Non-digestible Oligosaccharides Research Articles

Human milk oligosaccharide consumption by probiotic and human-associated bifidobacteria and lactobacilli

Human milk contains high concentrations of nondigestible complex oligosaccharides (human milk oligosaccharides; HMO) that reach the colon and are subsequently fermented by the infant gut microbiota. Using a high-throughput, low-volume growth determination, we evaluated the ability of 12 lactobacilli and 12 bifidobacteria strains, including several commercial probiotics, to ferment HMO and their constituent monomers. Of the 24 strains tested, only Bifidobacterium longum ssp. infantis ATCC 15697 and Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 were able to ferment 3'-sialyllactose, 6'-sialyllactose, 2'-fucosyllactose, and 3'-fucosyllactose. Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 degraded almost 90% of the 2'-fucosyllactose but left most of the fucose in the supernatant, as detected by HPLC. Among bifidobacteria, only the B. infantis strains and Bifidobacterium breve ATCC 15700 were able to ferment lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT). Among lactobacilli, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM was found to be the most efficient at utilizing LNnT. The extracellular β-galactosidase (lacL, LBA1467) of L. acidophilus NCFM cleaves the terminal galactose of LNnT for growth, leaving lacto-N-triose II in the media as detected by HPLC. Inactivation of lacL abolishes growth of L. acidophilus NCFM on LNnT. These results contribute to our knowledge of HMO-microbe interactions and demonstrate the potential for synbiotic combinations of pre- and probiotics.

Absence of intestinal microbiota increases ß-cyclodextrin stimulated reverse cholesterol transport.

Non-digestible oligosaccharides are used as prebiotics for perceived health benefits, among these modulating lipid metabolism. However, the mechanisms of action are incompletely understood. The present study characterized the impact of dietary ß-cyclodextrin (ßCD, 10%, w/w), a cyclic oligosaccharide, on sterol metabolism and reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) in conventional and also germ-free mice to establish dependency on metabolism by intestinal bacteria. In conventional ßCD-fed C57BL/6J wild-type mice plasma cholesterol decreased significantly (-40%, p < 0.05), largely within HDL, while fecal neutral sterol excretion increased (3-fold, p < 0.01) and fecal bile acid excretion was unchanged. Hepatic cholesterol levels and biliary cholesterol secretion were unaltered. Changes in cholesterol metabolism translated into increased macrophage-to-feces RCT in ßCD-administered mice (1.5-fold, p < 0.05). In germ-free C57BL/6J mice ßCD similarly lowered plasma cholesterol (-40%, p < 0.05). However, ßCD increased fecal neutral sterol excretion (7.5-fold, p < 0.01), bile acid excretion (2-fold, p < 0.05) and RCT (2.5-fold, p < 0.01) even more substantially in germ-free mice compared with the effect in conventional mice. In summary, this study demonstrates that ßCD lowers plasma cholesterol levels and increases fecal cholesterol excretion from a RCT-relevant pool. Intestinal bacteria decrease the impact of ßCD on RCT. These data suggest that dietary ßCD might have cardiovascular health benefits.

Protein kinase C \u03b4 signaling is required for dietary prebiotic-induced strengthening of intestinal epithelial barrier function

Prebiotics are non-digestible oligosaccharides that promote the growth of beneficial gut microbes, but it is unclear whether they also have direct effects on the intestinal mucosal barrier. Here we demonstrate two commercial prebiotics, inulin and short-chain fructo-oligosaccharide (scFOS), when applied onto intestinal epithelia in the absence of microbes, directly promote barrier integrity to prevent pathogen-induced barrier disruptions. We further show that these effects involve the induction of select tight junction (TJ) proteins through a protein kinase C (PKC) δ-dependent mechanism. These results suggest that in the absence of microbiota, prebiotics can directly exert barrier protective effects by activating host cell signaling in the intestinal epithelium, which represents a novel alternative mechanism of action of prebiotics.

Prebiotics: A Novel Approach to Treat Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the fatal malignancies and is considered as the third leading cause of death. Mutations, genetic modifications, dietary aflatoxins, or impairments in the regulation of oncogenic pathways may bring about liver cancer. An effective barrier against hepatotoxins is offered by gut-liver axis as a change in gut permeability and expanded translocation of lipopolysaccharides triggers the activation of Toll-like receptors which stimulate the process of hepatocarcinogenesis. Prebiotics, nondigestible oligosaccharides, have a pivotal role to play when it comes to inducing an antitumor effect. A healthy gut flora balance is imperative to downregulation of inflammatory cytokines and reducing lipopolysaccharides induced endotoxemia, thus inducing the antitumor effect.

Safety evaluation of α-galacto-oligosaccharides for use in infant formulas investigated in neonatal piglets

Galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS), comprising galactoses with a glucose or sucrose, is a family of nondigestible oligosaccharides. The present study evaluates the safety of an α-GOS product (P-GOS® P) in a neonatal piglet model for 3 weeks. Three days after birth, neonatal piglets were divided into control and treated groups and provided with swine milk replacers in the absence and presence of 8 mg/mL—of the α-GOS product, respectively. An increase in the weight of the large intestines in treated males was noted, which is a common finding in studies of animals fed nondigestible oligosaccharides. There were no α-GOS product-related adverse effects in the piglets in terms of clinical signs, body weights, feed consumption, clinical chemistry, hematology, organ weights, or histopathology. The study demonstrated that formula supplemented with 8 mg/mL of P-GOS P is safe and well tolerated in neonatal piglets and supports the safe use of P-GOS P in infant formulas.

How specific prebiotics reduce the incidence of atopic dermatitis

Dr Bernd Stahl, R&D Director of Human Milk Research at Nutricia Research, Utrecht, Netherlands, discusses the results of research into the anti-allergenic effect of beneficial bacteria within the gut, and how their activity and numbers might be encouraged with specific non-digestible oligosaccharides.

A dietary intervention with non-digestible oligosaccharides and partial hydrolysed whey protein prevents the onset of food allergic symptoms in mice

Strategies to prevent food allergy to common food such as cow’s milk are important because there is no causal treatment available yet. Oral tolerance induction is of great importance for allergy prevention which is strongly dependent on allergen exposure and proper immune environment. Improving the efficacy of oral tolerance with adjuvants is a promising new strategy. In the current study, we investigated non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDO) on their capacity to enhance oral tolerance induced by partial hydrolyzed whey protein (pWH). Mice were treated orally with PBS, pWH, NDO or pWH+NDO for 6days and subsequently fed a control diet while sensitized to whey protein. Acute allergic skin responses and mast cell activation were measured after whey challenge. pWH+NDO prevented acute allergic skin responses, mast cell activation and induced lower whey-specific IgE compared to NDO fed mice. In mice supplemented with either pWH or NDO, respectively Foxp3+ regulatory T-cells or galectin-9 were enhanced. Increased CD103+ dendritic cells percentages were measured in the mesenteric lymph nodes of mice treated with pWH+NDO. These data show the capacity of NDO, if combined with a pWH, to prevent the onset of allergic symptoms. NDO could act as adjuvant in preventing allergic responses to harmless food proteins.

Synthesis and purification of galacto-oligosaccharides: state of the art.

Lactose-derived non-digestible oligosaccharides are prominent components of functional foods. Among them, galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) outstand for being prebiotics whose health-promoting effects are supported on strong scientific evidences, having unique properties as substitutes of human milk oligosaccharides in formulas for newborns and infants. GOS are currently produced enzymatically in a kinetically-controlled reaction of lactose transgalactosylation catalyzed by β-galactosidases from different microbial strains. The enzymatic synthesis of GOS, although being an established technology, still offers many technological challenges and opportunities for further development that has to be considered within the framework of functional foods which is the most rapidly expanding market within the food sector. This paper presents the current technological status of GOS production, its main achievements and challenges. Most of the problems yet to be solved refer to the rather low GOS yields attainable that rarely exceed 40%, corresponding to lactose conversions around 60%. This means that the product or reaction (raw GOS) contains significant amounts of residual lactose and monosaccharides (glucose and galactose). Efforts to increase such yields have been for the most part unsuccessful, even though improvements by genetic and protein engineering strategies are to be expected in the near future. Low yields impose a burden on downstream processing to obtain a GOS product of the required purity. Different strategies for raw GOS purification are reviewed and their technological significance is appraised.

Changes in the intestinal bacterial community, short-chain fatty acid profile, and intestinal development of preweaned Holstein calves. 1. Effects of prebiotic supplementation depend on site and age.

Digestive disorders are common during the first few weeks of life of newborn calves. Prebiotics are nondigestible but fermentable oligosaccharides that modulate growth and activity of beneficial microbial populations, which can result in enhanced gut health and function. Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) have demonstrated such prebiotic potential. In this study, the effect of GOS supplementation on intestinal bacterial community composition and fermentation profiles; intestinal health, development, and function; and growth was evaluated in dairy calves fed for high rates of growth. Eighty male Holstein calves were assigned either to a control treatment consisting of commercial milk replacer or to a GOS-rich (i.e., 3.4% of dry matter) milk replacer treatment. After 2 and 4wk, 8 calves per treatment were slaughtered at each age. Samples of intestinal digesta and tissue were collected for assessment of bacterial communities, short-chain fatty acid concentrations, in vitro measurement of nutrient transport and permeability, histomorphology, and gastrointestinal organ size. The remaining 48 calves continued to wk 8 to measure body growth, nutrient intake, and fecal and respiratory scores. Calves fed GOS displayed greater Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium relative abundance and more developed intestinal epithelial structures, but also had greater fecal scores presumably related to greater colonic water secretion. Control calves showed slightly better growth and milk dry matter intake. Size of intestinal organs, intestinal nutrient transport, and epithelium paracellular resistance were not affected by treatment. Excessive GOS supplementation had both prebiotic and laxative effects, which led to slightly lower growth performance while promoting commensal bacteria population and greater intestinal epithelium growth.

A protease-resistant α-galactosidase from Pleurotus djamor with broad pH stability and good hydrolytic activity toward raffinose family oligosaccharides

An acidic α-galactosidase designated as PDGI (Pleurotus djamor α-galactosidase) was purified to homogeneity with 290-fold purification and a specific activity of 52.18 units/mg by means of ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. PDGI is a monomeric protein exhibiting a molecular mass of 60kDa in SDS-PAGE and gel filtration. The optimum pH and temperature of the enzyme with pNPGal as substrate were 5.0 and 53.5°C, respectively. It displayed great pH stability within the pH range 3.0–10.0. Besides, the enzyme harbored remarkable resistance to acid protease and varying degrees of tolerance to other proteases: trypsin>collagenase Type-I>α-chymotrypsin neutral protease>proteinaseK. It was strongly inhibited by K+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Hg2+, Al3+, Fe3+ and Ag + ions. The chemical modification reagents diethypyrocarbonate (DEPC), 2,3-butanedione (DIC) and trinitrophenol (TNBS) increased the activity of PDGI 1.5-fold whereas N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and parachloro-mercuri-benzoate (PCMB) drastically suppressed its activity. PDGI displayed activity toward stachyose and raffinose. The Km values for hydrolysis of pNPGal, stachyose and raffinose were 0.76, 7.63 and 6.29mM, respectively. Furthermore, PDGI degraded raffinose and sthachyose. These results suggest that PDGI has great potential for elimination of the non-digestible and flatulence-causing oligosaccharides stachyose and raffinose from legumes.

P.1.c.008 - Effect of early life supplementation of non-digestible oligosaccharides on brain development and behaviour in healthy mice

Since numerous natural components in Eucommia ulmoides belong to phytoestrogen, its effect on hens production deserve more attention. To investigate the potential of E. ulmoides extract used as a feed additive, laying performance, egg quality, yolk cholesterol, yolk fatty acids, yolk fatty, yolk volatile components, albumen amino acids, plasma biochemical parameters, intestinal histology, and gut microbiota of hens (n = 120) were determined between basal diet (A) and dietary supplementation low (B), middle (C), and high (D) level E. ulmoides extract for 11 wk. When compared to A group, 2 percentage points elevation in laying rate was observed of D group. Significant up-regulation of immunoglobulin indexes and down-regulation of lipid related indexes in D group were also found if comparison with A group, suggesting that supplementation E. ulmoides extract at a relative high content benefited in immunity enhancing and blood-fat depressing. Meanwhile, obvious variation in albumen amino acids and yolk volatile compounds were inspected as dietary supplementation E. ulmoides extract, especially in D group, implied that the flavor of egg would change under high-level E. ulmoides extract treatment. Besides, villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum in D group were also significantly higher than that of in A group, indicating high-level E. ulmoides extract contributed to nutrient adsorption via intestinal histology changing. Moreover, the richness, diversity, and composition of gut microbiota in D group also significantly altered with a comparison of A group. These variation caused gut microbiota in D group major enriched in the KEGG pathway of insulin signing pathway, systemic lupus erythematosus, and bacterial invasion of epithelial cells, which were conducive to egg production elevation via facilitating nutrient adsorption, inflammation relieving, blood lipid amelioration, and insulin resistance alleviation. These results indicated that dietary supplementation E. ulmoides extract at high content could serve as a feed additive in the hens industry.

Statistical media optimization for enhanced production of α-galactosidase by a novel Rhizopus oryzae strain SUK

Abstract A novel fungus producing extracellular α-galactosidase was isolated from soybean cultivated soil of Solapur, India. It was identified as Rhizopus oryzae strain SUK using 28S rDNA sequencing. Response surface methodology was used for the optimization of medium components to achieve enhanced production of α-galactosidase by newly isolated Rhizopus oryzae strain SUK in solid state fermentation (SSF). Plackett Burman (PB) design was employed for selection of critical media constituents which were identified as wheat bran, soybean meal and molasses. Further optimization was carried out using Central composite rotatable design (CCRD) which gave optimized media components for production of α-galactosidase with wheat bran; 4 g, soybean meal; 0.5 g, molasses; 0.5 g. α-galactosidase production obtained experimentally has close agreement with the model prediction value and the model was proven to be adequate. Initial enzyme activity was 20.17 U/g which was increased up to 218.54 U/g by CCRD with 17.74fold enhancement proving the efficacy of experimental design for process optimization. TLC analysis confirmed the ability of produced α-galactosidase to hydrolyze the non-digestible oligosaccharides in soymilk, which finally increments nutritional value of soymilk. Stereochemistry of hydrolysis of glycosidic linkage was determined by NMR spectroscopy.

Polydextrose: Physiological Function, and Effects on Health.

Polydextrose (PDX) is a non-digestible oligosaccharide used widely across most sectors of the food industry. It is a randomly linked glucose oligomer containing small amounts of sorbitol and citric acid. The random bonds in PDX prevent mammalian digestive enzymes from readily hydrolyzing the molecule and it has a reported energy value of 1 kcal/g. These properties have led to the acceptance in many countries that PDX provides similar physiological effects as other dietary fibers and has shown prebiotic potential. Dietary intervention with prebiotics has been shown to selectively stimulate the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of intestinal bacteria associated with several physiological benefits on health. Therefore, the objective of this review was a survey of the literature on the effect of supplementation with PDX in health, and to list the benefits for maintaining health and/or reducing the development of diseases.

Inulin-Type Oligosaccharides Extracted from Yacon Produce Antidepressant-Like Effects in Behavioral Models of Depression.

Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius), a traditional food in the Andean diet, is attracting global attention for its medicinal properties, which are mainly because of its high content of non-digestible oligosaccharides. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of inulin-type oligosaccharides extracted from yacon (YOs) in behavioral models of depression. Behavioral despair models in mice including the tail suspension test (TST) and the forced swimming test (FST) were used to determine the effects of acute YOs administration. The locomotor activity was also explored to eliminate any false-positive activity. In addition, to further investigate the antidepressant-like effects of subchronic YOs administration, the learned helplessness (LH) paradigm in rats was performed. The results demonstrated that YOs (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg, p.o.) treatment significantly reduced the immobility time in the mouse TST and FST in a U-shaped, dose-dependent manner, and showed no stimulatory effect on the locomotor activity. Furthermore, subchronic YOs (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg, p.o.) treatment significantly reversed the escape deficits in LH rats, including an increased number of escape failures and prolonged escape latency. These findings suggest that the inulin-type oligosaccharides extracted from yacon may be a prospective natural source for antidepressants. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

New dietary fibre content results for cereals in the Nordic countries using AOAC 2011.25 method

The definition of dietary fibre (DF) has been revised, and an analytical method AOAC 2011.25 is based on the updates. DF content and monosaccharide composition in composite samples from Swedish, Norwegian, Estonian and Finnish wholegrain wheat flour, rye flour and rolled oats were analysed and compared. Furthermore, DF amounts of 11 industrial and 6 commercial Finnish cereal products were analysed. New DF results are needed, since the national Food Composition Databases (FCDBs) currently contain DF values obtained using older methods underestimating some DF components, such as resistant starch and non-digestible oligosaccharides. The total DF amounts of rolled oats and rye flour were similar among countries, but variation was found in wholegrain wheat flour. The analysed cereal products contained 0.2–5.7g/100g oligosaccharides (SDFS), with the highest level in rye bran. Wheat and rye bran were found to be the best sources for total DF (46 and 32g/100g, respectively), wheat bran was a superior source for water-insoluble DF (IDF; 41g/100g), whereas oat bran was found to contain the most water-soluble high molecular weight DF (SDFP; 6g/100g). These new analytical results for total DF are higher than currently presented in FCDBs.

Regulatory T Cell Depletion Abolishes the Protective Effect of Dietary Galacto-Oligosaccharides on Eosinophilic Airway Inflammation in House Dust Mite–Induced Asthma in Mice

Background: In a murine model for house dust mite (HDM)–induced asthma, dietary galacto-oligosaccharides have been shown to suppress allergic symptoms. Previously, CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) induced by nondigestible oligosaccharides were found to protect against allergy development.Objective: The aim of the current study was to examine the effect of anti–CD25-induced Treg depletion in a murine HDM-induced asthma model and to study the contribution of Tregs in the protective effect of dietary intervention with galacto-oligosaccharides.Methods: Male BALB/c mice (aged 6–8 wk) were intranasally sensitized and challenged with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or HDM. Two weeks before sensitization and throughout the whole experiment, mice were fed a control or 1% w/w galacto-oligosaccharide diet. Tregs were depleted by anti-mouse CD25 antibody (intraperitoneally injected). On day 14, T helper cell subtypes in lung and spleen were analyzed and cytokines were measured. Leukocyte subtypes were analyzed in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and interleukin (IL)–33 and chemokines were measured in lung homogenate supernatants.Results: Anti-CD25 treatment depleted CD25+ Forkhead box P3+ Tregs in the lung and spleen of control and HDM-allergic mice (P < 0.0001) by >70% while increasing the percentage of activated T helper cells (P < 0.05) and type 2 T helper cells (P < 0.05). This was associated with increased IL-10, IL-4, and IL-13 concentrations in supernatants of ex vivo restimulated lung cells (P < 0.01). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid leukocyte numbers and percentages of eosinophils and lymphocytes were greater in HDM-allergic mice compared with PBS mice (P < 0.01) but remained unaffected by the anti-CD25 treatment. Galacto-oligosaccharides decreased airway eosinophilia compared with HDM-allergic mice fed the control diet (from 47.8% ± 6.7% to 26.6% ± 8.5%, P < 0.01). This protective effect was lost in anti–CD25-treated mice (P < 0.05). In lung homogenates of HDM-allergic mice, IL-33 was increased compared with PBS mice (from 2.8 ± 0.3 to 5.4 ± 0.6 ng protein/mg, P < 0.01). Galacto-oligosaccharides abrogated the increase in IL-33 compared with HDM-allergic mice fed the control diet (3.0 ± 0.6 ng protein/mg, P < 0.05), which was abolished by the anti-CD25 treatment (P < 0.01).Conclusions: Treg depletion enhances pulmonary type 2 T helper cell frequency and cytokine release in HDM-induced asthma in mice. Galacto-oligosaccharides decreased airway eosinophilia and IL-33 concentrations in the lung, which was abrogated by Treg depletion. This indicates that galacto-oligosaccharides have a beneficial effect in the prevention of HDM-induced allergic asthma by supporting pulmonary Treg function.

Post-sensitization administration of non-digestible oligosaccharides and Bifidobacterium breve M-16V reduces allergic symptoms in mice.

To support dietary management of severe cow's milk allergic infants, a synbiotic mixture of non‐digestible oligosaccharides and Bifidobacterium breve M‐16V (B. breve) was designed from source materials that are completely cow's milk‐free. It was investigated whether this specific synbiotic concept can reduce an established food allergic response in a research model for hen's egg allergy. Mice were orally sensitized once a week for 5 weeks to ovalbumin (OVA) using cholera toxin (CT) as an adjuvant. Non‐sensitized mice received CT in PBS only. Sensitized mice were fed a control diet or a diet enriched with short‐chain‐ (scFOS) and long‐chain fructo‐oligosaccharides (lcFOS), B. breve or scFOSlcFOS + B. breve for 3 weeks starting after the last sensitization. Non‐sensitized mice received the control diet. Anaphylactic shock symptoms, acute allergic skin responses and serum specific IgE, mMCP‐1 and galectin‐9 were measured upon OVA challenge. Activated Th2‐, Th1‐cells and regulatory T‐cells were quantified in spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and cytokine profiles were analyzed. Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) were measured in ceacal samples. The acute allergic skin response was reduced in mice fed the scFOSlcFOS + B. breve diet compared to mice fed any of the other diets. A reduction in mast cell degranulation (mMCP‐1) and anaphylactic shock symptoms was also observed in these mice. Unstimulated splenocyte cultures produced increased levels of IL10 and IFNg in mice fed the scFOSlcFOS + B. breve diet. Correspondingly, increased percentages of activated Th1 cells were observed in the spleen. Allergen‐specific re‐stimulation of splenocytes showed a decrease in IL5 production. In summary; post‐sensitization administration of scFOSlcFOS + B. breve was effective in reducing allergic symptoms after allergen challenge. These effects coincided with changes in regulatory and effector T‐cell subsets and increases in the SCFA propionic acid. These results suggest immune modulatory benefits of dietary intervention with a unique combination of scFOSlcFOS + B. breve in established food allergy. Whether these effects translate to human applications is subject for ongoing clinical studies.

A protease-resistant α-galactosidase from Pleurotus citrinopileatus with broad substrate specificity and good hydrolytic activity on raffinose family oligosaccharides

An acidic α-galactosidase designated as PCGI was isolated from the fruiting bodies of Pleurotus citrinopileatus with 264-fold purification and a specific activity of 7.92units/mg. It was purified to homogeneity by ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. PCGI is a heterodimeric protein consisting of a 33kDa and a 27kDa subunit in SDS-PAGE. The purified enzyme was identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. It belongs to the GH27 family. The optimum pH and temperature of the enzyme with pNPGal as substrate were 4.4 and 50°C, respectively. Besides, it displayed remarkable resistance to acid protease, neutral protease, α-chymotrypsin, and trypsin. It was strongly inhibited by Cd2+, Cu2+, Hg2+, Al3+, Fe3+ and Ag+ ions. Diethypyrocarbonate (DEPC) doubled the activity of PCGI whereas N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) drastically decreased it. PCGI displayed wide substrate diversity with activity toward substrates such as stachyose, raffinose, melibiose. The Km values for hydrolysis of pNPGal, stachyose, raffinose, and melibiose were 0.2, 16.7, 18.9, and 6.3mM, respectively. Galactose (Ki=0.92mM) and melibiose (Ki=7.13mM) competitively inhibited the enzymes. Futhermore, it completely degraded raffinose and sthachyose. These results suggest that PCGI has great potential for removal of the non-digestible and flatulence-causing oligosaccharides stachyose and raffinose from legumes.

Gut microbiota analysis reveals a marked shift to bifidobacteria by a starter infant formula containing a synbiotic of bovine milk-derived oligosaccharides and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CNCM I-3446.

Non-digestible milk oligosaccharides were proposed as receptor decoys for pathogens and as nutrients for beneficial gut commensals like bifidobacteria. Bovine milk contains oligosaccharides, some of which are structurally identical or similar to those found in human milk. In a controlled, randomized double-blinded clinical trial we tested the effect of feeding a formula supplemented with a mixture of bovine milk-derived oligosaccharides (BMOS) generated from whey permeate, containing galacto-oligosaccharides and 3'- and 6'-sialyllactose, and the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (B. lactis) strain CNCM I-3446. Breastfed infants served as reference group. Compared with a non-supplemented control formula, the test formula showed a similar tolerability and supported a similar growth in healthy newborns followed for 12 weeks. The control, but not the test group, differed from the breast-fed reference group by a higher faecal pH and a significantly higher diversity of the faecal microbiota. In the test group the probiotic B. lactis increased by 100-fold in the stool and was detected in all supplemented infants. BMOS stimulated a marked shift to a bifidobacterium-dominated faecal microbiota via increases in endogenous bifidobacteria (B. longum, B. breve, B. bifidum, B. pseudocatenulatum).

World Allergy Organization-McMaster University Guidelines for Allergic Disease Prevention (GLAD-P): Prebiotics

Background The prevalence of allergic diseases in infants, whose parents and siblings do not have allergy, is approximately 10 % and reaches 20–30 % in those with an allergic first-degree relative. Intestinal microbiota may modulate immunologic and inflammatory systemic responses and, thus, influence development of sensitization and allergy. Prebiotics – non-digestible oligosaccharides that stimulate growth of probiotic bacteria – have been reported to modulate immune responses and their supplementation has been proposed as a preventive intervention.Objective The World Allergy Organization (WAO) convened a guideline panel to develop evidence-based recommendations about the use of prebiotics in the prevention of allergy.Methods The WAO guideline panel identified the most relevant clinical questions about the use of prebiotics for the prevention of allergy. We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials of prebiotics, and reviewed the evidence about patient values and preferences, and resource requirements (up to January 2015, with an update on July 29, 2015). We followed the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to develop recommendations.Results Based on GRADE evidence to decision frameworks, the WAO guideline panel suggests using prebiotic supplementation in not-exclusively breastfed infants and not using prebiotic supplementation in exclusively breastfed infants. Both recommendations are conditional and based on very low certainty of the evidence. We found no experimental or observational study of prebiotic supplementation in pregnant women or in breastfeeding mothers. Thus, the WAO guideline panel chose not to provide a recommendation about prebiotic supplementation in pregnancy or during breastfeeding, at this time.Conclusions WAO recommendations about prebiotic supplementation for the prevention of allergy are intended to support parents, clinicians and other health care professionals in their decisions whether or not to use prebiotics for the purpose of preventing allergies in healthy, term infants.