Effects of a Postbiotic and Prebiotic Mixture on Suckling Rats’ Microbiota and Immunity

Abstract

Human milk serves as a model for infant formula providing nutritional solutions for infants not able to receive enough mother’s milk. Infant formulas aim to mimic the composition and functionality of human milk by providing ingredients reflecting those of the latest human milk insights, such as prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the supplementation with a postbiotic (LactofidusTM) and its combination with the prebiotics short-chain galactooligosaccharides (scGOS) and long-chain fructooligosaccharides (lcFOS) in a preclinical model of healthy suckling rats. Pups were supplemented daily with LactofidusTM (POST group) and/or scGOS/lcFOS (P+P and PRE groups, respectively). Body weight and fecal consistency were analyzed. At the end of the study, immunoglobulin (Ig) profile, intestinal gene expression, microbiota composition and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) proportion were quantified. The supplementation with all nutritional interventions modulated the Ig profile, but the prebiotic mixture and the postbiotic induced differential effects: whereas scGOS/lcFOS induced softer feces and modulated microbiota composition and SCFA profile, Lactofidus™ upregulated Toll-like receptors gene expression. The use of the combination of scGOS/lcFOS and Lactofidus™ showed the effects observed for the oligosaccharides separately, as well as showing a synergistic impact on animal growth. Thus, the combined use of both products seems to be a good strategy to modulate immune and microbial features in early life.

Preventive Effect of a Postbiotic and Prebiotic Mixture in a Rat Model of Early Life Rotavirus Induced-Diarrhea

“…The postbiotic increased the levels of MUC2 whereas scGOS/lcFOS, combined or not with Lactofidus TM , induced the expression of MUC3. These effects in the infection context on the expression of MUC genes agree with those found in a healthy model of suckling rats [ 23 ]. We also observed that scGOS/lcFOS reduced the levels of MUC2 in 8-day-old suckling rats [ 13 ].…”

“…Thus, the REF group constituted the non-infected non-supplemented control group. The selection of the product doses was based on previous works [ 13 , 23 , 27 , 32 , 37 , 38 ].…”

“…At day 16, plasma concentration of IgG isotypes, IgA and IgM was measured using ProcartaPlex™ Multiplex immunoassay (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Barcelona, Spain), as described in previous studies [ 13 , 23 ]. The specific concentration of each Ig was measured by MAGPIX ® analyzer (Luminex Corporation, Austin, TX, USA) at the Scientific and Technological Centers of the University of Barcelona (CCiT-UB).…”

“…On day 16, cecal content samples were obtained to measure cecal SCFA (acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric, isobutyric, and isovaleric acids) content by headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS) at the GC-MS unit of the CCiT-UB, as previously described [ 13 , 23 ]. The lower limits of detection (in μmol/g of feces) were 0.404 for acetic acid, 0.068 for propionic acid, 0.020 for butyric acid, 0.001 for valeric acid, 0.003 for isobutyric acid, and 0.001 for isovaleric acid.…”

“…The mechanism of action of postbiotics is not yet well-known [ 22 ], and their efficacy depends on the type of the postbiotic used: microbial metabolites, carbohydrates, organic acids, lipids, proteins, cell wall components, or other fermented products generated in the matrix [ 17 ]. Many studies report that postbiotics could improve physiological functions [ 23 ], as well as prevent and treat diseases, related to gut barrier dysfunction, gastroenteritis, respiratory tract, and enteric infections [ 22 , 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”