Galacto-oligosaccharides supplementation in prefrail older and healthy adults increased faecal bifidobacteria, but did not impact immune function and oxidative stress

Ellen Wilms; Ran An; Agnieszka Smolinska; Yala Stevens; Antje R Weseler; Montserrat Elizalde; Marie-José Drittij; Athanasia Ioannou; Frederik J van Schooten; Hauke Smidt; Ad A M Masclee; Erwin G Zoetendal; Daisy M A E Jonkers

doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2020.12.034

Galacto-oligosaccharides supplementation in prefrail older and healthy adults increased faecal bifidobacteria, but did not impact immune function and oxidative stress

Clin Nutr. 2021 May;40(5):3019-3031. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2020.12.034. Epub 2021 Jan 12.

Affiliations

¹ Division Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: ellen.wilms@mumc.nl.
² Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
³ Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
⁴ Division Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.

PMID: 33509667
DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2020.12.034

Abstract

Background & aims: Ageing is associated with an increased risk of frailty, intestinal microbiota perturbations, immunosenescence and oxidative stress. Prebiotics such as galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) may ameliorate these ageing-related alterations. We aimed to compare the faecal microbiota composition, metabolite production, immune and oxidative stress markers in prefrail elderly and younger adults, and investigate the effects of GOS supplementation in both groups.

Methods: In a randomised controlled cross-over study, 20 prefrail elderly and 24 healthy adults received 21.6 g/day Biotis™ GOS (containing 15.0 g/day GOS) or placebo. Faecal 16S rRNA gene-based microbiota and short-chain fatty acids were analysed at 0, 1 and 4 weeks of intervention.Volatile organic compounds were analysed in breath, and stimulated cytokine production, CRP, malondialdehyde, trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and uric acid (UA) in blood at 0 and 4 weeks.

Results: Principle coordinate analysis showed differences in microbial composition between elderly and adults (P≤0.05), with elderly having lower bifidobacteria (P≤0.033) at baseline. In both groups, GOS affected microbiota composition (P≤0.05), accompanied by increases in bifidobacteria (P<0.001) and decreased microbial diversity (P≤0.023). Faecal and breath metabolites, immune and oxidative stress markers neither differed between groups (P ≥ 0.125) nor were affected by GOS (P ≥ 0.236). TEAC values corrected for UA were higher in elderly versus adults (P<0.001), but not different between interventions (P ≥ 0.455).

Conclusions: Elderly showed lower faecal bifidobacterial (relative) abundance than adults, which increased after GOS intake in both groups. Faecal and breath metabolites, parameters of immune function and oxidative stress were not different at baseline, and not impacted by GOS supplementation. CLINICALTRIALS.

Gov with study id number: NCT03077529.

Keywords: Immunology; Microbiome; Nutrition; Probiotics/prebiotics.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Bifidobacterium / isolation & purification*
Cross-Over Studies
Dietary Supplements*
Feces / microbiology*
Female
Galactose / pharmacology*
Humans
Immunity / drug effects*
Male
Middle Aged
Oligosaccharides / pharmacology*
Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
Prebiotics / administration & dosage
Young Adult

Substances

Oligosaccharides
Prebiotics
Galactose

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03077529