Effects of Soluble Corn Fiber Alone or in Synbiotic Combination with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and the Pilus-Deficient Derivative GG-PB12 on Fecal Microbiota, Metabolism, and Markers of Immune Function: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study in Healthy Elderly (Saimes Study)

Abstract

BackgroundThe aging process leads to a potential decline in immune function and adversely affects the gut microbiota. To date, many in vitro and in vivo studies focused on the application of synbiotics (prebiotics combined with probiotics) as a promising dietary approach to affect gut microbiota composition and improved functioning of the immune system. However, studies using synbiotic preparations often have the limitation that it remains unclear whether any effect observed is a result of the prebiotic or probiotic or a synergistic effect of the combined supplement.ObjectivesWe investigated the effects of a probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and pilus-deficient L. rhamnosus GG-PB12 combined with Promitor™ Soluble Corn Fiber (SCF, a candidate prebiotic) on fecal microbiota, metabolism, immunity, and blood lipids in healthy elderly persons. A prospective, double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized, single-centered, crossover study in 40 healthy elderly subjects (aged 60–80 years) was carried out. Volunteers were randomized to consume either probiotic and prebiotic as synbiotic, prebiotic or placebo (maltodextrin) during 3 weeks. Three-week washout periods separated all the treatments. We assessed effects upon blood lipids, glucose, cytokines, natural killer (NK) cell activity, phenotype, and intestinal microbiota composition. SCF decreased IL-6, which was not observed with the synbiotics.ResultsConsumption of L. rhamnosus GG combined with SCF increased NK cell activity compared to baseline in females and the older group. In the fecal microbiota analyses, the strongest community shifts were due to L. rhamnosus GG combined with SCF and SCF treatments. L. rhamnosus GG combined with SCF and L. rhamnosus GG-PB12 combined with SCF significantly increased the genus Parabacteroides. L. rhamnosus GG combined with SCF and SCF increased concentrations of Ruminococcaceae Incertae Sedis. Oscillospira and Desulfovibrio slightly decreased in the L. rhamnosus GG combined with SCF group, whereas Desulfovibrio decreased also in the L. rhamnosus GG-PB12 combined with SCF group. L. rhamnosus GG combined with SCF reduced total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in volunteers with initially elevated concentrations. C-reactive protein significantly decreased during L. rhamnosus GG-PB12 combined with SCF intervention compared to baseline.ConclusionIn conclusion, the synbiotic combination of L. rhamnosus GG with SCF showed a tendency to promote innate immunity by increasing NK cell activity in elderly women and in 70 to 80-year-old volunteers and decreased TC and LDL-c in hypercholesterolemic patients. In addition, L. rhamnosus GG-PB12 combined with SCF demonstrated an increase in NK cell activity compared to SCF alone in older volunteers. We also found significant positive effects on the immune response, evidenced by a decrease of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. Therefore, dietary intervention with L. rhamnosus GG combined with SCF could be of importance in elderly as an attractive option for enhancement of both the microbial and im...

Effects of Synbiotic Supplementation on Gut Functioning and Systemic Inflammation of Community-Dwelling Elders - Secondary Analyses From a Randomized Clinical Trial

“…The absence of significant differences in our biomarkers of inflammation reflects the divergence existing in the literature. Some studies reported reduction in the pro-inflammatory cytokine's levels (17,19,37,38) and increase on the anti-inflammatory ones (39) ; others reported increase on pro-inflammatory levels (17) after synbiotic comsumption. On other hand, studies performed with obese individuals, or in patients with liver steatosis (40) , showed more expressive improvements of inflammatory status (41) .…”

“…Symbiotic supplementation in elderly have been conducted in various scenarios: inflammatory markers (17) ; intestinal polyamine concentrations (18) ; gut microbiota composition, metabolism, immunity and blood lipids levels (19) ; infectious complications after gastrointestinal surgeries (20) ; mental disorders and inflammation (21) .…”

Gut microbiota and probiotics as palliative care which supports physical activity in geriatric health

“…Researchers (Guillemard, Tondu, Lacoin, & Schrezenmeir, 2010) analyzed cheese consumption with Lactobacillus rhamnosus (HN001) plus acidophilus NCFM and the Lactobacillus, wherein these authors and others observed a significant increase in cytotoxicity of natural killer cells (Costabile et al, 2017;Guillemard et al, 2010;Zhao et al, 2018). According to preceding reports, the daily intake of probiotic positively changed the parameters of innate immunity in older adults (Guillemard et al, 2010;Zhao et al, 2018).…”

“…Regarding the property of immunomodulatory probiotics, the authors observed an increase in the phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear cells and monocytes during consumption of HN001 probiotic (Costabile et al, 2017;Gill et al, 2001). In addition to the properties related to immune response, previous findings showed significant improvement in bowel movement, as well as reducing the use of laxatives and less frequent episodes of diarrhea as a result of consuming probiotics in older adults in orthopedic rehabilitation (Costabile et al, 2017;Zaharoni et al, 2011). Future studies should consider environmental characteristics and possible experimental interventions for microflora changes at different stages of life.…”

<em>Lactobacillus</em> Strains as Opportunistic Pathogens. A Review

“…In vivo effect GG Decrease of total and LDL cholesterol and increase in natural killer activity in elderly persons [74] prevention and relief of various types of diarrhoea, and treatment of relapsing Clostridium difficile colitis [75,76] Anti-inflammatory effect by interleukin-10 generation in atopic children and alleviation of atopic eczema-dermatitis symptoms [77,78] reduced duration of respiratory tract infections in in children [79] SD11 Decrease of oral mutans streptococci [80] PL60 Production of c9,t11-and t10,c12-conjugated linoleic acids with anticarcinogenic and antiartherogenic activities, reduction of the catabolic effects of immune stimulation, and reduction of body fat [81] Not specified modulation of dendritic cells function to induce a novel form of T cell hyporesponsiveness; this mechanism might be an explanation for the observed beneficial effects of probiotic treatment in clinical disease [ [84]. Among strains of Lactobacillus spp.…”