title: Combined effects of oligofructose and Bifidobacterium animalis on gut microbiota and glycemia in obese rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prebiotics and probiotics may be able to modify an obesity-associated gut microbiota. The aim of this study was to examine the individual and combined effects of the prebiotic oligofructose (OFS) and the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 (BB-12) on gut microbiota and host metabolism in obese rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult male, diet-induced obese Sprague Dawley rats were randomized to: (1) Control (C); (2) 10% OFS; (3) BB-12; (4) OFS + BB-12 for 8 weeks (n = 9-10 rats/group). Body composition, glycemia, gut permeability, satiety hormones, cytokines, and gut microbiota were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prebiotic, but not probiotic reduced energy intake, weight gain, and fat mass (P < 0.01). OFS, BB-12, and the combined OFS + BB-12 improved glycemia (P < 0.05). Individually, OFS and BB-12 reduced insulin levels (P < 0.05). Portal GLP-1 was increased with OFS, whereas probiotic increased GLP-2 (P < 0.05). There was a marked increase in bifidobacteria and lactobacilli (P < 0.01) with OFS that was not observed with probiotic alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The impact of prebiotic intake on body composition and gut microbiota was of greater magnitude than the probiotic BB-12. Despite this, an improvement in glucose AUC with both prebiotic or probiotic demonstrates the beneficial role of each of these "biotic" agents in glycemic control.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Marc R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bomhof
authors.forename: Dolan C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: Danielle T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Heather A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Raylene A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Reimer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001644:Bifidobacterium; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001823:Body Composition; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053767:Glucagon-Like Peptide 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007777:Lactobacillaceae; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D056692:Prebiotics / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D053767:Glucagon-Like Peptide 2; D007328:Insulin; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D056692:Prebiotics; C120489:oligofructose; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1