Prebiotic inulin‐type fructans and galacto‐oligosaccharides: definition, specificity, function, and application in gastrointestinal disorders

Abstract

Prebiotics are non-digestible selectively fermented dietary fibers that specifically promote the growth of one or more bacterial genera in the gastrointestinal tract and thus provide health benefit to the host. The two most investigated prebiotics being the inulin-type fructans and galacto-oligosaccharides. Prebiotic specificity is mediated through speciesspecific gene clusters within saccharolytic bacteria controlled by signaling sensors for various substrates. Prebiotic health benefits are attributed to immune regulation and bacterial metabolite production. In humans, prebiotic supplementation leads to increased growth of specific gut microbiota (e.g., bifidobacteria), immune modulation, and depending on the bacterial augmentation, short-chain fatty acid production. Irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease are gastrointestinal disorders associated with reductions in some gut bacteria and greater mucosal inflammation. Prebiotic supplementation studies have shown some promise at low doses for modulation of the gut bacteria and reduction of symptoms in IBS; however, larger doses may have neutral or negative impact on symptoms. Studies in Crohn's disease have not shown benefit to bacterial modulation or inflammatory response with prebiotic supplementation. Dietary restriction of fermentable carbohydrates (low FODMAP diet), which restricts some naturally occurring prebiotics from the diet, has shown efficacy in improving symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome, but it lowers the numbers of some key gut microbiota. Further research is required on the effect of prebiotics in gastrointestinal disorders and, in particular, on their use in conjunction with the low FODMAP diet.

Dietary therapies for functional bowel symptoms: Recent advances, challenges, and future directions

“…Potential effects from dietary therapies may be modulated via use of supplemental probiotic or prebiotic supplementation . For example, 10‐day 16 g fructo‐oligosaccharide supplement in conjunction with the low FODMAP diet increased bacterial abundance, although it did not improve SCFA production .…”

Leveraging Bioactives to Support Human Health through the Lifecycle: Scientific Evidence and Regulatory Considerations

“…Separately, a 12-week parallel cross-over trial, which used a β-GOS, showed a dose-dependent stimulation of biidobacteria at 3.5 and 7.0 g/d. Global symptom relief scores were signiicantly improved in the prebiotic group vs. the placebo, including for latulence, bloating, and stool consistency [74,75].…”

Prebiotics – an added benefit of some fibre types

“…). These types of GOS are referred to as ‘α‐GOS’ as they consist of α‐linked galactose, α‐linked glucose and a terminal β‐linked fructose (Wilson & Whelan ). Due to the presence of three different bonds, α‐GOS (found within plant foods) have been found to stimulate the growth of a wider range of gut bacterial species than ‘β‐GOS’, which are derived from the enzymatic glycosylation of lactose, contain terminal β‐linked glucose (Goulas et al .…”

“…). Therefore, β‐GOS have predominantly been investigated in human studies rather than plant‐derived α‐GOS (Wilson & Whelan ). Different β‐GOS mixtures can be produced synthetically depending on the source of the β‐galactosidase enzyme used, and evidence suggests that these have differing bifidogenic effects in the human gut (Depeint et al .…”