Gut balance, a synbiotic supplement, increases fecal Lactobacillus paracasei but has little effect on immunity in healthy physically active individuals
Date
2012
Authors
West, Nicholas P
Pyne, David
Cripps, Allan
Christophersen, Claus T
Conlon, Michael A
Fricker, Peter
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Landes Bioscience
Abstract
Synbiotic supplements, which contain multiple functional ingredients, may enhance the immune system more than the use of individual ingredients alone. A double blind active controlled parallel trial over a 21 d exercise training period was conducted to evaluate the effect of Gut BalanceTM, which contains Lactobacillus paracasei subsp paracasei (L. casei 431®), Bifidobacterium animalis ssp lactis (BB-12®), Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA-5®), Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG®), two prebiotics (raftiline and raftilose) and bovine whey derived lactoferrin and immunoglobulins with acacia g um on fecal microbiota,short chain fatty acids (SC FA), gut permeability, salivary lactoferrin and serum cytokines. All subjects randomized were included in the analysis. There was a 9-fold (1.2-fold to 64-fold; 95% confidence intervals p = 0.03) greater increase in fecal L. paracasei numbers with Gut BalanceTM compared with acacia gum suppleme ntation. Gut BalanceTM was associated with a 50% (-12% to 72%; p = 0.02) smaller increase in the concentration of serum IL-16 in comparison to acacia gum from pre- to post-study. No substantial effects of either supplement were evident in fecal SC FA concentrations, measures of mucosal immunity or GI permeability. Clinical studies are now required to determine whether Gut BalanceTM may exert beneficial GI health effects by increasing the recovery of fecal L. paracasei. Both supplements had little effect on immunity. Twenty two healthy physically active male subjects (mean age = 33.9 ± 6.5 y) were randomly allocated to either daily prebiotic or synbiotic supplementation for 21 d. Saliva, blood, urine and fecal samples were collected pre-, mid and post-intervention. Participants recorded patterns of physical activity on a self-reported questionnaire.
Description
Keywords
Keywords: biosource gut balance; gamma interferon; gum arabic; immunoglobulin; interleukin 12p70; interleukin 16; interleukin 18; lactoferrin; prebiotic agent; raftiline; raftilose; short chain fatty acid; synbiotic agent; unclassified drug; abdominal pain; adult; Acacia gum; Athletes; Gut balance; Immune function; Microbiota; Prebiotics; Synbiotics
Citation
Collections
Source
Gut Microbes
Type
Journal article