Prebiotics for Gut Health

What Are Prebiotics?

The human gastrointestinal tract contains over 100 trillion microorganisms, collectively referred to as the gut microbiome. This diverse microbial community plays a vital role in many aspects of health, including immune function, nutrient absorption, metabolism, and even brain processes like cognition and mental health. An expanding area of research aims to beneficially modulate the gut microbiota through dietary and lifestyle approaches as a strategy to support overall wellbeing and prevent disease [1].

One such approach is using prebiotics to promote the growth of advantageous gut bacteria through selective fermentation. Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate growth of bacteria already present in the colon [2]. The formal concept of prebiotics was first introduced in 1995, but the definition and scope has expanded over the years as research continues to rapidly evolve [2]. The current consensus definition reached in 2016 defines a prebiotic as “a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit” [2].

Prebiotics vs Probiotics

Unlike probiotics, which directly introduce exogenous live bacteria into the gut, prebiotics selectively stimulate the growth and biological activity of indigenous commensal microbes already residing in the gastrointestinal tract. Prebiotics work as a nutritional substrate regardless of viability [2]. For more information on how probiotics can benefit gut health, check out our blog post Probiotics for Specific Health Conditions.

Probiotics are predominantly found in fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi. On the other hand, prebiotics occur naturally in a wider range of whole plant foods and can also be isolated through extraction or synthesized for functional uses. Food sources containing prebiotics include onions, garlic, bananas, whole grains like oats and barley, legumes, root vegetables such as Jerusalem artichoke, and psyllium [1].

Prebiotics and Gut Bacteria

The best documented prebiotics are fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and galactooligosaccharides (GOS) [1,3]. Human trials have demonstrated these selectively enhance the growth of Bifidobacterium species through fermentation, which confer a number of health benefits which include:

• Stimulating gut barrier function

• Strengthening host immunity

• Reducing potentially pathogenic bacteria

• Enhanced short-chain fatty acid production [1-4].

In a double-blind study, researchers provided obese women either 16 grams per day of prebiotics (a mix of inulin and oligofructose) or placebo (maltodextrin) for 3 months. The prebiotic group exhibited significantly increased bifidobacteria levels in their gut microbiome compared to the placebo group [4]. While the beneficial impact of Bifidobacterium is well understood, human trials on prebiotics for obesity treatment show inconsistent effects so far. This is likely due to differences in study duration, prebiotic doses, and patient population characteristics. While modulation of the gut microbiota with prebiotics holds promise for obesity management, more research is still needed to better characterize the mechanisms, effective strains, dosing, and long-term efficacy [6].

In addition to increasing Bifidobacterium, prebiotics can also elevate levels of other potentially helpful bacteria such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Eubacterium rectale, and certain Lactobacillus strains. At the same time, prebiotics suppress potentially harmful pathogens like Clostridium and Escherichia coli [1-4].

The ability to selectively stimulate advantageous commensal microbes gives prebiotics the potential to benefit digestive health and immune function.

Fermentation of prebiotics by gut microbes yields short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, that serve as an energy source for intestinal cells. Butyrate also helps maintain gut barrier integrity and avoid impairments which would allow bacteria and toxic byproducts to leak into the bloodstream, triggering inflammation [1,3].

A 3-month prebiotic trial in obese women found changes in beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium and F. prausnitzii strongly correlated with decreases in serum lipopolysaccharides, a marker of inflammation. This indicates prebiotics may reduce metabolic endotoxaemia, which is tied to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease risk [4].

Benefits of Prebiotics

Both animal studies and human clinical trials suggest prebiotics may provide the following health benefits, though more research is still needed to confirm efficacy:

• Help lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, improve insulin response and blood glucose regulation, and reduce metabolic endotoxaemia and inflammation [1,4].

• Relieve constipation by increasing stool frequency and weight, reduce gastrointestinal discomfort in digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and improve absorption of key minerals like calcium and magnesium [1,3]

• Enhance resistance to pathogens, modulate development of gut immunity in infants, and alleviate allergy symptoms like eczema, asthma, and food allergies in children [1,3].

• Increase satiety while also tending to lower fat mass accumulation and reduce weight gain. This is likely tied to changes in gut hormones and appetite regulation [1,4].

• Influence production of metabolites that affect cognition, learning, and memory. They also may help decrease anxiety and depression through interactions with the gut-brain axis [2].

Research shows that prebiotics may provide benefits for vulnerable populations such as infants, the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with gastrointestinal disorders like IBS or IBD, and those recovering from infection. Prebiotics may also help reduce risk factors for certain cancers like colon cancer [1-4].

The optimal prebiotic dose and overall efficacy can vary considerably based on individual factors like genetics, age, starting gut microbiome composition, health status, medications, and lifestyle habits. Most studies demonstrating specific health benefits use 2-10 grams of prebiotics daily for several weeks [1].

How to Increase Prebiotic Intake

Some natural food sources containing prebiotics include:

• Onions, garlic, leeks

• Bananas, plantains

• Legumes (lentils, beans, peas, soybeans)

• Nuts and seeds (pistachios, flax, chia)

• Whole grains (oats, barley, rice, quinoa)

• Psyllium

• Root vegetables (Jerusalem artichoke, chicory root, jicama)

However, average fiber intake in the U.S. population is well below ideal levels, at 16.2 grams. This falls well short of expert recommendations of 19-38g per day [5]. To increase consumption, various functional foods and supplements containing isolated or synthetic prebiotic fibers have been developed [1]. Examples of foods supplemented with prebiotics include yogurts, fermented dairy products, breakfast cereals, nutrition and protein bars, baked goods, and fruit juices. Powdered prebiotic supplements providing 2-10 grams per serving are also widely available in formats like capsules, chewables, and mixes to add to smoothies or water.

Isolated prebiotic supplements may be especially useful for those who need higher doses to address gastrointestinal issues, have dietary restrictions, or follow a low-fiber diet. However, ideally prebiotics should come primarily from whole foods that also provide fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and an array of health-promoting compounds.

Incorporating more prebiotic-rich foods and supplements into your diet can help nourish your indigenous gut microbiome and support overall health. However, individual responses can vary quite a bit based on personal factors. Those interested should consult their healthcare provider first, especially if they have digestive disorders, take medications, or are uncertain how prebiotics may impact their condition. As research elucidating connections between the gut microbiota, diet, and health outcomes continues to accelerate, prebiotics hold promise as a therapeutic tool for preventing and treating disease in the future.

As research continues to uncover the intricate links between the gut microbiome, health, and disease risk, modulating the gastrointestinal microbial ecosystem emerges as a promising strategy for improving wellbeing. Prebiotics offer a natural dietary approach to selectively nourish beneficial gut flora and influence health outcomes. Though more studies are needed to better characterize their mechanisms and potential, research indicates prebiotics may benefit digestion, immunity, heart health, weight management, and more. Incorporating prebiotic foods or supplements can be a safe, effective way to optimize your indigenous gut microbiota. If you want to uncover the secrets to your gut health, try out GutChat, our gut-health specialized AI ChatBot, visit our Frequently Asked Questions, or reach out to an Injoy team member at info@injoy.bio to get started on your gut-health journey.

 

Sources

 

1. Slavin, J. (2013). Fiber and prebiotics: mechanisms and health benefits. Nutrients, 5(4), 1417-1435.
2. Gibson, G.R., Hutkins, R., Sanders, M.E., Prescott, S.L., Reimer, R.A., Salminen, S.J., Scott, K., Stanton, C., Swanson, K.S., Cani, P.D. (2017). Expert consensus document: The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of prebiotics. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 14(8), 491-502.
3. Sangwan, V., Tomar, S.K., Singh, R.R., Singh, A.K., Ali, B. (2011). Galactooligosaccharides: novel components of designer foods. Journal of Food Science, 76(4), R103-R111.
4. Dewulf, E.M., Cani, P.D., Claus, S.P., Fuentes, S., Puylaert, P.G., Neyrinck, A.M., Bindels, L.B., de Vos, W.M., Gibson, G.R., Thissen, J.P., Delzenne, N.M. (2013). Insight into the prebiotic concept: lessons from an exploratory, double blind intervention study with inulin-type fructans in obese women. Gut, 62(8), 1112-1121.
5. Quagliani, Diane, and Patricia Felt-Gunderson. “Closing America’s Fiber Intake Gap: Communication Strategies from a Food and Fiber Summit.” American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 7 July 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6124841/.
6. Cerdó, Tomás, et al. “The Role of Probiotics and Prebiotics in the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity.” Nutrients, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 15 Mar. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6470608/.