Benefits of Regular Intake of Glucolacto-Oligosaccharides on Gut Health in Adults with Low Defecation Frequency: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.
Source: PubMed, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine
The significance of less abundant genera within the gut microbiota, such as, remains largely unexplored. Despite its low levels,is highly conserved and potentially beneficial across populations. This trial aimed to evaluate whether a four-week intake of glucolacto-oligosaccharides (GLO), previously reported as an enhancer of, improves defecation frequency as the primary outcome. It also assessed holistic gut health and underlying microbiota-based mechanisms. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 50 healthy Japanese participants with a defecation frequency of five or fewer times per week were enrolled. The mean (±SE) weekly defecation frequency in the GLO group was 3.2 ± 0.2 at baseline, increasing to 5.8 ± 0.6 at week 4, whereas that in the placebo group was 3.4 ± 0.3 at baseline, increasing to 4.4 ± 0.3 at week 4. The time-dependent weekly defecation frequency was significantly higher in the GLO group than in the placebo group (= 0.029). Changes in the relative abundance of the genussignificantly increased in the GLO group compared with in the placebo group. Changes in fecal bile acid composition were also confirmed in the GLO group compared with the placebo group, which was thought to be due to the unique features of. Furthermore, changes in alpha diversity indices were significantly higher in the GLO group than in the placebo group (Simpson,= 0.041; Pielou,= 0.022). Additional analysis demonstrated that the increase in alpha d
Abstract
The significance of less abundant genera within the gut microbiota, such as, remains largely unexplored. Despite its low levels,is highly conserved and potentially beneficial across populations. This trial aimed to evaluate whether a four-week intake of glucolacto-oligosaccharides (GLO), previously reported as an enhancer of, improves defecation frequency as the primary outcome. It also assessed holistic gut health and underlying microbiota-based mechanisms. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 50 healthy Japanese participants with a defecation frequency of five or fewer times per week were enrolled. The mean (±SE) weekly defecation frequency in the GLO group was 3.2 ± 0.2 at baseline, increasing to 5.8 ± 0.6 at week 4, whereas that in the placebo group was 3.4 ± 0.3 at baseline, increasing to 4.4 ± 0.3 at week 4. The time-dependent weekly defecation frequency was significantly higher in the GLO group than in the placebo group (= 0.029). Changes in the relative abundance of the genussignificantly increased in the GLO group compared with in the placebo group. Changes in fecal bile acid composition were also confirmed in the GLO group compared with the placebo group, which was thought to be due to the unique features of. Furthermore, changes in alpha diversity indices were significantly higher in the GLO group than in the placebo group (Simpson,= 0.041; Pielou,= 0.022). Additional analysis demonstrated that the increase in alpha diversity in the GLO group was significantly correlated with the increase in the relative abundance of(= 0.006), which tended to be associated with decreases in serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (= 0.089) and serum triglyceride (= 0.075) levels. These data suggest that GLO intake improved defecation status, selectively increased, and harmonized the gut environment.