Abstract :
[en] Several studies suggest that microbial alterations (dysbiosis) are intimately linked to chronic
inflammation occurring upon aging. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential interest of a
synbiotic approach (co-administration of a probiotic bacteria and a prebiotic dietary fibre) to improve
gastrointestinal wellness and inflammatory markers in middle-aged people. Middle-aged subjects
were randomized to take synbiotic (Bifidobacterium animalis lactis and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS))
or placebo for 30 days. Stool frequency and consistency were improved in both placebo and synbiotictreated
volunteers while the synbiotic treatment significantly decreased the number of days with
abdominal discomfort. Synbiotic treatment had no impact on mood dimensions, quality of life scores
or the overall composition of the gut microbiota (16S rRNA gene sequencing of DNA extracted from
stool). Importantly, plasma proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-17a and interferongamma
(IFNγ)) were significantly lower after 30 days of synbiotic supplementation. This effect appears
to be independent of the gut barrier function. This study demonstrates that a combination of B.
animalis lactis and the well-known prebiotic FOS could be a promising synbiotic strategy to decrease
inflammatory status with improvement of gut disorders in middle-aged people.
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