Effect of synbiotic supplementation on immune parameters and gut microbiota in healthy adults: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

Xiaoqin Li; Shan Hu; Jiawei Yin; Xiaobo Peng; Lei King; Linyan Li; Zihui Xu; Li Zhou; Zhao Peng; Xiaolei Ze; Xuguang Zhang; Qiangchuan Hou; Zhilei Shan; Liegang Liu

doi:10.1080/19490976.2023.2247025

Gut Microbes (Dec 2023)

Effect of synbiotic supplementation on immune parameters and gut microbiota in healthy adults: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

Xiaoqin Li,
Shan Hu,
Jiawei Yin,
Xiaobo Peng,
Lei King,
Linyan Li,
Zihui Xu,
Li Zhou,
Zhao Peng,
Xiaolei Ze,
Xuguang Zhang,
Qiangchuan Hou,
Zhilei Shan,
Liegang Liu

Affiliations

Xiaoqin Li: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Shan Hu: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Jiawei Yin: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Xiaobo Peng: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Lei King: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Linyan Li: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Zihui Xu: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Li Zhou: Academy of Nutrition and Health, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational, Hazard Identification and Control, School of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Zhao Peng: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Xiaolei Ze: Microbiome Research and Application Center, BYHEALTH Institute of Nutrition & Health, Guangzhou, China
Xuguang Zhang: Microbiome Research and Application Center, BYHEALTH Institute of Nutrition & Health, Guangzhou, China
Qiangchuan Hou: Hubei Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Food Ingredients, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, Hubei province, China
Zhilei Shan: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Liegang Liu: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2023.2247025
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 2

Abstract

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ABSTRACTSynbiotics are increasingly used by the general population to boost immunity. However, there is limited evidence concerning the immunomodulatory effects of synbiotics in healthy individuals. Therefore, we conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study in 106 healthy adults. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either synbiotics (containing Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 1.5 × 108 CFU/d, Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 7.5 × 107 CFU/d, and fructooligosaccharide 500 mg/d) or placebo for 8 weeks. Immune parameters and gut microbiota composition were measured at baseline, mid, and end of the study. Compared to the placebo group, participants receiving synbiotic supplementation exhibited greater reductions in plasma C-reactive protein (P = 0.088) and interferon-gamma (P = 0.008), along with larger increases in plasma interleukin (IL)-10 (P = 0.008) and stool secretory IgA (sIgA) (P = 0.014). Additionally, synbiotic supplementation led to an enrichment of beneficial bacteria (Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Collinsella) and several functional pathways related to amino acids and short-chain fatty acids biosynthesis, whereas reduced potential pro-inflammatory Parabacteroides compared to baseline. Importantly, alternations in anti-inflammatory markers (IL-10 and sIgA) were significantly correlated with microbial variations triggered by synbiotic supplementation. Stratification of participants into two enterotypes based on pre-treatment Prevotella-to-Bacteroides (P/B) ratio revealed a more favorable effect of synbiotic supplements in individuals with a higher P/B ratio. In conclusion, this study suggested the beneficial effects of synbiotic supplementation on immune parameters, which were correlated with synbiotics-induced microbial changes and modified by microbial enterotypes. These findings provided direct evidence supporting the personalized supplementation of synbiotics for immunomodulation.

Published in Gut Microbes

ISSN: 1949-0976 (Print); 1949-0984 (Online)
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Diseases of the digestive system. Gastroenterology
Website: https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/kgmi

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