title: Effect of prebiotics on the fecal microbiota of elderly volunteers after dietary supplementation of Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086.
abstract: In advancing age, gut populations of beneficial microbes, notably Bifidobacterium spp., show a marked decline. This contributes to an environment less capable of maintaining homoeostasis. This in vitro investigation studied the possible synergistic effects of probiotic supplementation in modulating the gut microbiota enabling prebiotic therapy to in elderly persons. Single stage batch culture anaerobic fermenters were used and inoculated with fecal microbiota obtained from volunteers after taking a 28 day treatment of Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 (GanedenBC30 (BC30)) or a placebo. The response to prebiotic supplements fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and galactooligosaccharides (GOS) in the fermenters was assessed. Bacterial enumeration was carried out using fluorescent in situ hybridisation and organic acids measured by gas chromatography. Baseline populations of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Clostridium lituseburense and Bacillus spp. were significantly higher in those having consumed BC30 compared to the placebo. Both prebiotics increased populations of several purportedly beneficial bacterial groups in both sets of volunteers. Samples from volunteers having ingested the BC30 also increased populations of C. lituseburense, Eubacterium rectale and F. prausnitzii more so than in persons who had consumed the placebo, this also resulted in significantly higher concentrations of butyrate, acetate and propionate. This shows that consumption of BC30 and subsequent use of prebiotics resulted in elevated populations of beneficial genres of bacteria as well as organic acid production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AP, United Kingdom. Electronic address: e.p.nyangale@reading.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Edna P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Nyangale
authors.affiliation: Ganeden Biotech, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124, United States.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farmer
authors.affiliation: Ganeden Biotech, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124, United States.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.affiliation: Schiff Nutrition, Salt Lake City, UT 84104, United States.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chernoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AP, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Glenn R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Gibson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001407:Bacillus / Q000254:growth & development*; D058491:Bacterial Load; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010919:Placebos / Q000008:administration & dosage; D056692:Prebiotics; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014838:Volunteers
chemical_list: D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D010919:Placebos; D056692:Prebiotics
keywords: Bacillus coagulans; Batch culture fermentation; Fructooligosaccharides; Galactooligosaccharides; Probiotic; Synbiotic