Effect of a prebiotic galactooligosaccharide mixture (B‐GOS®) on gastrointestinal symptoms in adults selected from a general population who suffer with bloating, abdominal pain, or flatulence

Abstract

BackgroundPrebiotics exert beneficial effects upon gastrointestinal (GI) environment, but this is not always accompanied with a positive effect on GI symptoms. B‐GOS® is a prebiotic with high selectivity toward bifidobacteria and a variety of other beneficial effects in humans. Here, we investigated its effect on GI symptoms in adults who suffer with bloating, abdominal pain, and flatulence.MethodsIn a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover study, 83 subjects from the general population who presented with GI symptoms during screening period and had a predicted probability of functional bowel disorder of more than 75% were randomized to receive either a placebo or the B‐GOS® treatment (2.75 g/d). Subjects were screened for the presence of GI symptoms for 1 week, they consumed the treatments for 2 weeks, and then went through a 2‐week washout period, before switching to the other treatment for the final 2 weeks. GI symptoms, bowel movements, and stool consistency were assessed in daily and weekly questionnaires. Quality of life was assessed weekly and depression and anxiety at the end of each treatment period.ResultsB‐GOS® resulted in significantly (P < 0.001) lower scores for bloating, flatulence, and abdominal pain both from baseline and placebo at the end of first week. The effect was sustained at the end of second week. It had no effect on the number of bowel movements, consistency of stools, quality of life, or mood throughout the study.ConclusionResults suggest that B‐GOS® could possibly be used in the management of bloating, flatulence, or abdominal pain and warrant further investigation.

Mechanisms of Action of Prebiotics and Their Effects on Gastro-Intestinal Disorders in Adults

“…The symptoms, measured as a global assessment, were significantly improved, compared with a placebo, in both groups receiving the prebiotic at different doses, but the 3.5 g/day dose resulted in lower symptom scores for flatulence, bloating, and stool consistency [127]. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, in which β-GOS ® treatment (2.75 g/day) was tested in 83 subjects who presented with GI symptoms (abdominal pain, bloating and flatulence), this prebiotic was able to significantly reduce the scores of symptoms, after two weeks of assumption [128].…”

Prebiotics – an added benefit of some fibre types

“…In subjects recruited from the general population with a self‐reported functional bowel disorder (but no diagnosis of IBS), 2 weeks’ consumption of a β‐GOS preparation (2.75 g/day) significantly reduced bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain and urgency vs. placebo, but had no effect on the participants’ number of bowel movements, consistency of stools, quality of life or mood (Vulevic et al . ). While the studies to date on prebiotics and IBS are limited and findings inconsistent, the two trials described above hint that β‐GOS could potentially be beneficial in improving gastrointestinal symptoms in subjects with IBS.…”

“…This has been suggested to be due to the absence of fructose within β‐GOS (Vulevic et al . ) [which is present within FOS and inulin; see later section on the low‐Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols (FODMAP) diet] and/or the targeted stimulation of bifidobacteria, which do not produce gas (Falony et al . ), though cross‐feeding can occur between bifidobacteria and species that do produce gas (De Vuyst & Leroy ).…”

“…No benefit has to date been demonstrated with FOS. This has been suggested to be due to the absence of fructose within b-GOS (Vulevic et al 2018) [which is present within FOS and inulin; see later section on the low-Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols (FODMAP) diet] and/or the targeted stimulation of bifidobacteria, which do not produce gas (Falony et al 2009), though cross-feeding can occur between bifidobacteria and species that do produce gas (De Vuyst & Leroy 2011). A detailed study carried out in healthy subjects noted that while flatulence does initially increase after supplementation with b-GOS, levels return to baseline within a couple of weeks (Mego et al 2017).…”

Targeting the gut microbiota for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome

“…Another study investigating the effect of β‐GOS on IBS symptoms found improved flatulence, stool consistency, bloating, and restored Bifidobacterium abundance in both low (3.5 g/d) and high (7 g/d) dose groups. Anxiety scores improved only in the high dose group . (See Table ).…”