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Probiotic Supplementation Improves Cognitive Function and Mood with Changes in Gut Microbiota in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Trial.
Kim, CS, Cha, L, Sim, M, Jung, S, Chun, WY, Baik, HW, Shin, DM
The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. 2021;76(1):32-40
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Plain language summary
Aging is characterized by progressive decline in biological functions of the organism. Diet is one of the critical lifestyle factors for physical and mental well-being throughout the life span, including later life. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of probiotics consumption on intestinal and brain health in elders over the age of 65. This study is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial. All participants, study coordinators, and researchers were blinded throughout the entire study. Sixty-three participants were randomized, with 31 and 32 subjects in the placebo and probiotics group, respectively. Results demonstrate that probiotics have system-wide effects on the gut–brain axis in healthy community-dwelling older adults by promoting cognitive and mental health and changing the gut microbial composition. Authors conclude that their findings provide evidence that probiotics have health-promoting properties as part of a healthy diet in the general population of independently living older adults.
Abstract
Probiotics have been proposed to ameliorate cognitive impairment and depressive disorder via the gut-brain axis in patients and experimental animal models. However, the beneficial role of probiotics in brain functions of healthy older adults remains unclear. Therefore, a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled multicenter trial was conducted to determine the effects of probiotics on cognition and mood in community-dwelling older adults. Sixty-three healthy elders (≥65 years) consumed either placebo or probiotics containing Bifidobacterium bifidum BGN4 and Bifidobacterium longum BORI for 12 weeks. The gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatics. Brain functions were measured using the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease, Satisfaction with life scale, stress questionnaire, Geriatric depression scale, and Positive affect and negative affect schedule. Blood brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Relative abundance of inflammation-causing gut bacteria was significantly reduced at Week 12 in the probiotics group (p < .05). The probiotics group showed greater improvement in mental flexibility test and stress score than the placebo group (p < .05). Contrary to placebo, probiotics significantly increased serum BDNF level (p < .05). Notably, the gut microbes significantly shifted by probiotics (Eubacterium and Clostridiales) showed significant negative correlation with serum BDNF level only in the probiotics group (RS = -0.37, RS = -0.39, p < .05). In conclusion, probiotics promote mental flexibility and alleviate stress in healthy older adults, along with causing changes in gut microbiota. These results provide evidence supporting health-promoting properties of probiotics as a part of healthy diet in the older adults.
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Effects of Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus on Gut Microbiota in Patients with Lactose Intolerance and Persisting Functional Gastrointestinal Symptoms: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Cross-Over Study.
Vitellio, P, Celano, G, Bonfrate, L, Gobbetti, M, Portincasa, P, De Angelis, M
Nutrients. 2019;11(4)
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Functional gastrointestinal diseases (FGIDs) are the most common cause of gastrointestinal disturbance in global population. Probiotic supplementation is a valid approach to maintain the balance of the intestinal microbiota [micro-organisms], the composition of which could be altered by several factors. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a novel formulation of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 [probiotics] with vitamin B6 (ZR) on symptoms, gut microbiota, and metabolome in a cohort of patients with persisting FGIDs on a lactose-free diet. The study is a cross-over randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study which enrolled 23 subjects. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of the two groups: ZR or placebo. Results indicate consistent amelioration of some gastrointestinal symptoms, intestinal microbiota, and related metabolism with ZR, compared with placebo. Moreover, faecal microbiome differed between the ZR and placebo group, and ZR drove the enrichment of several genera involved in lactose [sugar naturally found in milk] digestion including Bifidobacerium. Authors conclude that probiotic and vitamin B6 treatment may be useful to alleviate symptoms in subjects with lactose intolerance and persistent FGIDs through a positive modulation of gut microbial composition and relative metabolism.
Abstract
Functional gastrointestinal symptoms are frequent, and may be driven by several pathogenic mechanisms. Symptoms may persist in lactose intolerant (LI) patients (i.e., subjects with intestinal lactase deficiency, lactose malabsorption producing symptoms), after a lactose-free diet. Our hypothesis was that probiotic and vitamin B6 treatment may be useful to alleviate symptoms in LI patients through a positive modulation of gut microbial composition and relative metabolism. We aimed to test the efficacy of a novel formulation of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 plus vitamin B6 (ZR) in 23 LI subjects with persistent symptoms during a lactose-free diet. Symptoms, microbiome, and metabolome were measured at baseline and after 30 days in a crossover, randomized, double-blind study of ZR versus placebo (PL). Compared with PL, the administration of probiotics and vitamin B6 significantly decreased bloating (p = 0.028) and ameliorated constipation (p = 0.045). Fecal microbiome differed between ZR and PL. ZR drove the enrichment of several genera involved in lactose digestion including Bifidobacerium. Moreover, the relative abundance of acetic acid, 2-methyl-propanoic acid, nonenal, and indolizine 3-methyl increased, while phenol decreased. Our findings highlight the importance of selected probiotics and vitamin B6 to alleviate symptoms and gut dysbiosis in lactose intolerant patients with persistent functional gastrointestinal symptoms.