Novel probiotic preparation with gluten degrading activity
We carried out a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled in vivo challenge to assess the gluten degradation of a novel probiotic preparation. Probiotic/placebo administration to 70 healthy volunteers lasted 32 days, followed by 10 days wash-out. After a preliminary gluten free diet (GFD) to eliminate gluten from faecal material, increasing amounts of gluten (50 mg to 10 g) were administered, each one for 4 consecutive days. Compared to placebo, the faecal material of volunteers fed with probiotics showed much lower amounts of residual gluten. This became more evident with increased gluten intakes. Probiotics proacted beneficial gut microbiota genera such (e.g., Bifidobacterium). RT-PCR confirmed that all probiotics persisted during intervention, some also during wash-out. Probiotics promoted a faecal metabolome with potential immunomodulating activity, mainly related to derivatives of branched chain amino acids and short chain fatty acids. Our probiotic preparation is suitable for people suffering from gluten related disorders during GFD and for healthy individuals because it enhances gluten digestion and promotes gut microbiota functionality.