Abstract
β2-1 fructans are prebiotics and, as such, may modulate some aspects of immune function. Improved immune function could enhance the host’s ability to respond to infections. There is limited information on the effects of β2-1 fructans on immune responses in humans. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of a specific combination of long-chain inulin and oligofructose (Orafti® Synergy1) on immune function in middle-aged humans, with the primary outcome being response to seasonal influenza vaccination. Healthy middle-aged humans (45–63 years of age) were randomly allocated to consume β2-1 fructans in the form of Orafti® Synergy1 (8 g/day; n = 22) or maltodextrin as control (8 g/day; n = 21) for 8 weeks. After 4 weeks, participants received the 2008/2009 seasonal influenza vaccine. Blood and saliva samples were collected prior to vaccination and 2 and 4 weeks after vaccination. They were used to measure various immune parameters. The primary outcome was the serum concentration of anti-vaccine antibodies. Serum antibody titers against the vaccine and vaccine-specific immunoglobulin concentrations increased post-vaccination. Antibodies to the H3N2-like hemagglutinin type 3, neuraminidase type 2-like strain were higher in the Synergy1 group (P = 0.020 for overall effect of treatment group), as was serum vaccine-specific IgG1 2 weeks post-vaccination (P = 0.028 versus control). There were no other differences between groups in antibody titers or anti-vaccine immunoglobulin concentrations, in blood immune cell phenotypes, or in a range of immune parameters. It is concluded that Orafti® Synergy1, a combination of β2-1 fructans, can enhance some aspects of the immune response in healthy middle-aged adults, but that this is not a global effect.
Highlights
The prebiotic effect is defined as the selective stimulation of the growth and/or activity of gut microbes that confer health benefits to the host [1], as discussed elsewhere [2]. β2-1 fructans are considered to be prebiotics
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Synergy1 (8 g/day) on immune function in middle-aged humans using a double-blind randomized controlled trial design with the primary outcome being response to seasonal influenza vaccination determined as serum anti-vaccine antibody concentrations
Blood Immune Cell Phenotypes There were some significant effects of group, but no significant effects of time or significant group × time interactions, for Maltodextrin group Synergy1 group n Age; mean Male:female body mass index (BMI); mean
Summary
The prebiotic effect is defined as the selective stimulation of the growth and/or activity of gut microbes that confer health benefits to the host [1], as discussed elsewhere [2]. β2-1 fructans are considered to be prebiotics. Inulin is a naturally occurring β2-1 fructan. Β2-1 fructans have been reported to modulate the intestinal microbiota [3,4,5,6,7,8,9], increasing the numbers of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. It is thought that bifidobacteria and lactobacilli influence the host immune system, improving its function [10]. Vaccination is a controlled way to expose the immune system to a specific amount and type of antigen. It has been proposed that the body’s response to this antigenic exposure is the most relevant way in which to assess the functioning of the immune system, in the absence of an infectious challenge [12,13,14,15]
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