title: Synbiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and cellobiose does not affect human gut bacterial diversity but increases abundance of lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and branched-chain fatty acids: a randomized, double-blinded cross-over trial.
abstract: Probiotics, prebiotics, and combinations thereof, that is synbiotics, have been reported to modulate gut microbiota of humans. In this study, effects of a novel synbiotic on the composition and metabolic activity of human gut microbiota were investigated. Healthy volunteers (n = 18) were enrolled in a double-blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled cross-over study and received synbiotic [Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM (10(9) CFU) and cellobiose (5 g)] or placebo daily for 3 weeks. Fecal samples were collected and lactobacilli numbers were quantified by qPCR. Furthermore, 454 tag-encoded amplicon pyrosequencing was used to monitor the effect of synbiotic on the composition of the microbiota. The synbiotic increased levels of Lactobacillus spp. and relative abundances of the genera Bifidobacterium, Collinsella, and Eubacterium while the genus Dialister was decreased (P < 0.05). No other effects were found on microbiota composition. Remarkably, however, the synbiotic increased concentrations of branched-chain fatty acids, measured by gas chromatography, while short-chain fatty acids were not affected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark; Enzyme and Protein Chemistry, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Copenhagen, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Gabriella C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: van Zanten
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Krych
authors.forename: Henna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Röytiö
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Forssten
authors.forename: Sampo J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lahtinen
authors.forename: Waleed
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Abu Al-Soud
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.forename: Birte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.forename: Lene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jespersen
authors.forename: Mogens
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jakobsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D044822:Biodiversity; D002475:Cellobiose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota; D058616:Synbiotics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D002475:Cellobiose
keywords: Bifidobacterium; Lactobacillus; branched-chain fatty acids; human trial; microbial community sequencing; synbiotics