Prebiotic

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction and the gut microbiome

Prebiotics, such as galactooligosaccharides (GOS), support the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, which has been demonstrated in studies in younger adult populations (Bouhnik et al., 1997; Tuohy et al., 2001). However, with ageing, there comes many physiological changes as well as changes in gut microbiome composition. These changes are characterised by declines in beneficial bacteria, such as bifidobacteria, and increases in less beneficial bacteria, such as Clostridia, which have potentially pathogenic properties (Gavani et al., 2001; Hopkins et al., 2002; Hopkins and Macfarlane., 2002). Older populations also show a marked decline in immune function, referred to as immunosenescence, of which can be influenced by interactions between bacteria residing in the gut and the mucosal immune system (Walrath et al., 2020). As prebiotics can contribute to modulation of the gut microbiome, their effect on beneficial bacteria could support the gut microbiome’s ability to influence immune function and immunomodulatory capacity in older adult populations (Toward et al., 2012).

Research into the potential for prebiotics to influence immunity is much sparser than that of probiotics, which currently suggests various strains of Bifidobacteria, and Lactobacilli have immunostimulatory properties (Meydani and Ha., 2000; Blum et al., 2002). However, prebiotics have been shown to stimulate the growth of these beneficial microbes and thus can lead to an increased production of metabolites, such as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), known to be beneficial to health (Pujari and Banerjee., 2020). SCFAs can interact with the immune cells residing in the gut and lead to positive changes such as improved gut barrier integrity and the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines (Pujari and Banerjee., 2020). Such effects have been observed in vitro, but also in some clinical studies (Pujari and Banerjee., 2020; Toward et al., 2012). In this Research Spotlight, we want to highlight one such study that looked at the effect of Bimuno® GOS on immune function and gut microbiome composition in older adult populations.

Bimuno® GOS and Immunity

In 2008, Vulevic and colleagues conducted a randomised, placebo controlled, crossover study looking at the effects of Bimuno® GOS on the faecal microbiome profiles and immune function of healthy elderly volunteers (Vulevic et al., 2008). Forty-four free-living, elderly volunteers were recruited and then randomly assigned to two groups. One group were given a placebo (maltodextrin), while the other group were given Bimuno® GOS. Participants consumed their assigned intervention for 10-weeks, which was then followed by a 4-week was out period, before switching to the other treatment for the final 10-weeks. Results showed Bimuno® GOS had a significant effect on all bacteria groups measured when compared with baseline and the placebo group following 5-weeks of ingestion. Higher numbers of Bifidobacterium spp, Lactobacillus-enterococcus spp and the C. coccoides-E rectale group were reported as well lower numbers of less beneficial bacteria such as Bacteroides spp., C. histolyticum group, E. coli, and Desulfovibrio spp. A significant positive effect was also found regarding the effect of Bimuno® GOS on the immune response, with evidence showing improvements in natural killer (NK) cell activity and phagocytosis, as well as an increased secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines. These results were further enhanced after the full 10-week period. Phagocytosis is the process by which potential pathogens are engulfed by phagocytes and NK cells are a type of lymphocyte responsible for destroying infected cells, both of which are important for the functioning of the immune system and an effective immune response (Del Zotto et al., 2017;Rosales, and Uribe-Querol., 2017). Therefore, this research concludes that dietary interventions that modulate the gut microbiome could be a viable option for enhancement of the immune system.

Read the full open access paper here:

Vulevic, J., Drakoularakou, A., Yaqoob, P., Tzortzis, G. and Gibson, G. (2008). Modulation of the fecal microflora profile and immune function by a novel trans-galactooligosaccharide mixture (B-GOS) in healthy elderly volunteers. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, [online] 88(5), pp.1438–1446. Available at:https://ajcn.nutrition.org/article/S0002-9165(23)23376-6/fulltext.

References 

Aspinall, R. and Andrew, D., 2000. Immunosenescence: potential causes and strategies for reversal. Biochemical Society Transactions, 28(2), pp.250-254. Available at:https://portlandpress.com/biochemsoctrans/article-abstract/28/2/250/62958

Blum, S., Haller, D., Pfeifer, A. and Schiffrin, E.J., 2002. Probiotics and immune response. Clinical reviews in allergy & immunology, 22, pp.287-309. Available at:https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12016-002-0013-y

Bouhnik, Y., Flourié, B., D'Agay-Abensour, L., Pochart, P., Gramet, G., Durand, M. and Rambaud, J.C., 1997. Administration of transgalacto-oligosaccharides increases fecal bifidobacteria and modifies colonic fermentation metabolism in healthy humans. The Journal of nutrition, 127(3), pp.444-448. Available at:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316622073618

Del Zotto, G., Marcenaro, E., Vacca, P., Sivori, S., Pende, D., Della Chiesa, M., Moretta, F., Ingegnere, T., Mingari, M.C., Moretta, A. and Moretta, L. (2017). Markers and function of human NK cells in normal and pathological conditions. Cytometry Part B: Clinical Cytometry, [online] 92(2), pp.100–114. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cyto.b.21508.

Gavini, F., Cayuela, C., Antoine, J.M., Lecoq, C., Lefebvre, B., Membré, J.M. and Neut, C., 2001. Differences in the distribution of bifidobacterial and enterobacterial species in human faecal microflora of three different (children, adults, elderly) age groups. Microbial ecology in health and disease, 13(1), pp.40-45. Available at:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/089106001750071690

Gibson, G.R. and Roberfroid, M.B., 1995. Dietary modulation of the human colonic microbiota: introducing the concept of prebiotics. The Journal of nutrition, 125(6), pp.1401-1412. Available at:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316623035514

Hodes, R.J., 1997. Aging and the immune system. Immunological reviews, 160(1), pp.5-8. Available at:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-065X.1997.tb01022.x

Hopkins, M.J. and Macfarlane, G.T., 2002. Changes in predominant bacterial populations in human faeces with age and with Clostridium difficile infection. Journal of medical microbiology, 51(5), pp.448-454. Available at:https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/0022-1317-51-5-448

Hopkins, M.J., Sharp, R. and Macfarlane, G.T., 2002. Variation in human intestinal microbiota with age. Digestive and Liver Disease, 34, pp.S12-S18. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1590865802801578

Hosono, A., Ozawa, A., Kato, R., Ohnishi, Y., Nakanishi, Y., Kimura, T. and Nakamura, R., 2003. Dietary fructooligosaccharides induce immunoregulation of intestinal IgA secretion by murine Peyer's patch cells. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry, 67(4), pp.758-764. Available at:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1271/bbb.67.758

Kelly-Quagliana, K.A., Nelson, P.D. and Buddington, R.K., 2003. Dietary oligofructose and inulin modulate immune functions in mice. Nutrition Research, 23(2), pp.257-267. Available at:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S027153170200516X

Meydani, S.N. and Ha, W.K., 2000. Immunologic effects of yogurt. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 71(4), pp.861-872. Available at:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523070909

Pujari, R. and Banerjee, G. (2020). Impact of prebiotics on immune response: from the bench to the clinic. Immunology & Cell Biology, [online] 99(3), pp.255–273. Available at:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/imcb.12409.

Rosales, C. and Uribe-Querol, E. (2017). Phagocytosis: a Fundamental Process in Immunity. BioMed Research International, [online] 2017(1), pp.1–18. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5485277/.

Toward, R.E., Walton, G.E. and Gibson, G.R. (2012). Immunosenescence and the gut microbiota: The role of probiotics and prebiotics. Nutrition and Aging, [online] 1(3,4), pp.167–180. Available at:https://content.iospress.com/articles/nutrition-and-aging/nua014.

Tuohy, K.M., Kolida, S., Lustenberger, A.M. and Gibson, G.R., 2001. The prebiotic effects of biscuits containing partially hydrolysed guar gum and fructo-oligosaccharides–a human volunteer study. British Journal of Nutrition, 86(3), pp.341-348. Available at:https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/prebiotic-effects-of-biscuits-containing-partially-hydrolysed-guar-gum-and-fructooligosaccharides-a-human-volunteer-study/558ADBC02C158EACBA5F00A077C4B649

Walrath, T., Dyamenahalli, K.U., Hulsebus, H.J., McCullough, R.L., Idrovo, J., Boe, D.M., McMahan, R.H. and Kovacs, E.J. (2020). Age‐related changes in intestinal immunity and the microbiome. Journal of Leukocyte Biology, [online] 109(6), pp.1045–1061. Available at: https://academic.oup.com/jleukbio/article-abstract/109/6/1045/6884545.