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The Impact of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics during Pregnancy or Lactation on the Intestinal Microbiota of Children Born by Cesarean Section: A Systematic Review.
Martín-Peláez, S, Cano-Ibáñez, N, Pinto-Gallardo, M, Amezcua-Prieto, C
Nutrients. 2022;(2)
Abstract
The gut microbiota is a key factor in the correct development of the gastrointestinal immune system. Studies have found differences between the gut microbiota of newborns delivered by cesarean section compared to those vaginally delivered. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of ingestion of probiotics, prebiotics, or synbiotics during pregnancy and/or lactation on the development of the gut microbiota of the C-section newborns. We selected experimental studies in online databases from their inception to October 2021. Of the 83 records screened, 12 met the inclusion criteria. The probiotics used belonged to the genera Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Propionibacterium, and Streptococcus, or a combination of those, with dosages varying between 2 × 106 and 9 × 1011 CFU per day, and were consumed during pregnancy and/or lactation. Probiotic strains were combined with galacto-oligosaccharides, fructo-oligosaccharides, or bovine milk-derived oligosaccharides in the synbiotic formulas. Probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic interventions led to beneficial gut microbiota in cesarean-delivered newborns, closer to that in vaginally delivered newborns, especially regarding Bifidobacterium colonization. This effect was more evident in breastfed infants. The studies indicate that this beneficial effect is achieved when the interventions begin soon after birth, especially the restoration of bifidobacterial population. Changes in the infant microbial ecosystem due to the interventions seem to continue after the end of the intervention in most of the studies. More interventional studies are needed to elucidate the optimal synbiotic combinations and the most effective strains and doses for achieving the optimal gut microbiota colonization of C-section newborns.
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2.
Role of Gut Microbiota, Probiotics and Prebiotics in the Cardiovascular Diseases.
Oniszczuk, A, Oniszczuk, T, Gancarz, M, Szymańska, J
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 2021;(4)
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in identifying and applying new, naturally occurring molecules that promote health. Probiotics are defined as "live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer health benefits on the host". Quite a few fermented products serve as the source of probiotic strains, with many factors influencing the effectiveness of probiotics, including interactions of probiotic bacteria with the host's microbiome. Prebiotics contain no microorganisms, only substances which stimulate their growth. Prebiotics can be obtained from various sources, including breast milk, soybeans, and raw oats, however, the most popular prebiotics are the oligosaccharides contained in plants. Recent research increasingly claims that probiotics and prebiotics alleviate many disorders related to the immune system, cancer metastasis, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. However, little is known about the role of these supplements as important dietary components in preventing or treating cardiovascular disease. Still, some reports and clinical studies were conducted, offering new ways of treatment. Therefore, the aim of this review is to discuss the roles of gut microbiota, probiotics, and prebiotics interventions in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.
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Effect of a Nutritional Intervention on the Intestinal Microbiota of Vertically HIV-Infected Children: The Pediabiota Study.
Sainz, T, Gosalbes, MJ, Talavera-Rodríguez, A, Jimenez-Hernandez, N, Prieto, L, Escosa, L, Guillén, S, Ramos, JT, Muñoz-Fernández, MÁ, Moya, A, et al
Nutrients. 2020;(7)
Abstract
AIMS: The gut microbiota exerts a critical influence in the immune system. The gut microbiota of human virus immunodeficiency (HIV)-infected children remains barely explored. We aimed to characterize the fecal microbiota in vertically HIV-infected children and to explore the effects of its modulation with a symbiotic nutritional intervention. METHODS a pilot, double blind, randomized placebo-controlled study including HIV-infected children who were randomized to receive a nutritional supplementation including prebiotics and probiotics or placebo for four weeks. HIV-uninfected siblings were recruited as controls. The V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced in fecal samples. RESULTS 22 HIV-infected children on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and with viral load (VL) <50/mL completed the follow-up period. Mean age was 11.4 ± 3.4 years, eight (32%) were male. Their microbiota showed reduced alpha diversity compared to controls and distinct beta diversity at the genus level (Adonis p = 0.042). Patients showed decreased abundance of commensals Faecalibacterium and an increase in Prevotella, Akkermansia and Escherichia. The nutritional intervention shaped the microbiota towards the control group, without a clear directionality. CONCLUSIONS Vertical HIV infection is characterized by changes in gut microbiota structure, distinct at the compositional level from the findings reported in adults. A short nutritional intervention attenuated bacterial dysbiosis, without clear changes at the community level. SUMMARY In a group of 24 vertically HIV-infected children, in comparison to 11 uninfected controls, intestinal dysbiosis was observed despite effective ART. Although not fully effective to restore the microbiota, a short intervention with pre/probiotics attenuated bacterial dysbiosis.
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Gut ecosystem during infancy: The role of "biotics".
Toca, MDC, Burgos, F, Fernández, A, Giglio, N, Orsi, M, Sosa, P, Tabacco, O, Ursino, F, Ussher, F, Vinderola, G
Archivos argentinos de pediatria. 2020;(4):278-285
Abstract
In recent years, the evidence has demonstrated the relevance of the gut microbiota in an individual's health. The dynamics of an early colonization and the establishment of a community of plenty, diverse, and healthy microorganisms from a vaginal delivery and breastfeeding are critical for the development of a healthy immune matrix. The objective of this review is to describe the available evidence on microbiota development in the first year of life and the current possibilities offered by prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotics, and postbiotics during such critical stage of life.
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Gut microbiota modulation: a novel strategy for prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.
Fong, W, Li, Q, Yu, J
Oncogene. 2020;(26):4925-4943
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Abstract
Research about the role of gut microbiome in colorectal cancer (CRC) is a newly emerging field of study. Gut microbiota modulation, with the aim to reverse established microbial dysbiosis, is a novel strategy for prevention and treatment of CRC. Different strategies including probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, antibiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) have been employed. Although these strategies show promising results, mechanistically by correcting microbiota composition, modulating innate immune system, enhancing gut barrier function, preventing pathogen colonization and exerting selective cytotoxicity against tumor cells, it should be noted that they are accompanied by risks and controversies that can potentially introduce clinical complications. During bench-to-bedside translation, evaluation of risk-and-benefit ratio, as well as patient selection, should be carefully performed. In view of the individualized host response to gut microbiome intervention, developing personalized microbiome therapy may be the key to successful clinical treatment.
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Fiber and Prebiotic Interventions in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: What Role Does the Gut Microbiome Play?
Healey, GR, Celiberto, LS, Lee, SM, Jacobson, K
Nutrients. 2020;(10)
Abstract
The etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is complex but is thought to be linked to an intricate interaction between the host's immune system, resident gut microbiome and environment, i.e., diet. One dietary component that has a major impact on IBD risk and disease management is fiber. Fiber intakes in pediatric IBD patients are suboptimal and often lower than in children without IBD. Fiber also has a significant impact on beneficially shaping gut microbiota composition and functional capacity. The impact is likely to be particularly important in IBD patients, where various studies have demonstrated that an imbalance in the gut microbiome, referred to as dysbiosis, occurs. Microbiome-targeted therapeutics, such as fiber and prebiotics, have the potential to restore the balance in the gut microbiome and enhance host gut health and clinical outcomes. Indeed, studies in adult IBD patients demonstrate that fiber and prebiotics positively alter the microbiome and improve disease course. To date, no studies have been conducted to evaluate the therapeutic potential of fiber and prebiotics in pediatric IBD patients. Consequently, pediatric IBD specific studies that focus on the benefits of fiber and prebiotics on gut microbiome composition and functional capacity and disease outcomes are required.
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Prebiotic supplementation over a cold season and during antibiotic treatment specifically modulates the gut microbiota composition of 3-6 year-old children.
Soldi, S, Vasileiadis, S, Lohner, S, Uggeri, F, Puglisi, E, Molinari, P, Donner, E, Sieland, C, Decsi, T, Sailer, M, et al
Beneficial microbes. 2019;(3):253-263
Abstract
Supplementing kindergarten children during a cold season with a prebiotic inulin-type fructans product with shorter and longer fructan chains has been shown to reduce febrile episodes requiring medical attention and to lower the incidence of sinusitis. These beneficial effects may be connected to the specific modulation of children's gut microbiota. By applying quantitative and qualitative microbiota analysis this study aimed at characterising the gut microbiota composition and at exploring effects of prebiotic intervention on the gut microbiota during a 24-weeks intervention and during antibiotic treatment in healthy children. The study was a randomised, placebo-controlled trial with 258 healthy children aged 3 to 6 years consuming 6 g/day prebiotic inulin-type fructans or maltodextrin. During the course of the study, faecal samples were collected and subject to targeted qPCR analysis and phylogenetic profiling by multiplexed high throughput sequencing of the prokaryotic 16S rRNA gene PCR amplicons. The microbiota composition of the cohort could be clustered into three distinct constellations (enterotypes). Prebiotic intake resulted in a selective modulation of the gut microbiota composition. Relative abundance of Bifidobacterium was significantly higher in the prebiotic group (n=104) compared to control group (n=105) and this effect was found for all three enterotypes. Antibiotic administration decreased the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium in both groups. Nonetheless, children of the prebiotic group receiving antibiotic treatment displayed significantly higher levels of Bifidobacterium than children receiving the placebo control. Prebiotic supplementation induced specific changes in the gut microbiota composition of children aged 3 to 6 years. Moreover, it attenuated antibiotic-induced disturbances in the gut microbiota composition as shown by higher relative abundance of bifidobacteria at the end of the antibiotic treatment in the prebiotic group. With the previously reported benefits on immune function, the study contributes to the evidence on the immune-modulating effects of prebiotics through gut microbiota modifications. The study was registered as NCT03241355 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT03241355 ).
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Prebiotics and Probiotics in Digestive Health.
Quigley, EMM
Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association. 2019;(2):333-344
Abstract
As the importance of the gut microbiota in health and disease is increasingly recognized interest in interventions that can modulate the microbiota and its interactions with its host has soared. Apart from diet, prebiotics and probiotics represent the most commonly used substances taken in an effort to sustain a healthy microbiome or restore balance when it is believed bacterial homeostasis has been disturbed in disease. While a considerable volume of basic science attests to the ability of various prebiotic molecules and probiotic strains to beneficially influence host immune responses, metabolic processes and neuro-endocrine pathways, the evidence base from human studies leaves much to be desired. This translational gap owes much to the manner in which this sector is regulated but also speaks to the challenges that confront the investigator who seeks to explore microbiota modulation in either healthy populations or those who suffer from common digestive ailments. For many products marketed as probiotics, some of the most fundamental issues relating to quality control, such as characterization, formulation, viability safety are scarcely addressed.
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Reactive mechanism and the applications of bioactive prebiotics for human health: Review.
Ashwini, A, Ramya, HN, Ramkumar, C, Reddy, KR, Kulkarni, RV, Abinaya, V, Naveen, S, Raghu, AV
Journal of microbiological methods. 2019;:128-137
Abstract
Prebiotics plays an important role in improving the growth of gut bacteria and it majorly found in various natural food sources such as fruits and vegetables. Nowadays, the prebiotic sources are added as a supplement in various food products such as dairy products, beverages, health drinks, infant formulae, and meat products. The presence of prebiotics provides various health benefits such as improveing calcium and magnesium absorption, increases bone density, reduces cancer risk, decreases cardiovascular diseases and also improves the immune system.
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Effects of prebiotics on immunologic indicators and intestinal microbiota structure in perioperative colorectal cancer patients.
Xie, X, He, Y, Li, H, Yu, D, Na, L, Sun, T, Zhang, D, Shi, X, Xia, Y, Jiang, T, et al
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.). 2019;:132-142
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of prebiotics (containing fructooligosaccharides, xylooligosaccharides, polydextrose, and resistant dextrin) intake on immune function and intestinal microbiota structure in perioperative patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS A randomized, double-blind, no-treatment parallel control clinical trial involving 140 perioperative patients (90 men and 50 women, aged 40-75 y) with CRC was performed. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: an intervention group (prebiotic group, n = 70) that received prebiotic supplementation of 30 g/d for 7 d, and a control group (non-prebiotic group, n = 70) that received no prebiotic supplementation. The nutritional and immunologic indices were evaluated for both groups before and after operation and analyzed against baseline values. Moreover, fecal samples were collected from 40 patients randomly chosen from the two groups to study intestinal microbiota, which was analyzed by sequencing the V3-V4 region of 16S ribosomal DNA using the Illumina (San Diego, CA) MiSeq (PE 2 × 300 bp) platform. RESULTS Oral intake of prebiotics produced significant effects on immunologic indices in both the preoperative and postoperative periods, but the patterns of effects were different. In the preoperative period, prebiotics increased serum levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG; P = 0.02), IgM (P = 0.00), and transferrin (P = 0.027; all P < 0.05). In the postoperative period, enhanced levels of IgG (P = 0.003), IgA (P = 0.007), suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (CD3+CD8+; P = 0.043), and total B lymphocytes (CD19+; P = 0.012) were identified in the prebiotic group (all P < 0.05). The differences in the intestinal microbiota at the phylum level were not statistically significant between the intervention and control groups (P > 0.05). At the genus level, prebiotics increased the abundance of Bifidobacterium (P = 0.017) and Enterococcus (P = 0.02; both P < 0.05) but decreased the abundance of Bacteroides (P = 0.04) in the preoperative period (all P < 0.05). In the postoperative period, the abundance of Bacteroides (P = 0.04) was decreased, but the abundance of Enterococcus (P = 0.00), Bacillus (P = 0.01), Lactococcus (P = 0.00), and Streptococcus (P = 0.037) increased in the non-prebiotic group (all P < 0.05); however, no significant change was identified in the abundance of Enterococcus (P = 0.56), Lactococcus (P = 0.07), and Streptococcus (P = 0.56) as a result of prebiotic intervention in this period (all P > 0.05). The abundance of Escherichia-Shigella was increased after prebiotic intake in the postoperative period (P = 0.014, P < 0.05). There was a notable trend of decline in the abundance of intestinal microbiota from preoperative to postoperative in the non-prebiotic group. CONCLUSIONS Prebiotic intake is recommended to improve serum immunologic indicators in patients with CRC 7 d before operation. Prebiotics improved the abundance of four commensal microbiota containing opportunistic pathogens in patients with CRC. Surgical stress decreased the abundance of most intestinal microbiota in the intestinal tract but increased the abundance of some opportunistic pathogens and commensal microbiota. Bacteroides is a relevant bacterial species for further research on the mechanism of prebiotics.