Dietary Modulation of the Human Colonic Microbiota: Introducing the Concept of Prebiotics

doi:10.1093/jn/125.6.1401

The Journal of Nutrition

Volume 125, Issue 6, June 1995, Pages 1401-1412

https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/125.6.1401 Get rights and content

Abstract

Because the human gut microbiota can play a major role in host health, there is currently some interest in the manipulation of the composition of the gut flora towards a potentially more remedial community. Attempts have been made to increase bacterial groups such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus that are perceived as exerting health-promoting properties. Probiotics, defined as microbial food supplements that beneficially affect the host by improving its intestinal microbial balance, have been used to change the composition of colonic microbiota. However, such changes may be transient, and the implantation of exogenous bacteria therefore becomes limited. In contrast, prebiotics are nondigestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacterial species already resident in the colon, and thus attempt to improve host health. Intake of prebiotics can significantly modulate the colonic microbiota by increasing the number of specific bacteria and thus changing the composition of the microbiota. Nondigestible oligosaccharides in general, and fructooligosaccharides in particular, are prebiotics. They have been shown to stimulate the growth of endogenous bifidobacteria, which, after a short feeding period, become predominant in human feces. Moreover, these prebiotics modulate lipid metabolism, most likely via fermentation products. By combining the rationale of pro- and prebiotics, the concept of synbiotics is proposed to characterize some colonic foods with interesting nutritional properties that make these compounds candidates for classification as health-enhancing functional food ingredients.

Literature Cited (108)

BondJ.H. et al.
Colonic conservation of malabsorbed carbohydrates.
Gastroenterology
(1980)
BouhnikY. et al.
Fecal recovery in humans of viable Bifidobacterium sp. ingested in fermented milk.
Gastroenterology
(1992)
ChristlS.U. et al.
Production, metabolism and excretion of hydrogen in the large intestine.
Gastroenterology
(1992)
ColombelJ.F. et al.
Yoghurt with Bifidobacterium longum reduces erythromycin-induced gastrointestinal effects.
Lancet
(1987)
DelzenneN.M. et al.
Physiological effects of non-digestible oligosaccharides.
Lebensm. Wiss. Technol.
(1994)
DemignéC. et al.
Effects of absorption of large amounts of volatile fatty acids on rat liver metabolism.
J. Nutr.
(1986)
FinegoldS.M. et al.
Effect of diet on human fecal flora: comparison of Japanese and American diets.
Am. J. Clin. Nutr.
(1974)
FinegoldS.M. et al.
Normal indigenous intestinal flora.
GibsonG.R. et al.
Bifidogenic properties of different types of fructooligosaccharides.
Food Microbiol.
(1994)
GillilandS.E. et al.
Antagonistic action of Lactobacillus acidophilus towards intestinal and food-bome pathogens in associative culture.
J. Food Prot.
(1977)

MacfarlaneG.T. et al.

Estimation of short chain fatty acid production from protein by human intestinal bacteria based on branched-chain fatty acid measurements.

FEMS (Fed. Eur. Microbiol. Soc.) Microbiol. Ecol.

(1992)

MillerT.L. et al.

Methanogens in human and animal intestinal tract systems.

Appl. Environ. Microbiol.

(1986)

MizutaniT. et al.

Inhibitory effect of some intestinal bacteria on liver tumorigenesis in gnotobiotic C3H/HE male mice.

Cancer Lett.

(1980)

MooreW.E.C. et al.

Identification of anaerobic bacteria.

Am. J. Clin. Nutr.

(1972)

PochartP. et al.

Survival of bifidobacteria ingested via fermented milk during their passage through the human small intestine: an in vivo study using intestinal perfusion.

Am. J. Clin. Nutr.

(1992)

RechkemmerG. et al.

Fermentation of polysaccharides and absorption of short chain fatty acids in the mammalian hindgut.

Comp. Biochem. Physiol.

(1988)

ReddyB.S. et al.

Effects of high risk and low risk diets for colon carcinogenesis on fecal microflora and steroids in man.

J. Nutr.

(1975)

RumessenJ.J. et al.

Fructans of Jerusalem artichokes: intestinal transport, absorption, fermentation and influence on blood glucose, insulin and C-peptide responses in healthy subjects.

Am. J. Clin. Nutr.

(1990)

SalyersA.A.

Energy sources of major intestinal fermentative anaerobes.

Am. J. Clin. Nutr.

(1979)

SalyersA.A. et al.

Carbohydrate utilization in the human colon.

SchulzA.G.M. et al.

Dietary native resistant starch but not retrograded resistant starch raises magnesium and calcium absorption in rats.

J. Nutr.

(1993)

SchumannW.C. et al.

Metbolism of [2-¹⁴C] acetate and its use in assessing hepatic Krebs cycle activity and gluconeogenesis.

J. Biol. Chem.

(1991)

AllisonC. et al.

Effect of nitrate on methane production by slurries of human faecal bacteria.

J. Gen. Microbiol.

(1988)

Bach Knudsen, K. E. & Hessov, I. (1995) Recovery of inulin from Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) in the...

BergJ.O.

Cellular location of glycoside hydrolases in Bacteroides fragilis.

Curr. Microbiol.

(1981)

BezkorovainyA. et al.

Biochemistry and Physiology of Bifidobacteria.

CallowayD.H. et al.

The use of expired air to measure intestinal gas formation.

Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci.

(1968)

ChristlS.U. et al.

Role of dietary sulphate in the regulation of methanogenesis in the human large intestine.

Gut

(1992)

CummingsJ.H.

Short chain fatty acids in the human colon.

Gut

(1981)

CummingsJ.H.

Diet and short chain fatty acids in the gut.

CummingsJ.H. et al.

Quantitative estimate of fermentation in the hindgut of man.

Acta Vet. Scand.

(1989)

CummingsJ.H. et al.

A review: the control and consequences of bacterial fermentation in the human colon.

J. Appl. Bacteriol.

(1991)

CummingsJ.H. et al.

Short chain fatty acids in human large intestine, portal, hepatic and venous blood.

Gut

(1987)

Delzenne, N. M., Kok, N., Fiordaliso, M. F., Deboyser, D. M., Goethals, F. M. & Roberfroid, M. B. (1993) Dietary...

DrasarB.S. et al.

Human Intestinal Flora.

DrasarB.S. et al.

The influence of a diet rich in wheat fibre on the human faecal flora.

J. Med. Microbiol.

(1976)

DrasarB.S. et al.

Control of the large bowel microflora.

EastwoodM.L.

Colon structure.

EdelmanJ. et al.

The metabolism of fructose polymers in plants: transfructosylation in tubers of Helianthus tuberosus L.

Biochem. J.

(1966)

FinegoldS.M. et al.

Fecal bacteriology of colonic polyp patients and control patients.

Cancer Res.

(1975)

FiordalisoM.F. et al.

Oligofructose supplemented diet lowers serum and VLDL concentrations of triglycerides, phospholipids and cholesterol in rats.

Lipids

(1995)

FrankelW.L. et al.

Soy fiber delays disease onset and prolongs survival in experimental Clostridium difficile ileocecitis.

J. Parenter. Enteral Nutr.

(1994)

FullerR.

Probiotics in man and animals.

J. Appl. Bacteriol.

(1989)

FullerR.

Probiotics in human medicine.

Gut

(1991)

FullerR.

Probiotics. The Scientific Basis.

GardinerK.R. et al.

Colonic bacteria and bacterial translocation in experimental colitis.

Br. J. Surg.

(1993)

Gibson, G. R., Beatty, E. B., Wang, X. & Cummings, J. H. (1995) Selective stimulation of bifidobacteria in the human...

GibsonG.R. et al.

Intestinal bacteria and disease.

GibsonG.R. et al.

Ocurrence of sulphate-reducing bacteria in human faeces and the relationship of dissimilatory sulphate reduction to methanogenesis in the large gut.

J. Appl. Bacteriol.

(1988)

GibsonG.R. et al.

Inhibitory effects of bifidobacteria on other colonic bacteria.

J. Appl. Bacteriol.

(1994)

Cited by (5937)

Quality characteristics of cereal-based foods enriched with different degree of polymerization inulin: A review
2024, Carbohydrate Polymers
Vegetables, cereals and fruit are foods rich in fibre with beneficial and nutritional effects as their consumption reduces the onset of degenerative diseases, especially cardiovascular ones. Among fibres, inulin, oligofructose or fructooligosaccharide (FOS) are the best-studied. Inulin is a generic term to cover all linear β(2–1) fructans, with a variable degree of polymerization. In this review a better understanding of the importance of the degree of polymerization of inulin as a dietary fibre, functions, health benefits, classifications, types and its applications in the food industry was considered in different fortified foods. Inulin has been used to increase the nutritional and healthy properties of the product as a sweetener and as a substitute for fats and carbohydrates, improving the nutritional value and decreasing the glycemic index, with the advantage of not compromising taste and consistency of the product. Bifidogenic and prebiotic effects of inulin have been well established, inulin-type fructans are fermented by the colon to produce short-chain fatty acids, with important local and systemic actions. Addition of inulin with different degrees of polymerization to daily foods for the production of fortified pasta and bread was reviewed, and the impact on sensorial, technological and organoleptic characteristics even of gluten-free bread was also reported.
Invited review: “Probiotic” approaches to improving dairy production: Reassessing “magic foo-foo dust”
2024, Journal of Dairy Science
The gastrointestinal microbial consortium in dairy cattle is critical to determining the energetic status of the dairy cow from birth through her final lactation. The ruminant's microbial community can degrade a wide variety of feedstuffs, which can affect growth, as well as production rate and efficiency on the farm, but can also affect food safety, animal health, and environmental impacts of dairy production. Gut microbial diversity and density are powerful tools that can be harnessed to benefit both producers and consumers. The incentives in the United States to develop Alternatives to Antibiotics for use in food-animal production have been largely driven by the Veterinary Feed Directive and have led to an increased use of probiotic approaches to alter the gastrointestinal microbial community composition, resulting in improved heifer growth, milk production and efficiency, and animal health. However, the efficacy of direct-fed microbials or probiotics in dairy cattle has been highly variable due to specific microbial ecological factors within the host gut and its native microflora. Interactions (both synergistic and antagonistic) between the microbial ecosystem and the host animal physiology (including epithelial cells, immune system, hormones, enzyme activities, and epigenetics) are critical to understanding why some probiotics work but others do not. Increasing availability of next-generation sequencing approaches provides novel insights into how probiotic approaches change the microbial community composition in the gut that can potentially affect animal health (e.g., diarrhea or scours, gut integrity, foodborne pathogens), as well as animal performance (e.g., growth, reproduction, productivity) and fermentation parameters (e.g., pH, short-chain fatty acids, methane production, and microbial profiles) of cattle. However, it remains clear that all direct-fed microbials are not created equal and their efficacy remains highly variable and dependent on stage of production and farm environment. Collectively, data have demonstrated that probiotic effects are not limited to the simple mechanisms that have been traditionally hypothesized, but instead are part of a complex cascade of microbial ecological and host animal physiological effects that ultimately impact dairy production and profitability.
Evaluation of dietary lignin on broiler performance, nutrient digestibility, cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations, gut morphometry, and lipid oxidation
2024, Poultry Science
Two trials were performed in order to evaluate the effects of dietary Kraft lignin inclusion on broiler performance, ileal nutrient digestibility, blood lipid profile, intestinal morphometry, and lipid oxidation of meat. Trial 1 was conducted in order to evaluate performance and ileal digestibility for the period of 1 to 21 d of age, randomly distributing 490 day-old broiler chicks across 5 dietary treatments with 14 replicates containing 7 birds each in metabolic cages, while trial 2 was executed in order to evaluate performance, blood parameters, intestinal morphometry, carcass yield and abdominal fat, and lipid oxidation for the period of 1 to 42 d of age, randomly distributing 900 day-old broiler chicks across 5 dietary treatments with 15 replicates of 12 birds each in floor pens, being each bird in trial 2 challenged with coccidiosis vaccine at 10 d of age. The treatments used in both trials were: positive control (PC): basal diet + antimicrobial; negative control (NC): Basal diet; NC1: NC + 1% lignin; NC2: NC + 2% lignin; NC3: NC + 3% lignin. For trial 1, it was observed that birds fed diets containing 1% lignin had a significant positive effect for BW, feed intake (FI), average daily weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion rate (FCR), similar to the PC, but also showing better EE, CP and AAs ileal digestibility percentages when compared to other treatments. For trial 2, it was observed that during the period of 21 to 35 d, the inclusion of lignin in the diet provided better results in animal performance, similar to the PC group, but at 42 d, animals fed with dietary lignin showed results lower than animals fed the PC diet (P < 0.05). Animals fed with increasing lignin concentrations showed decreasing levels of HDL (P < 0.05). As of intestinal morphometry, animals fed with 1% and 3% lignin showed longer intestinal length (P < 0.05). At 14 d of age, it was observed that animals fed with lignin showed oxidation levels similar to the control treatments. The inclusion of up to 1% lignin in the diet provides beneficial effects on productive performance and nutrient digestibility, while the inclusion of 2% lignin provided lower cholesterol levels, lower villus/crypt ratio, and better internal organ development, therefore, it can be considered an alternative to performance-enhancing antimicrobials in broiler chicken diets.
Resistant starch and the gut microbiome: Exploring beneficial interactions and dietary impacts
2024, Food Chemistry: X
The intricate relationship between resistant starch (RS) and the gut microbiome presents a dynamic frontier in nutrition science. This review synthesizes current understandings of how RS, an indigestible form of starch found naturally in certain foods and also enhanced through various modification methods, interacts with the gut microbiome. We particularly focus on how RS fermentation in the colon contributes to the production of beneficial volatile fatty acids (VFAs) such as butyrate, acetate, and propionate. These VFAs have been recognized for their vital roles in maintaining gut barrier integrity, modulating inflammation, and potentially influencing systemic health. Additionally, we discuss the dietary implications of consuming foods rich in RS, both in terms of gut health and broader metabolic outcomes. By consolidating these insights, we emphasize the significance of RS in the context of dietary strategies aimed at harnessing the gut microbiome's potential to impact human health.
Harnessing probiotics and prebiotics as eco-friendly solution for cleaner shrimp aquaculture production: A state of the art scientific consensus
2024, Science of the Total Environment
In recent years, the advancement and greater magnitude of products, which led to the intensification in shrimp aquaculture is the result of utilization of modern tools and synchronization with other fields of science like microbiology and biotechnology. This intensification led to the elevation of disorders such as the development of several diseases and complications associated with biofouling. The use of antibiotics in aquaculture is discouraged due to their certain hazardous paraphernalia. Consequently, there has been a growing interest in exploring alternative strategies, with probiotics and prebiotics emerging as environmentally friendly substitutes for antibiotic treatments in shrimp aquaculture. This review highlighted the results of probiotics and prebiotics administration in the improvement of water quality, enhancement of growth and survival rates, stress resistance, health status and disease resistance, modulation of enteric microbiota and immunomodulation of different shrimp species. Additionally, the study sheds light on the comprehensive role of prebiotics and probiotics in elucidating the mechanistic framework, contributing to a deeper understanding of shrimp physiology and immunology. Besides their role in growth and development of shrimp aquaculture, the eco-friendly behavior of prebiotics and probiotics have made them ideal to control pollution in aquaculture systems. This comprehensive exploration of prebiotics and probiotics aims to address gaps in our understanding, including the economic aspects of shrimp aquaculture in terms of benefit-cost ratio, and areas worthy of further investigation by drawing insights from previous studies on different shrimp species. Ultimately, this commentary seeks to contribute to the evolving body of knowledge surrounding prebiotics and probiotics, offering valuable perspectives that extend beyond the ecological dimensions of shrimp aquaculture.
Opening avenues for treatment of neurodegenerative disease using post-biotics: Breakthroughs and bottlenecks in clinical translation
2024, Ageing Research Reviews
Recent studies have indicated the significant involvement of the gut microbiome in both human physiology and pathology. Additionally, therapeutic interventions based on microbiome approaches have been employed to enhance overall health and address various diseases including aging and neurodegenerative disease (ND). Researchers have explored potential links between these areas, investigating the potential pathogenic or therapeutic effects of intestinal microbiota in diseases. This article provides a summary of established interactions between the gut microbiome and ND. Post-biotic is believed to mediate its neuroprotection by elevating the level of dopamine and reducing the level of α-synuclein in substantia nigra, protecting the loss of dopaminergic neurons, reducing the aggregation of NFT, reducing the deposition of amyloid β peptide plagues and ameliorating motor deficits. Moreover, mediates its neuroprotective activity by inhibiting the inflammatory response (decreasing the expression of TNFα, iNOS expression, free radical formation, overexpression of HIF-1α), apoptosis (i.e. active caspase-3, TNF-α, maintains the level of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio) and promoting BDNF secretion. It is also reported to have good antioxidant activity. This review offers an overview of the latest findings from both preclinical and clinical trials concerning the use of post-biotics in ND.

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Dietary Modulation of the Human Colonic Microbiota: Introducing the Concept of Prebiotics

Abstract

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology

Lancet

Lebensm. Wiss. Technol.

J. Nutr.

Am. J. Clin. Nutr.

Food Microbiol.

J. Food Prot.

FEMS (Fed. Eur. Microbiol. Soc.) Microbiol. Ecol.

Appl. Environ. Microbiol.

Cancer Lett.

Am. J. Clin. Nutr.

Am. J. Clin. Nutr.

Comp. Biochem. Physiol.

J. Nutr.

Am. J. Clin. Nutr.

Am. J. Clin. Nutr.

J. Nutr.

J. Biol. Chem.

Effect of nitrate on methane production by slurries of human faecal bacteria.

J. Gen. Microbiol.

Cellular location of glycoside hydrolases in Bacteroides fragilis.

Curr. Microbiol.

Biochemistry and Physiology of Bifidobacteria.

The use of expired air to measure intestinal gas formation.

Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci.

Role of dietary sulphate in the regulation of methanogenesis in the human large intestine.

Gut

Short chain fatty acids in the human colon.

Gut

Diet and short chain fatty acids in the gut.

Quantitative estimate of fermentation in the hindgut of man.

Acta Vet. Scand.

A review: the control and consequences of bacterial fermentation in the human colon.

J. Appl. Bacteriol.

Short chain fatty acids in human large intestine, portal, hepatic and venous blood.

Gut

Human Intestinal Flora.

The influence of a diet rich in wheat fibre on the human faecal flora.

J. Med. Microbiol.

Control of the large bowel microflora.

Colon structure.

The metabolism of fructose polymers in plants: transfructosylation in tubers of Helianthus tuberosus L.

Biochem. J.

Fecal bacteriology of colonic polyp patients and control patients.

Cancer Res.

Oligofructose supplemented diet lowers serum and VLDL concentrations of triglycerides, phospholipids and cholesterol in rats.

Lipids

Soy fiber delays disease onset and prolongs survival in experimental Clostridium difficile ileocecitis.

J. Parenter. Enteral Nutr.

Probiotics in man and animals.

J. Appl. Bacteriol.

Probiotics in human medicine.

Gut

Probiotics. The Scientific Basis.

Colonic bacteria and bacterial translocation in experimental colitis.

Br. J. Surg.

Intestinal bacteria and disease.

Ocurrence of sulphate-reducing bacteria in human faeces and the relationship of dissimilatory sulphate reduction to methanogenesis in the large gut.

J. Appl. Bacteriol.

Inhibitory effects of bifidobacteria on other colonic bacteria.

J. Appl. Bacteriol.