Effects of food matrix on the prebiotic efficacy of inulin-type fructans: a randomised trial

Recently there is much debate in the scientific community over the impact of the food matrix on prebiotic efficacy of inulin-type fructans. Previous studies suggest that prebiotic selectivity of inulin-type fructans towards bifidobacteria is unaffected by the food matrix. Due to differences in study design, definitive conclusions cannot be drawn from these findings with any degree of certainty. In this randomised trial, we aimed to determine the effects that different food matrices had on the prebiotic efficacy of inulin-type fructans following a standardised 10-day, 4-arm, parallel, randomised protocol with inulin either in pure form or incorporated into shortbread biscuits, milk chocolate or a rice drink. Similar increases in Bifidobacterium counts were documented across all four interventions using both fluorescence in situ hybridisation (pure inulin: +0.63; shortbread: +0.59; milk chocolate: +0.65 and rice drink: +0.71 (log10 cells/g wet faeces) and 16S rRNA sequencing quantitative microbiome profiling data (pure inulin: +1.21 × 109; shortbread: +1.47 × 109; milk chocolate: +8.59 × 108 and rice drink: +1.04 × 109 (cells/g wet faeces) (all P ≤ 0.05). From these results, we can confirm that irrespective of the food matrix, the selectivity of inulin-type fructans towards Bifidobacterium is unaffected, yet the compositional make-up of the food matrix may have implications regarding wider changes in the microbiota.

The Potential Role of Human Milk Oligosaccharides in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is the most common gastrointestinal (GI) disorder in Western populations and therefore a major public health/economic concern. However, despite extensive research, psychological and physiological factors that contribute to the aetiology of IBS remain poorly understood. Consequently, clinical management of IBS is reduced to symptom management through various suboptimal options. Recent evidence has suggested human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) as a potential therapeutic option for IBS. Here, we review literature concerning the role of HMOs in IBS, including data from intervention and in vitro trials. HMO supplementation shows promising results in altering the gut microbiota and improving IBS symptoms, for instance by stimulating bifidobacteria. Further research in adults is required into HMO mechanisms, to confirm the preliminary results available to date and recommendations of HMO use in IBS.