Galacto-oligosaccharides supplementation in prefrail older and healthy adults increased faecal bifidobacteria, but did not impact immune function and oxidative stress

Ellen Wilms,Ran An,Agnieszka Smolinska,Yala Stevens,Antje R Weseler,Montserrat Elizalde,Marie-José Drittij,Athanasia Ioannou,Frederik J Van Schooten,Hauke Smidt,Ad A.M Masclee,Erwin G Zoetendal,Daisy M.A.E Jonkers

doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2020.12.034

Abstract

<h2>Summary</h2><h3>Background & aims</h3> Ageing is associated with an increased risk of frailty, intestinal microbiota perturbations, immunosenescence and oxidative stress. Prebiotics such as galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) may ameliorate these ageing-related alterations. We aimed to compare the faecal microbiota composition, metabolite production, immune and oxidative stress markers in prefrail elderly and younger adults, and investigate the effects of GOS supplementation in both groups. <h3>Methods</h3> In a randomised controlled cross-over study, 20 prefrail elderly and 24 healthy adults received 21.6 g/day Biotis™ GOS (containing 15.0 g/day GOS) or placebo. Faecal 16S rRNA gene-based microbiota and short-chain fatty acids were analysed at 0, 1 and 4 weeks of intervention.Volatile organic compounds were analysed in breath, and stimulated cytokine production, CRP, malondialdehyde, trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and uric acid (UA) in blood at 0 and 4 weeks. <h3>Results</h3> Principle coordinate analysis showed differences in microbial composition between elderly and adults (<i>P</i>≤0.05), with elderly having lower bifidobacteria (<i>P</i>≤0.033) at baseline. In both groups, GOS affected microbiota composition (<i>P</i>≤0.05), accompanied by increases in bifidobacteria (<i>P</i><0.001) and decreased microbial diversity (<i>P</i>≤0.023). Faecal and breath metabolites, immune and oxidative stress markers neither differed between groups (<i>P</i> ≥ 0.125) nor were affected by GOS (<i>P</i> ≥ 0.236). TEAC values corrected for UA were higher in elderly versus adults (<i>P</i><0.001), but not different between interventions (<i>P</i> ≥ 0.455). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Elderly showed lower faecal bifidobacterial (relative) abundance than adults, which increased after GOS intake in both groups. Faecal and breath metabolites, parameters of immune function and oxidative stress were not different at baseline, and not impacted by GOS supplementation. <h3>Clinicaltrials.gov with study id number</h3> NCT03077529.

Highlights

Abbreviations alanine transaminase ANOVA-simultaneous component analysis amplicon sequence variants under the curve of receiver operating characteristic c-reactive protein detrended correspondence analysis false discovery rate fluorescent in situ hybridisation good clinical practice gastrointestinal gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase galacto-oligosaccharides gastrointestinal symptom rating scale high performance liquid chromatography interferon interleukin interquartile rangeLPS lipopolysaccharidesMDA malondialdehydePBMC peripheral blood mononuclear cellsPrinciple coordinate analysis (PCoA) principle coordinate analysisPCR polymerase chain reactionPD phylogenetic diversityPERMANOVA permutational multivariate analysis of variancePHA phytohemagglutinin-M qPCR quantitative PCRRedundancy analysis (RDA) redundancy analysis rRNA ribosome RNASCFAs short-chain fatty acids
We have shown that faecal microbiota composition differed significantly between age groups, with significantly lower relative abundance of Bifidobacterium in the elderly when compared with adults
The overall microbiota composition differed significantly between prefrail elderly and healthy adults with around 4% of the total microbiota variation explained by subject age group and Bifidobacterium as the main contributer to this difference

Summary

Introduction

Abbreviations alanine transaminase ANOVA-simultaneous component analysis amplicon sequence variants under the curve of receiver operating characteristic c-reactive protein detrended correspondence analysis false discovery rate fluorescent in situ hybridisation good clinical practice gastrointestinal gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase galacto-oligosaccharides gastrointestinal symptom rating scale high performance liquid chromatography interferon interleukin interquartile rangeLPS lipopolysaccharidesMDA malondialdehydePBMC peripheral blood mononuclear cellsPCoA principle coordinate analysisPCR polymerase chain reactionPD phylogenetic diversityPERMANOVA permutational multivariate analysis of variancePHA phytohemagglutinin-M qPCR quantitative PCRRDA redundancy analysis rRNA ribosome RNASCFAs short-chain fatty acids. Ageing is associated with an increased risk of frailty, intestinal microbiota perturbations, immunosenescence and oxidative stress Prebiotics such as galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) may ameliorate these ageing-related alterations. We aimed to compare the faecal microbiota composition, metabolite production, immune and oxidative stress markers in prefrail elderly and younger adults, and investigate the effects of GOS supplementation in both groups. Results: Principle coordinate analysis showed differences in microbial composition between elderly and adults (P 0.05), with elderly having lower bifidobacteria (P 0.033) at baseline. In both groups, GOS affected microbiota composition (P 0.05), accompanied by increases in bifidobacteria (P

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Results

Conclusion