Background Recent studies have reported a dysfunctional gut microbiome in breastfed infants. Probiotics have been used in an attempt to restore the gut microbiome; however, colonization has been transient, inconsistent among individuals, or has not positively impacted the host’s gut. Methods This is a 2-year follow-up study to a randomized controlled trial wherein 7-day-old infants received 1.8 × 1010 colony-forming unit Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (B. infantis) EVC001 (EVC) daily for 21 days or breast milk alone (unsupplemented (UNS)). In the follow-up study, mothers (n = 48) collected infant stool at 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 months postnatal and completed the health-diet questionnaires. Results Fecal B. infantis was 2.5–3.5 log units higher at 6–12 months in the EVC group compared with the UNS group (P < 0.01) and this relationship strengthened with the exclusion of infants who consumed infant formula and antibiotics. Infants in the EVC group had significantly higher Bifidobacteriaceae and lower Bacteroidaceae and Lachnospiraceae (P < 0.05). There were no differences in any health conditions between the two groups. Conclusions Probiotic supplementation with B. infantis within the first month postnatal, in combination with breast milk, resulted in stable colonization that persisted until at least 1 year postnatal. Impact A dysfunctional gut microbiome in breastfed infants is common in resource-rich nations and associated with an increased risk of immune diseases. Probiotics only transiently exist in the gut without persistent colonization or altering the gut microbiome. This is the first study to show that early probiotic supplementation with B. infantis with breast milk results in stable colonization of B. infantis and improvements to the gut microbiome 1 year postnatal. This study addresses a key gap in the literature whereby probiotics can restore the gut microbiome if biologically selected microorganisms are matched with their specific food in an open ecological niche.
Objectives Very little is known about dietary carbohydrate and intestinal microbe interactions during the introduction of solid foods in exclusively breastfed infants. The objective of the UC Davis IMiND study is to discover the relationships between plant-derived complementary foods commonly used in the early weaning period and the gut microbiome in a prospective feeding-trial in exclusively breast milk-fed infants. Methods In a randomized, crossover study, 6-month old, exclusively breastfed infants (n = 99) entered a 7-day lead-in period of exclusive breast milk, followed by 7 days of either study food (pear or sweet potato) plus breast milk. This was followed by a 4-day washout period of exclusive breast milk, then 7 days of the alternate study food, followed by a 4-day follow-up period of exclusive breast milk. The infant gut microbiome was measured by 16 s rRNA amplicon sequencing (n = 39). Fecal monosaccharides and short chain fatty acids were measured in a subset of mother-infant dyads (n = 20) by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results There was no significant difference in gut alpha diversity (Shannon index) but a significant difference in beta diversity (unweighted UniFrac, P = 0.03, R,2 = 0.02) between pre- and post- first food. Free fecal monosaccharide composition was similar across all feeding periods. Total bound fecal monosaccharides, including arabinose and xylose were 2-fold higher in response to pear consumption compared with the other feeding periods (P < 0.05). Infant fecal lactic acid was lower and succinic acid was higher by 2-fold during pear consumption compared with all other feeding periods (P < 0.05). Conclusions The change in gut microbiome beta diversity suggests a change in microbial composition with the introduction of solid foods despite the unchanged alpha diversity. The change in fecal short chain fatty acids in response to pear consumption suggests a change in microbial metabolism. These effects may be explained by the appearance of undigested, bound glycans in the colon during pear consumption. These data suggest a novel approach in using chemical analysis to document the diversity and complexity of dietary carbohydrates during weaning that influence gut microbial metabolism. Funding Sources Mongolia Mengniu Dairy (Group) Company Ltd. funded this research but had no part in the analysis or interpretations of the study findings.
Streptococcus salivarius (S. salivarius) K12 supplementation has been found to reduce the risk of recurrent upper respiratory tract infections. Yet, studies have not reported the effect of supplementation on oral S. salivarius K12 levels or the salivary microbiome. This clinical trial was designed to determine how supplementation with S. salivarius K12 influences the oral microbiome. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 13 healthy adults received a probiotic powder (PRO) containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, and S. salivarius K12 and 12 healthy adults received a placebo-control powder (CON) (n = 12) for 14 consecutive days. Oral S. salivarius K12 and total bacteria were quantified by qPCR and the overall oral microbiome was measured using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Supplementation significantly increased mean salivary S. salivarius K12 levels by 5 logs compared to baseline for the PRO group (p < 0.0005), which returned to baseline 2 weeks post-supplementation. Compared with the CON group, salivary S. salivarius K12 was 5 logs higher in the PRO group at the end of the supplementation period (p < 0.001). Neither time nor supplementation influenced the overall oral microbiome. Supplementation with a probiotic cocktail containing S. salivarius K12 for two weeks significantly increased levels of salivary S. salivarius K12.
Objectives Streptococcus salivarius (S. salivarius) K12 supplementation in children and adults has been found to reduce the risk of recurrent pharyngitis, tonsillitis, otitis media caused by group A streptococci. The protection of S. salivarius K12 supplementation may in part result from its production of lantibiotic bacteriocins salivaricin A and B. Yet, studies have not reported the effect of supplementation on oral S. salivarius K12 levels or the broader salivary microbiome. The objective of this clinical trial was to determine how supplementation with S. salivarius K12 influences the oral microbiome. Methods In a double-blind, placebo-control, prospective trial, 24 healthy adults were randomized to consume a probiotic powder (PRO) containing 7.8B CFU of L. acidophilus, 8.25B CFU of B. lactis, and 2B CFU of S. salivarius K12 (n = 12) or a placebo-control powder (CON) (n = 12) for fourteen consecutive days. Saliva samples were collected at baseline, at the end of the fourteen-day supplementation period and two weeks post-supplementation. Oral S. salivarius K12 and total bacteria were quantified by QPCR and the oral microbiome was measured using 16s rRNA amplicon sequencing. Results Supplementation with S. salivarius K12 significantly increased salivary S. salivarius K12 by 5 logs compared to baseline for the PRO group (P < 0.0005) and returned to baseline 2-weeks post-supplementation. Compared with the CON group, salivary S. salivarius K12 was 5 logs higher in the PRO group at the end of the supplementation period (P < 0.001). Neither time nor supplementation influenced the oral microbiome. The supplement was well-tolerated. Conclusions Supplementation with a probiotic containing S. salivarius K12 for two weeks significantly increased levels of salivary S. salivarius K12 by 5 logs but had no effect on the overall oral microbiome measured by 16s rRNA amplicon sequencing. Funding Sources Renew Life funded this research but had no part in the analysis or interpretations of the study findings.
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