ZOE BIOME Study: Biotics Influence on Microbiome Ecosystem

Phase 1:

A considerable body of evidence highlights the close association between the gut microbiome and health, with the roles performed by the microbiome spanning many functions. Firstly, intestinal microbiota are capable of digesting nutrients otherwise inaccessible to humans through gut physiology, to produce short-chain fatty acids, which are the primary energy source for intestinal epithelial cells. Secondly, the microbiome is part of the bi-directional relationship with host immunity and is involved in human immune homeostasis and immunological recognition that is both innate and adaptive. Moreover, dysbiosis of the gut microbiome has been reported in multiple disease states, including irritable bowel disease, inflammatory bowel disease, gut infections, cardiovascular disease, and psychological conditions such as depression and anxiety.

The differences observed in host gut microbiome communities between healthy and diseased states, and between different dietary patterns, has led to an increase in the use of dietary modulations in an attempt to influence microbiome composition, both in research and in commercial contexts. Two particular groups of gut-active compounds include prebiotics (providing a direct source of nutrition that stimulate host-beneficial microbiota as they are indigestible to the host) and probiotics (providing a direct source of live microorganisms that may potentially colonise the gut after reaching the large intestine, thus altering gut microbiome dynamics). Both compounds can be found naturally in foods; for example, many nuts and seeds contain prebiotic compounds such as fibre. Furthermore, foods can also be functionally modified to increase their content of prebiotics and probiotics. Finally, dietary supplementation with such compounds has also been shown to confer positive effects on health. However, the efficacy of dietary interventions involving supplementation in improving health in disease-free, free-living populations is not well understood.

The present study aims to investigate the efficacy of prebiotic and probiotic compounds in improving health, using a randomised parallel controlled trial design of 6-week intervention duration, in a healthy UK adult population, in a remote setting. The study design includes 2 treatments and a control: (i) a prebiotic-like nut and seed mix, consisting of whole-food ingredients high in plant polyphenolic compounds, fibre and micronutrients; (ii) a single-strain probiotic containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, provided in capsule form; (iii) a bread crouton acting as a control (which can be used in a functionally equivalent application to the prebiotic).

Recruitment: