Abstract
ObjectiveProbiotic and synbiotic products are widely marketed to healthy individuals, although potential benefits for these individuals are rarely studied. This study investigated the effect of daily consumption of a synbiotic yogurt on gastrointestinal (GI) function in a sample of healthy adults.Subjects/MethodsIn a randomized crossover double-blind study, 65 healthy adults consumed 200 g/day of yogurt with (synbiotic) or without (control) added probiotics (Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12, Lactobacillus acidophilus La5, Lactobacillus casei CRL431) and 4 g inulin for two 15-day treatment periods, each preceded by a 6-week washout period. GI transit time (GTT), duration of colour (DOC), GI symptoms and dietary intake were assessed and analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA, including PRE-treatment GTT as a covariate. Participants were grouped as short GTT (STT, n = 50, ≤32.7 h) or long GTT (LTT, n = 15, >32.7 h) based on their PRE-treatment GTT assessment.ResultsPOST-treatment GTT and DOC were not different between synbiotic and control, and did not change from PRE-treatment, within the STT or LTT groups. There were no changes in GI symptom ratings, indicating that both yogurts were well tolerated. In STT, energy, fat and protein intakes were decreased from baseline with synbiotic (p = 0.055, p = 0.059 and p = 0.005, respectively) and dietary fibre intake was higher POST-treatment with synbiotic versus control (p = 0.0002). In LTT, decreases in energy and fat intakes with synbiotic were not significant (p = 0.14 and p = 0.18, respectively) and there were no differences in dietary fibre intake.ConclusionConsuming 200 g/day of synbiotic yogurt did not significantly alter GTT in healthy adults, but was well tolerated and helped to reduce overall energy intake.
Highlights
It is well established that the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota impacts overall health and that the quantities and types of bacteria composing the microbiota can be optimized by dietary factors, prebiotics and probiotics [1]
In long GTT (LTT), decreases in energy and fat intakes with synbiotic were not significant (p = 0.14 and p = 0.18, respectively) and there were no differences in dietary fibre intake
This study investigated whether daily consumption of a synbiotic yogurt improves GI function in a sample of healthy Canadian adults
Summary
It is well established that the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota impacts overall health and that the quantities and types of bacteria composing the microbiota can be optimized by dietary factors, prebiotics and probiotics [1]. Consumers are turning to probiotic-containing foods for relief of specific conditions or to improve overall health [2]. Evidence to support health claims for probiotics and synbiotics (containing prebiotics and probiotics) in the general population, the main group to whom these products are marketed, is limited [2,3]. The efficacy of synbiotics can vary depending on the probiotic strain and the food matrix can affect probiotic survival and potential health benefits [4,5]. Strain- and product-specific research to substantiate the efficacy of probiotics in improving or maintaining GI health in healthy consumers is required [2,3,4,6].
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