A randomised, double- blind, cross-over study investigating the prebiotic effect of agave fructans in healthy human subjects

Content Provider	Scilit
Author	Ramnani, P. Costabile, A. Bustillo, A. G. R. Gibson, G. R.
Copyright Year	2015
Abstract	This placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind, cross-over human feeding study aimed to determine the prebiotic effect of agave fructans. A total of thirty-eight volunteers completed this trial. The treatment consisted of 3 weeks' supplementation with 5 g/d of prebiotic agave fructan (Predilife) or equivalent placebo (maltodextrin), followed by a 2-week washout period following which subjects were crossed over to alternate the treatment arm for 3 weeks followed by a 2-week washout. Faecal samples were collected at baseline, on the last day of treatment (days 22 and 58) and washout (days 36 and 72), respectively. Changes in faecal bacterial populations, SCFA and secretory IgA were assessed using fluorescentin situhybridisation, GC and ELISA, respectively. Bowel movements, stool consistencies, abdominal comfort and mood changes were evaluated by a recorded daily questionnaire. In parallel, the effect of agave fructans on different regions of the colon using a three-stage continuous culture simulator was studied. Predilife significantly increased faecal bifidobacteria $(log_{10}$9·6 (sd0·4)) and lactobacilli $(log_{10}$7·7 (sd0·8)) compared with placebo $(log_{10}$9·2 (sd0·4);P = 0·00) $(log_{10}$7·4 (sd0·7);P= 0·000), respectively. No change was observed for other bacterial groups tested, SCFA, secretory IgA, and $PGE_{2}$concentrations between the treatment and placebo. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis indicated that bacterial communities were randomly dispersed and no significant differences were observed between Predilife and placebo treatments. Thein vitromodels showed similar increases in bifidobacterial and lactobacilli populations to that observed with thein vivotrial. To conclude, agave fructans are well tolerated in healthy human subjects and increased bifidobacteria and lactobacilli numbersin vitroandin vivobut did not influence other products of fermentation.
Related Links	https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4463010/pdf https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/3AB29B7E18369E99420867CBE28484F7/S2048679014000688a.pdf/div-class-title-a-randomised-double-blind-cross-over-study-investigating-the-prebiotic-effect-of-agave-fructans-in-healthy-human-subjects-div.pdf
ISSN	20486790
e-ISSN	20486790
DOI	10.1017/jns.2014.68
Journal	Journal of nutritional science
Volume Number	4
Language	English
Publisher	Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Publisher Date	2015-01-01
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	Journal of nutritional science Nutrition and Dietetics Agave Fructans Gut Microbiota Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis Fluorescent in Situ Hybridisation Secretory Iga Steady State 1 Steady State 2
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Nutrition and Dietetics Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Food Science