Microbiological Effects of Consuming a Synbiotic Containing Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium lactis, and Oligofructose in Elderly Persons, Determined by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction and Counting of Viable Bacteria
TL;DR: Synbiotic consumption increased the size and diversity of protective fecal bifidobacterial populations, which are often very much reduced in older people.
Abstract: Background Because of changes in gut physiology, immune system reactivity, and diet, elderly people are more susceptible to gastrointestinal infections than are younger adults. The gut microflora, which provides a natural defense against invading microorganisms, changes in elderly people with the development of potentially damaging bacterial populations, which may lead to alterations in bacterial metabolism and higher levels of infection. Methods A randomized, double-blind, controlled feeding trial was done with 18 healthy elderly volunteers (age, >62 years) using a synbiotic comprising Bifidobacterium bifidum BB-02 and Bifidobacterium lactis BL-01 (probiotics) together with an inulin-based prebiotic (Synergy 1; Orafti). Real-time PCR was employed to quantitate total bifidobacteria, B. bifidum, and B. lactis in fecal DNA before, during, and after synbiotic consumption. Counting all viable anaerobes, bifidobacteria, and lactobacilli and identification of bacterial isolates to species level was also done. Results Throughout feeding, both bifidobacteria species were detected in fecal samples obtained from all subjects receiving the synbiotic, with significant increases in the number of copies of the 16S rRNA genes of B. bifidum, B. lactis, and total bifidobacteria, compared with the control week and the placebo group. At least 1 of these species remained detectable in fecal samples 3 weeks after feeding in individuals that had no fecal B. bifidum and/or B. lactis in the control week, indicating that the probiotics persisted in the volunteers. Counting of viable organisms showed significantly higher total numbers of fecal bifidobacteria, total numbers of lactobacilli, and numbers of B. bifidum during synbiotic feeding. Conclusion Synbiotic consumption increased the size and diversity of protective fecal bifidobacterial populations, which are often very much reduced in older people.
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04 Apr 2014
5 citations
TL;DR: The synbiotic treatment contributes to higher biodiversity of the gut microbiota, increasing the community richness with respect to the group with the prebiotics alone and the placebo group and its positive effect is also reflected in the variation of microbial community structure favoring the beneficial short-chain fatty acids bacterial producers.
Abstract: The gut microbiota is implicated in diverse interactions affecting human health. The present study reports a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study conducted by administering a new synbiotic formulation composed of two Lactobacillus strains (L. plantarum and L. acidophilus) and one Bifidobacterium strain (B. animalis subsp. lactis) and two types of fructans (fructo-oligosaccharides with a degree of polymerization of 3–5 and inulin-type fructans with 10 DP). The effects of this synbiotic were evaluated on healthy subjects for 28 days and the maintenance of its efficacy was evaluated at the end of a follow-up period of 28 days. The synbiotic treatment contributes to higher biodiversity of the gut microbiota, increasing the community richness with respect to the group with the prebiotics alone and the placebo group. Its positive effect is also reflected in the variation of microbial community structure favoring the beneficial short-chain fatty acids bacterial producers. The amelioration of the health status of the subjects was also established by the reduction of common infectious disease symptom incidence, the stimulation of the gut immune system showing a noteworthy variation of fecal β-defensin2 and calprotectin levels, and the modulation of the response of the respiratory tract’s immune system by salivary IgA as well as total antioxidant capacity biomarkers.
5 citations
01 Jan 2018
TL;DR: The clinical evidences available on the beneficial effects obtained by dosing selected strains of bifidobacteria or feeding human subjects with prebiotic substances will be addressed, taking into consideration different stages in aging.
Abstract: The chapter begins with an overview of the definitions of the three terms presented in the title, from both a scientific and a regulatory point of view. Then the clinical evidences available on the beneficial effects obtained by dosing selected strains of bifidobacteria or feeding human subjects with prebiotic substances will be addressed, taking into consideration different stages in aging (neonatal life, adulthood, and elders in their “ golden years”). A section will be devoted to “therapeutic” use of bifidobacteria, that is, administration to subjects in pathological conditions. A final section will be devoted to an update on the mechanisms of action of probiotic bifidobacteria, as well as the impact of prebiotics studies by means of microbiome analysis.
5 citations
TL;DR: A multimodal approach integrating the use of pharmacologic and CAM treatments, including biotherapeutic drainage, holds promise as an effective treatment for IC patients.
Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to observe the effect of a combined pharmacologic and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatment, which included biotherapeutic drainage, for a young woman with interstitial cystitis (IC). Patient and Methods A 17-year old female patient was referred for treatment with a 2-year diagnosis of IC and dissatisfaction with her 3-month use of Elmiron. She was kept on Elmiron and prescribed additional CAM treatments, including biotherapeutic drainage, combination homeopathic medications, and asked to keep a journal. The resolution of her symptoms occurred during a 6-month period. She was followed for 2 years. Results After the first month of treatment, the patient's symptoms greatly diminished. By the end of the second month, she discontinued use of Elmiron, with the exception of one acute dose in the fourth month. By the sixth month of treatment, her symptoms had resolved. Discussion A multimodal approach integrating the use of pharmacologic and CAM treatments, including biotherapeutic drainage, holds promise as an effective treatment for IC patients.
4 citations
01 Jan 2018
TL;DR: This chapter discusses therapeutic strategies that utilize pro- and prebiotic treatments, as means to promote normal microbiota balance and maintain normal local GI functions, while potentially intervening in inflammation-based conditions.
Abstract: Dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota making up the human microbiome can have a profound influence on energy and immune homeostasis, which result in significant metabolic and immunologic effects on the host, ultimately leading to many local and systemic diseases. Diet, as it contains components that provide energy to the host microbiota, plays a significant role in the maintenance of the complex microbiome. High-fat and high sugar diets, and diets that are low in fermentable fiber lead to dysbiosis, while diets low in fat and sugar, and high in fermentable fiber, particularly prebiotic fiber, can significantly promote proper energy homeostasis and immune response to reduce disease risk and promote overall health. In healthy condition, dietary modification, as well as treatment with pro- and prebiotic use, can help maintain proper microbiota balance and promote proper energy and immune homeostasis. In a dysbiotic condition, dietary modification, as well as treatment with pro- and prebiotics, and, in more severe cases, complete restoration of fecal microbiota through stool transplantation, may help intervene in a disease state. This chapter discusses therapeutic strategies that utilize pro- and prebiotic treatments, as means to promote normal microbiota balance and maintain normal local GI functions, while potentially intervening in inflammation-based conditions. In addition, fecal microbiota transplantation is discussed as therapy to intervene in more severe infections or inflammatory conditions.
4 citations
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TL;DR: By combining the rationale of pro- and prebiotics, the concept of synbiotics is proposed to characterize some colonic foods with interesting nutritional properties that make these compounds candidates for classification as health-enhancing functional food ingredients.
Abstract: Because the human gut microbiota can play a major role in host health, there is currently some interest in the manipulation of the composition of the gut flora towards a potentially more remedial community. Attempts have been made to increase bacterial groups such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus that are perceived as exerting health-promoting properties. Probiotics, defined as microbial food supplements that beneficially affect the host by improving its intestinal microbial balance, have been used to change the composition of colonic microbiota. However, such changes may be transient, and the implantation of exogenous bacteria therefore becomes limited. In contrast, prebiotics are nondigestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacterial species already resident in the colon, and thus attempt to improve host health. Intake of prebiotics can significantly modulate the colonic microbiota by increasing the number of specific bacteria and thus changing the composition of the microbiota. Nondigestible oligosaccharides in general, and fructooligosaccharides in particular, are prebiotics. They have been shown to stimulate the growth of endogenous bifidobacteria, which, after a short feeding period, become predominant in human feces. Moreover, these prebiotics modulate lipid metabolism, most likely via fermentation products. By combining the rationale of pro- and prebiotics, the concept of synbiotics is proposed to characterize some colonic foods with interesting nutritional properties that make these compounds candidates for classification as health-enhancing functional food ingredients.
7,232 citations
"Microbiological Effects of Consumin..." refers background in this paper
...Inulin-type fructans are commonly used prebiotics, which have been defined as nondigestible dietary components that selectively stimulate the growth and/or activities of bacteria in the large bowel [15]....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used probiotic treatments to re-establish the natural condition which exists in the wild animal but which has been disrupted by modern trends in conditions used for rearing young animals, including human babies, and in modern approaches to nutrition and disease therapy.
Abstract: There is good evidence that the complex microbial flora present in the gastrointestinal tract of all warm-blooded animals is effective in providing resistance to disease. However, the composition of this protective flora can be altered by dietary and environmental influences, making the host animal susceptible to disease and/or reducing its efficiency of food utilization. What we are doing with the probiotic treatments is re-establishing the natural condition which exists in the wild animal but which has been disrupted by modern trends in conditions used for rearing young animals, including human babies, and in modern approaches to nutrition and disease therapy. These are all areas where the gut flora can be altered for the worse and where, by the administration of probiotics, the natural balance of the gut microflora can be restored and the animal returned to its normal nutrition, growth and health status.
4,055 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: These are all areas where the gut flora can be altered for the worse and where, by the administration of probiotics, the natural balance of the gut microflora can be restored and the animal returned to its normal nutrition, growth and health status.
Abstract: There is good evidence that the complex microbial flora present in the gastrointestinal tract of all warm-blooded animals is effective in providing resistance to disease. However, the composition of this protective flora can be altered by dietary and environmental influences, making the host animal susceptible to disease and/or reducing its efficiency of food utilization. What we are doing with the probiotic treatments is re-establishing the natural condition which exists in the wild animal but which has been disrupted by modern trends in conditions used for rearing young animals, including human babies, and in modern approaches to nutrition and disease therapy. These are all areas where the gut flora can be altered for the worse and where, by the administration of probiotics, the natural balance of the gut microflora can be restored and the animal returned to its normal nutrition, growth and health status.
3,391 citations
TL;DR: This work has created a phylogenetically arranged report on rRNA gene copy number for a diverse collection of prokaryotic microorganisms in an attempt to understand the evolutionary implications of rRNA operon redundancy.
Abstract: The Ribosomal RNA Operon Copy Number Database (rrndb) is an Internet-accessible database containing annotated information on rRNA operon copy number among prokaryotes. Gene redundancy is uncommon in prokaryotic genomes, yet the rRNA genes can vary from one to as many as 15 copies. Despite the widespread use of 16S rRNA gene sequences for identification of prokaryotes, information on the number and sequence of individual rRNA genes in a genome is not readily accessible. In an attempt to understand the evolutionary implications of rRNA operon redundancy, we have created a phylogenetically arranged report on rRNA gene copy number for a diverse collection of prokaryotic microorganisms. Each entry (organism) in the rrndb contains detailed information linked directly to external websites including the Ribosomal Database Project, GenBank, PubMed and several culture collections. Data contained in the rrndb will be valuable to researchers investigating microbial ecology and evolution using 16S rRNA gene sequences. The rrndb web site is directly accessible on the WWW at http://rrndb.cme.msu.edu.
1,051 citations
Additional excerpts
...The aim of this double-blind, randomized, controlled feeding trial was to study the effects of ingestion of a synbiotic containing 2 bifidobacterial species (Bifidobacterium bifidum BB-02 and Bifidobacterium lactis BL-01) and oligofructose on the composition of intestinal bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus populations in older people....
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...Another reason why rRNA gene copy numbers were higher than cell numbers is that rRNA operons vary widely in bacteria, and between 2 to 5 rRNA operons have been found in different species belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium [34]....
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...A randomized, double-blind, controlled feeding trial was done with 18 healthy elderly volunteers (age, 162 years) using a synbiotic comprising Bifidobacterium bifidum BB-02 and Bifidobacterium lactis BL-01 (probiotics) together with an inulin-based prebiotic (Synergy 1; Orafti)....
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...With use of primers specific for the genus Bifidobacterium, significantly higher copy numbers of target DNA were found in the synbiotic group during the feeding period (weeks 4 and 5) and during the postfeeding period (weeks 6 and 8) (table 4)....
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...Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium angulatum, and Bi- Synbiotic Feeding Study • CID 2005:40 (1 January) • 33 fidobacterium dentium predominated (table 2); Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, and Bifidobacterium pullorum were occasionally found; and Bifidobacterium boum and Bifidobacterium catenulatum were detected in only a few stool samples....
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TL;DR: Since the total culturable counts were only a fraction of the total microscopic counts, the contribution of bifidobacteria to the total intestinal microflora was overestimated by almost 10-fold when cultural methods were used as the sole method for enumeration.
Abstract: Three 16S rRNA hybridization probes were developed and tested for genus-specific detection of Bifidobacterium species in the human fecal flora. Variable regions V2, V4, and V8 of the 16S rRNA contained sequences unique to this genus and proved applicable as target sites for oligodeoxynucleotide probes. Determination of the genus specificity of the oligonucleotides was performed by whole-cell hybridization with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled probes. To this end, cells were fixed on glass slides, hybridized with the probes, and monitored by videomicroscopy. In combination with image analysis, this allowed quantification of the fluorescence per cell and objective evaluation of hybridization experiments. One of the probes developed was used to determine the population of Bifidobacterium spp. in human fecal samples. A comparison was made with results obtained by cultural methods for enumeration. Since both methods gave similar population estimates, it was concluded that all bifidobacteria in feces were culturable. However, since the total culturable counts were only a fraction of the total microscopic counts, the contribution of bifidobacteria to the total intestinal microflora was overestimated by almost 10-fold when cultural methods were used as the sole method for enumeration.
979 citations
"Microbiological Effects of Consumin..." refers background in this paper
...Bifidobacterium genus Bif164F 5′-GGG TGG TAA TGC CGG ATG-3′ 457 59 [22] Bif601R 5′-TAA GCC ATG GAC TTT CAC ACC-3′ ....
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