displayed significantly higher levels of Bifidobacterium than children receiving the placebo control. Prebiotic supplementation induced specific changes in the gut microbiota composition of children aged 3 to 6 years. Moreover, it attenuated antibiotic-induced disturbances in the gut microbiota composition as shown by higher relative abundance of bifidobacteria at the end of the antibiotic treatment in the prebiotic group. With the previously reported benefits on immune function, the study contributes to the evidence on the immune-modulating effects of prebiotics through gut microbiota modifications. The study was registered as NCT03241355 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT03241355).
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Prebiotic supplementation over a cold season and during antibiotic treatment specifically modulates the gut microbiota composition of 3-6 year-old children
S. Soldi Related information
1AAT – Advanced Analytical Technologies Srl, Via P. Majavacca 12, 29017 Fiorenzuola d’Arda, Italy.
, S. Vasileiadis Related information2Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Viopolis, 41500 Larissa, Greece.
, S. Lohner Related information3Department of Paediatrics, Clinical Center of the University of Pécs, Medical School, University of Pécs, József Attila u. 7, 7623 Pécs, Hungary.
, F. Uggeri Related information1AAT – Advanced Analytical Technologies Srl, Via P. Majavacca 12, 29017 Fiorenzuola d’Arda, Italy.
, E. Puglisi Related information4Microbiology Institute, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Piacenza, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy.
, P. Molinari Related information4Microbiology Institute, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Piacenza, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy.
, E. Donner Related information5Future Industries Institute (FII), Mawson Lakes Campus, University of South Australia, 5095 Mawson Lakes, Australia.
, C. Sieland Related information6Beneo-Institute, c/o Beneo GmbH, Wormser Straβe 11, 67283 Obrigheim, Germany.
, T. Decsi Related information3Department of Paediatrics, Clinical Center of the University of Pécs, Medical School, University of Pécs, József Attila u. 7, 7623 Pécs, Hungary.
, M. Sailer Related information6Beneo-Institute, c/o Beneo GmbH, Wormser Straβe 11, 67283 Obrigheim, Germany.
, S. Theis Related information6Beneo-Institute, c/o Beneo GmbH, Wormser Straβe 11, 67283 Obrigheim, Germany.
7Beneo-Institute, c/o Beneo GmbH, Wormser Straβe 11, 67283 Obrigheim, Germany.
*Corresponding author: stephan. theis@beneo. com
7Beneo-Institute, c/o Beneo GmbH, Wormser Straβe 11, 67283 Obrigheim, Germany.
*Corresponding author: stephan.
Beneficial Microbes: 10
(3)- Pages: 253 - 263
Published Online: February 19, 2019
Abstract
Keywords: fructans, children, gut microbiota, bifidobacteria
2022 Journal Impact Factor
5.4
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