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BackgroundSynbiotics, combining specific probiotics and selected prebiotics, may benefit health issues like obesity, but evidence remains inconsistent.ObjectiveThis study aimed to verify the effect of a pre-screened synbiotics combination [containing Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis MN-Gup (MN-Gup), galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS)] on obesity in the population.MethodsIn a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 80 individuals with obesity consumed daily synbiotics (containing MN-Gup 1 × 1011 CFU/day, GOS 0.7 g/day, and XOS 0.7 g/day) or placebo for 12 weeks. Body composition, blood lipids, serum hormone, bile acids, and gut microbiota were measured pre-and post-intervention.ResultsSynbiotics supplementation significantly decreased body fat percentage, waist, and serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), increased peptide YY, cholecystokinin, oxyntomodulin, GSH (glutathione peroxidase) in individuals with obesity. Additionally, synbiotic supplementation led to an enrichment of beneficial bacteria and bile acids chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). Bifidobacterium and Romboutsia were significantly positively correlated with CDCA. A more favorable effect was observed in individuals with obesity and abnormal LDL-C compared to those without dyslipidemia.ConclusionTwelve-week synbiotics intervention reduced body fat percentage, waist, and serum LDL-C, especially in individuals with obesity and abnormal LDL-C. The possible mechanisms may be related to changes in gut microbiota, bile acids and gut hormones.Clinical trial registrationChictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR2200064156.

This literature review explores the role of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics in the prevention and management of allergic diseases, including eczema, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food allergies. The review delves into the mechanisms by which these dietary interventions modulate the gut microbiome, influence immune system responses, and enhance the epithelial barrier. While prebiotics promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and the production of short-chain fatty acids, probiotics introduce live microorganisms that restore balance in the gut ecosystem. Synbiotics combine both approaches to synergistically improve gut health. Despite the promising potential of these interventions, the evidence remains mixed, with their efficacy varying across different allergic conditions. This review underscores the need for further research to clarify the effectiveness of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics in allergy prevention and management, highlighting the complexities involved in translating these findings into clinical practice.

Synbiotics are combinations of probiotics and prebiotics. It has been shown to be beneficial to aquatic animals. In this study, Lactobacillus rhamnosus was cultured with different prebiotics as the sole carbon source, including inulin, acanthopanax senticosus polysaccharide (ASPS), chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), saposhnikovia divaricata polysaccharide (SDP), polysaccharide of atractylodes macrocephala koidz (PAMK), astragalus polysaccharides (APS), Yu-Ping-Feng polysaccharide (YPFP), xylooligosaccharides (XOS) and mannose (MAN). Screening and gradient experiments revealed that the suitable prebiotics and concentrations were: 2 % MAN, 3 % APS, 3 % YPFP, 4 % PAMK, 3 % SDP. L. rhamnosus (108 CFU/mL) and suitable prebiotics were inoculated into the media supplemented with the intestinal chyme of Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Based on the preliminary screening experiment with the gradients. The in vitro fermentation experiment comprised seven groups: a control group (CT); L. rhamnosus group (LGG); L. rhamnosus + 2 % MAN group (LGG+MAN); L. rhamnosus + 3 % APS group (LGG+APS); L. rhamnosus + 3 % YPFP group (LGG+YPFP); L. rhamnosus + 4 % PAMK group (LGG+PAMK); L. rhamnosus + 3 % SDP group (LGG+SDP). The in vitro fermentation results revealed that the amylase activity was significantly increased in LGG+PAMK, LGG+SDP and LGG+APS groups than in the CT group (P

Background: Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) benefit from using synbiotics. However, findings from existing trials remain contentious. Therefore, this meta-analysis evaluated the effects of synbiotics on liver enzymes, blood pressure, inflammation, and lipid profiles in patients with NAFLD. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding synbiotics supplementation in patients with NAFLD. Results: The meta-analysis revealed that synbiotics supplementation significantly improved liver enzymes (AST, WMD: −9.12 IU/L; 95 % CI: −13.19 to −5.05; ALT, WMD: −8.53 IU/L; 95 % CI: −15.07 to −1.99; GGT, WMD: −10.42 IU/L; 95 % CI: −15.19 to −5.65), lipid profile (TC, WMD: −7.74 mg/dL; 95 % CI: −12.56 to −2.92), obesity indices (body weight, WMD: −1.95 kg; 95 % CI: −3.69 to −0.22; WC, WMD: −1.40 cm; 95 % CI: −2.71 to −0.10), systolic blood pressure (SBP, WMD: −6.00 mmHg; 95 % CI: −11.52 to −0.49), and inflammatory markers (CRP, WMD: −0.69 mg/L; 95 % CI: −1.17 to −0.21; TNF-α, WMD: −14.01 pg/mL; 95 % CI: −21.81 to −6.20). Conclusion: Overall, supplementation with synbiotics positively improved liver enzymes, obesity indices, and inflammatory cytokines in patients with NAFLD.

IntroductionAntibiotic use in broilers is being discouraged globally due to the challenges it poses. This study was conducted to assess the effects of supplementing broilers with a Symbiotic-Enzyme complex (SEC) containing prebiotics (mannose oligosaccharides), probiotics (Clostridium butyricum and Bacillus subtilis), and enzymes (glucose oxidase, and α-galactosidase) as an alternative to antibiotics on growth performance, carcass and meat quality traits, mortality, linear body measurements, intestinal morphology and immune organ indexes.MethodA total of 864 mixed-sex 1-day-old arbor acres (AA+) broilers were allocated to 8 experimental groups replicated 9 times with 12 chickens per replicate. These included 6 treatment groups with SEC inclusion levels of 0.025, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.08, and 0.10%, respectively, and two control groups: a negative control group containing a basal diet only and the positive control group (Antibiotics group) containing a basal diet and antibiotic oxytetracycline added at 0.2%. Growth performance was measured on day 21 and 42, and the mortality, carcass, meat quality traits, linear body measurements, intestinal morphology, and organ size indexes were measured on day 42.ResultsThe results indicated that supplementing broilers with 0.1% SEC resulted in insignificant (P > 0.05) increases in average daily feed intake (ADFI), significant (P < 0.05) increases in the average daily gains (ADG), and significant (P < 0.05) reduction in a feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) in all the phases compared to the control and antibiotics groups. Supplementation of broilers with 0.1% SEC inclusion levels also significantly (P < 0.05) increased the body slope length, chest width, chest depth, keel length, and shank circumference. Furthermore, broilers on diets containing 0.1% SEC inclusion level also had significantly (P < 0.05) higher dressed, semi-evisceration, evisceration, and breast muscle percentages. Including SEC at 0.1% also significantly (P < 0.05) increased villus height and villus-to-crypt ratio (V/C) but reduced crypt depth in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum compared to the control groups. SEC inclusion at 0.1% significantly (P < 0.05) increased the spleen, bursal, and thymus indexes, respectively.ConclusionSupplementation of broilers with 0.1% SEC can be used as an antibiotic alternative because it increases the F/G, improves the carcass and meat quality, increases the body conformation, improves the small intestines' functions, and immune organ size.

Human exposure to metal(loid)s has dramatically increased over the past five decades, which has triggered public concern worldwide. Recently, gut microbiota has been considered a target for metal(loid)s, and some literature has reviewed the interactions between gut microbiota and heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) with high toxicity. However, whether there is an interaction between gut microbiota and metal(loid)s with essential roles or some normal functions are far from clear to date. Importantly, in addition to traditional probiotics that have been clarified to alleviate the adverse effect of HMs on the body, some novel probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics may also exhibit comparable or even better abilities of metal(loid) remediation. In this review, we mainly outline and discuss recent research findings on the metal(loid)-gut microbiota interactions and microbiota-related protective strategies.

Cancer poses a significant global health challenge, with 10 million deaths and 19.3 million new cases reported annually. This review aims to investigate the emerging field of synbiotics and their potential to enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapies. By conducting a thorough analysis of preclinical and clinical studies, this review clarifies the various mechanisms through which synbiotics improve the efficacy of conventional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy. A search of literature on the anti-cancer efficacy of synbiotics was performed using the PubMed database and Google Scholar search engine to find important original research and review publications. A selection, analysis, and discussion of related English-language papers were conducted. This review unravels the intricate connections between microbiota and cancer therapeutics, harnessing the power of synbiotics as a promising strategy to improve treatment outcomes and elevate the standard of care in oncology. Further research is required to establish the efficacy and long-term safety of synbiotics, the ideal prebiotic-probiotic combinations, and the distinct microbiota signatures of different cancer types for the development of future synbiotics.

BackgroundBifidobacteria represent an important gut commensal in humans, particularly during initial microbiome assembly in the first year of life. Enrichment of Bifidobacterium is mediated though the utilization of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), as several human-adapted species have dedicated genomic loci for transport and metabolism of these glycans. This results in the release of fermentation products into the gut lumen which may offer physiological benefits to the host. Synbiotic pairing of probiotic species with a cognate prebiotic delivers a competitive advantage, as the prebiotic provides a nutrient niche.MethodsTo determine the fitness advantage and metabolic characteristics of an HMO-catabolizing Bifidobacterium strain in the presence or absence of 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL), conventionally colonized mice were gavaged with either Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum MP80 (B.p. MP80) (as the probiotic) or saline during the first 3 days of the experiment and received water or water containing 2'-FL (as the prebiotic) throughout the study.Results16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that mice provided only B.p. MP80 were observed to have a similar microbiota composition as control mice throughout the experiment with a consistently low proportion of Bifidobacteriaceae present. Using 1H NMR spectroscopy, similar metabolic profiles of gut luminal contents and serum were observed between the control and B.p. MP80 group. Conversely, synbiotic supplemented mice exhibited dramatic shifts in their community structure across time with an overall increased, yet variable, proportion of Bifidobacteriaceae following oral inoculation. Parsing the synbiotic group into high and moderate bifidobacterial persistence based on the median proportion of Bifidobacteriaceae, significant differences in gut microbial diversity and metabolite profiles were observed. Notably, metabolites associated with the fermentation of 2'-FL by bifidobacteria were significantly greater in mice with a high proportion of Bifidobacteriaceae in the gut suggesting metabolite production scales with population density. Moreover, 1,2-propanediol, a fucose fermentation product, was only observed in the liver and brain of mice harboring high proportions of Bifidobacteriaceae.ConclusionsThis study reinforces that the colonization of the gut with a commensal microorganism does not guarantee a specific functional output. Video Abstract.

In recent years, the scientific community has paid closer attention to the dynamics involved in metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Clinicians and researchers are confronting new challenges as a result of these rapidly spreading diseases with epidemic dimensions. A unique strategy that might shift the gut microbiota’s composition, improve food absorption, and modify the immune system in a way that would alleviate the disease was required to avert these dysbiotic conditions. The therapeutic effects of conventional probiotics were enhanced by the concurrent administration of prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics. The sustainability characteristics of probiotic formulations lead to their use in a wide range of human health conditions, from digestive problems to cognitive impairment. Probiotics were created as a long-term approach to healthcare to increase individual well-being.

The role of prebiotics and probiotics in promoting gut health is increasingly recognized in food development and nutrition research. This study explored the enhancement of probiotic viability in the food industry through microencapsulated synbiotics, focusing on Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NCIMB 11974 with fructooligosaccharides (FOSs) and inulin as prebiotics. The effect of encapsulation in a chitosan-coated alginate matrix on probiotic survival under simulated gastrointestinal conditions showed a significant effect of 2% FOS concentration on the growth of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NCIMB 11974. The optimization of microencapsulation parameters by the Taguchi method revealed a 2% sodium alginate concentration, a nozzle size of 200 µm, and a concentration of 0.4% chitosan solution as ideal, producing microcapsules with an estimated average diameter of 212 µm. Viability assessments in simulated gastric juice and simulated intestinal juice showed that chitosan-coated alginate microcapsules notably enhanced probiotic survival, achieving log 8 CFU mL−1 viability in both environments, a marked improvement over the uncoated variant. The study emphasizes the importance of microencapsulation, particularly by sodium alginate and chitosan, as a viable strategy to improve the survival and delivery of probiotics through the digestive system. By improving the stability and survivability of probiotics, microencapsulation promises to expand the use of synbiotics in various foods, contributing to the development of functional foods with health-promoting properties.

There has been a surge of research in the aquaculture industry investigating probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic interventions on the physiological mechanisms of fish, specifically digestive enzymes, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defense. In fish, probiotics have been shown to improve nutrient utilization and growth performance by stimulating digestive enzymes. Meanwhile, probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics have also been studied for their ability to modulate oxidative stress and antioxidant defense mechanisms in fish, highlighting their multifaceted health benefits. This review identified current trends, research gaps, and future considerations in this evolving field. Although promising findings have been made, a significant research gap exists in understanding the specific role of probiotics prebiotics, and synbiotics in modulating digestive enzymes, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defense systems in a variety of fish species. As this study investigate into the existing body of literature, it becomes evident that while certain aspects of these interactions have been elucidated, a nuanced and comprehensive understanding still needs to be discovered. The variations in experimental design, species-specific responses, and the lack of standardized methodologies contribute to the complexity of the field. Digestive physiology and antioxidant defense mechanisms vary among different fish species, so future research should focus on species-specific responses to probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic formulations. It will also be possible to establish robust correlations between dietary interventions and observed effects through a systematic experimental design and methodology approach. Accordingly, further research is needed to understand the interactions between probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics in fish and digestive enzymes, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defense. Identifying research gaps and adopting standardized methodologies can help develop tailored strategies to optimize aquaculture fish health and growth performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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As one of the major short-chain fatty acids produced via microbial fermentation, butyrate serves as not only a preferred energy substrate but also an important signaling molecule. Butyrate concentrations in circulation, tissues, and gut luminal contents have important pathophysiological implications. The genetic capacity of butyrate biosynthesis by the gut microbiota is frequently compromised during aging and various disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic disorders and colorectal cancer. Substantial efforts have been made to identify potent butyrogenic substrates and butyrate-hyperproducing bacteria to compensate for butyrate deficiency. Interindividual butyrogenic responses exist, which are more strongly predicted by heterogeneity in the gut microbiota composition than by ingested prebiotic substrates. In this review, we catalog major food types rich in butyrogenic substrates. We also discuss the potential of butyrogenic foods with proven properties for promoting gut health and disease management using findings from clinical trials. Potential limitations and constraints in the current research are highlighted. We advocate a precise nutrition approach in designing future clinical trials by prescreening individuals for key gut microbial signatures when recruiting study volunteers. The information provided in this review will be conducive to the development of microbiota engineering approaches for enhancing the sustained production of butyrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synbiotic is defined as the dietary mixture that comprises both probiotic microorganisms and prebiotic substrates. The concept has been steadily gaining attention owing to the rising recognition of probiotic, prebiotics, and gut health. Among prebiotic substances, oligosaccharides demonstrated considerable health beneficial effects in varieties of food products and their combination with probiotics have been subjected to full range of evaluations. This review delineated the landscape of studies using microbial cultures, cell lines, animal model, and human subjects to explore the functional properties and host impacts of these combinations. Overall, the results suggested that these combinations possess respective metabolic properties that could facilitate beneficial activities therefore could be employed as dietary interventions for human health improvement and therapeutic purposes. However, uncertainties, such as applicational practicalities, underutilized analytical tools, contradictory results in studies, unclear mechanisms, and legislation hurdles, still challenges the broad utilization of these combinations. Future studies to address these issues may not only advance current knowledge on probiotic-prebiotic-host interrelationship but also promote respective applications in food and nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The effectiveness of the supplementation of prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics as a therapeutic approach in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. The aim of this systematic review is to critically examine the current scientific evidence on the impact of modulating the microbiota, through the use of prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics, in patients diagnosed with CRC undergoing treatment, to determine the potential therapeutic use of this approach. Methods: This systematic review was made according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing the impact of pre-, pro-, or synbiotic supplementation with placebo or standard care in patients with CRC undergoing treatment. Exclusion criteria were nonhuman studies, non-RCTs, and studies in languages other than English or Portuguese. Six databases were consulted, namely, Cochrane Library, Pubmed, Scopus, Cinahl, MedicLatina and Web of Science until May of 2023. RAYYAN software was used to manage the search results and risk of bias was assessed according to the guidelines of the Cochrane Collaboration using the Rob 2.0 tool. Results: Twenty-four RCTs met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Administration of pre-, pro-, or synbiotics improved surgical outcomes such as the incidence of infectious and non-infectious postoperative complications, return to normal gut function, hospital length of stay, and antibiotic usage. The supplementation of these microorganisms also alleviated some symptoms from chemotherapy and radiotherapy, mainly diarrhea. Evidence on the best approach in terms of types of strains, dosage and duration of intervention is still scarce. Conclusions: Pre-, pro-, and synbiotics supplementation appears to be a beneficial therapeutic approach in CRC treatment to improve surgical outcomes and to alleviate side-effects such as treatment toxicity. More RCTs with larger sample sizes and less heterogeneity are needed to confirm these potential benefits and to determine the best strains, dosage, and duration of administration in each situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a significant risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Increased fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting insulin (FI), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) are observed in patients with NAFLD. Gut microbial modulation using prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics has shown promise in NAFLD treatment. This meta-umbrella study aimed to investigate the effects of gut microbial modulation on glycemic indices in patients with NAFLD and discuss potential mechanisms of action. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library until March 2023 for meta-analyses evaluating the effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on patients with NAFLD. Random-effect models, sensitivity analysis, and subgroup analysis were employed. Results: Gut microbial therapy significantly decreased HOMA-IR (ES: −0.41; 95%CI: −0.52, −0.31; P < 0.001) and FI (ES: −0.59; 95%CI: −0.77, −0.41; P < 0.001). However, no significant effect was observed on FBS (ES: −0.17; 95%CI: −0.36, 0.02; P = 0.082). Subgroup analysis revealed prebiotics had the most potent effect on HOMA-IR, followed by probiotics and synbiotics. For FI, synbiotics had the most substantial effect, followed by prebiotics and probiotics. Conclusion: Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics administration significantly reduced FI and HOMA-IR, but no significant effect was observed on FBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probiotics are defined as “live microorganisms that provide health benefits to the host when administered in adequate amounts.” Probiotics have beneficial effects on human health, including antibacterial activity against intestinal pathogens, regulation of blood cholesterol levels, reduction of colitis and inflammation incidence, regulation of the immune system, and prevention of colon cancer. In addition to probiotic bacteria, some phenolic compounds found in foods we consume (both food and beverages) have positive effects on human health. p-coumaric acid (p-CA) is one of the most abundant phenolic compounds in nature and human diet. The interactions between these two different food components (phenolics and probiotics), resulting in more beneficial combinations called synbiotics, are not well understood in terms of how they will affect the gut microbiota by promoting the probiotic properties and growth of probiotic bacteria. Thus, this study aimed to investigate synbiotic relationship between p-CA and Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 (LA-5), Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG). Probiotic bacteria were grown in the presence of p-CA at different concentrations, and the effects of p-CA on probiotic properties, as well as its in vitro effects on AChE and BChE activities, were investigated. Additionally, Surface analysis was conducted using FTIR. The results showed that treatment with p-CA at different concentrations did not exhibit any inhibitory effect on the growth kinetics of LA-5 and LGG probiotic bacteria. Additionally, both probiotic bacteria demonstrated high levels of antibacterial properties. It showed that it increased the auto-aggregation of both probiotics. While p-CA increased co-aggregation of LA-5 and LGG against Escherichia coli, it decreased co-aggregation against Staphylococcus aureus. Probiotics grown with p-CA were more resistant to pepsin. While p-CA increased the resistance of LA-5 to bile salt, it decreased the resistance of LGG. The combinations of bacteria and p-CA efficiently suppressed AChE and BChE with inhibition (%) 11.04–68.43 and 13.20-65.72, respectively. Furthermore, surface analysis was conducted using FTIR to investigate the interaction of p-coumaric acid with LA-5 and LGG, and changes in cell components on the bacterial surface were analyzed. The results, recorded in range of 4000 –600 cm-1 with resolution of 4 cm-1, demonstrated that p-CA significantly affected only the phosphate/CH ratio for both bacteria. These results indicate the addition of p-CA to the probiotic growth may enhance the probiotic properties of bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Synbiotic foods refers to food ingredients or dietary supplements includes probiotics and prebiotics in a form of synergism; therefore, synbiotics are mixtures of probiotics and prebiotics that beneficially affect the host by improving the survival and implantation of live microbial dietary supplements in the gastrointestinal tract, by selectively stimulating the growth and/or by activating the metabolism of one or a limited number of healthpromoting bacteria, thus improving host welfare Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of oat, rice, and barley bran on the proliferation and activity of probiotic bacteria, Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium bifidum in milk. Methods: Experimental treatments in this research include lecithincholesterol ratios (30-30, 40-20, 50-10 and 60-0). Due to the incompatibility of beta-carotene with water, nanoliposome formulations were produced using the combined method of thinlayer hydration-sonication. Results: The highest survival rate of Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium bifidum was observed in the samples containing 7.5% oat bran, rice and barley during the entire storage period in the refrigerator, and Lactobacillus casei had a higher potential for survival than Bifidobacterium bifidum. Barley bran showed more prebiotic activity in stimulating the growth and survival of studied probiotic bacteria, followed by barley bran and rice bran. The highest value titratable acidity was obtained in the samples treated with 5 and 7.5% of the brans, which contained higher bacterial populations than the control and other samples. The content of group B vitamins was significantly higher in the samples containing rice bran, followed by the samples containing barley and oat bran. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, rice, barley, and oats bran have prebiotic activity and stimulate the growth of probiotic bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The usefulness of metronidazole for acute diarrhea treatment in dogs is discussed. The role of Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli as enteropathogens in acute uncomplicated diarrhea (AD) in dogs is controversial, whereas some beneficial bacteria, such as Clostridium hiranonis, are important members of the normal intestinal microbiota. In this study, the effects of metronidazole and a synbiotic on the clinical course and core intestinal microbiota in dogs with acute diarrhea were compared. No significant benefit of metronidazole was observed regarding the clinical course. Metronidazole had no effect on C. perfringens concentration but resulted in significant increased concentration of E. coli, an increased Dysbiosis Index, and a reduction in C. hiranonis concentration. In conclusion, in contrast to synbiotic treatment, metronidazole treatment negatively impacts the microbiome without affecting clinical outcomes. The usefulness of antibiotics in dogs with acute diarrhea (AD) is controversial. It is also unclear what effect metronidazole has on potential enteropathogens such as Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of metronidazole vs. a synbiotic on the clinical course and core intestinal bacteria of dogs with AD. Twenty-seven dogs with AD were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, blinded clinical trial and treated with either metronidazole (METg) or a synbiotic (SYNg; E. faecium DSM 10663; NCIMB 10415/4b170). The Canine Acute Diarrhea Severity (CADS) index was recorded daily for eleven days. Bacteria were quantified using qPCR. Data were analyzed using mixed models with repeated measures. A higher concentration of E. coli was observed in the METg group vs. the SYNg group on Day 6 (p < 0.0001) and Day 30 (p = 0.01). Metronidazole had no effect on C. perfringens. C. hiranonis was significantly lower in the METg group than in the SYNg group on Days 6 and 30 (p < 0.0001; p = 0.0015). No significant differences were observed in CADS index, fecal consistency, or defecation frequency between treatment groups (except for the CADS index on one single day). In conclusion, metronidazole negatively impacts the microbiome without affecting clinical outcomes. Thus, synbiotics might be a preferred treatment option for dogs with AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of acerola and guava fruit processing co-products fermented with probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-05 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei L-10 on the abundance of different intestinal bacterial groups and microbial metabolic activity during 48 h of in vitro fecal fermentation. Digested fermented fruit co-products increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacterial groups while overall decreasing or maintaining the relative abundance of non-beneficial bacterial groups, suggesting selective stimulatory effects on beneficial bacterial intestinal populations. The fermented co-products stimulated microbial metabolic activity due to decreased pH, sugar consumption, short-chain fatty acid production, phenolic compound and metabolic profile alteration, and high antioxidant capacity during fecal fermentation. Acerola and guava co-products have high nutritional value and bioactive compounds whose fermentation with probiotics improves their potential functionalities. The results show that fermented fruit co-products could induce beneficial changes in the relative abundance of several bacterial groups as well as in the metabolic activity of the human intestinal microbiota. These results highlight their potential as novel and circular candidates for use as synbiotic ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on evaluating the therapeutic effect of synbiotics containing Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium infantis, and fructooligosaccharides in hospitalized children with acute non-bloody diarrhea. It reports that the synbiotic treatment regimen shows promise in reducing diarrhea symptoms, suggesting further research is needed to optimize dosages, efficacy, and specific applications in pediatric care.

Synbiotics modulate the gut microbiome and contribute to the prevention of liver diseases such as metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded seven-week intervention trial on the liver metabolism in 117 metabolically healthy male participants. Anthropometric data, blood parameters, and stool samples were analyzed using linear mixed models. After seven weeks of intervention, there was a significant reduction in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the synbiotic group compared to the placebo group (−14.92%, CI: −26.60–−3.23%, p = 0.013). A stratified analysis according to body fat percentage revealed a significant decrease in ALT (−20.70%, CI: −40.88–−0.53%, p = 0.045) in participants with an elevated body fat percentage. Further, a significant change in microbiome composition (1.16, CI: 0.06–2.25, p = 0.039) in this group was found, while the microbial composition remained stable upon intervention in the group with physiological body fat. The 7-week synbiotic intervention reduced ALT levels, especially in participants with an elevated body fat percentage, possibly due to modulation of the gut microbiome. Synbiotic intake may be helpful in delaying the progression of MAFLD and could be used in addition to the recommended lifestyle modification therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: As prebiotics, oligosaccharides are frequently combined with Bifidobacterium to develop synbiotic products. However, a highly diverse gene repertoire of Bifidobacterium is involved in sugar catabolism, and even phylogenetically close species may differ in their sugar utilization capabilities. To further explore the mechanism underlying the differences in Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis oligosaccharide metabolism. Methods: This study screened strains with differential oligosaccharide metabolism. Subsequently, these strains were subjected to genome-wide resequencing and RT-qPCR. Results: The resequencing results indicated that the subspecies of B. animalis subsp. lactis had a high genome similarity. The RT-qPCR results revealed that glycosidase genes exhibited consistency in the phenotype of metabolism at the transcriptional level; the better the growth of the strains on the oligosaccharides, the higher was the expression of glycosidase genes related to the oligosaccharides. Our results suggested that the differences in the gene transcription levels led to intraspecies differences in the ability of the strains to metabolize oligosaccharides even when they belonged to the same subspecies. Discussion: Future studies with more sample size could generalizable the conclusion to all B. animalis subsp. lactis strains, thus would lay the theoretical foundation for the utilization of the B. animalis subsp. lactis strain as probiotics and the development of synbiotic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the changes in gut microbes and their metabolites after administering synbiotics to patients with new-onset lupus nephritis (LN) treated using a conventional method and provide a theoretical basis for finding new targets for the diagnosis and treatment of LN. Methods: In this study, a total of 12 participants were divided into the lupus and synbiotic groups. Stool samples and clinical data were collected before and after treatment for metagenomic, nontargeted metabolomic, and statistical analyses. Results: The relative abundances of the pathogenic bacteria Prevotella, Bacteroides, and Enterobacteriaceae_unclassified decreased after synbiotic treatment, whereas the abundances of Actinobacteria and Firmicutes increased. Further, the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio increased; however, the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). a diversity analysis showed no significant differences in the intestinal microbial richness and diversity index of patients with LN between the groups before and after treatment (p > 0.05). ß analysis showed the differences in the community structure between the samples of the two groups before and after treatment. Linear discriminant analysis effect size and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses revealed that Negativicutes (AUC = 0.9722) and Enterobacteriaceae_unclassified (AUC = 0.9722) were the best predictors of the lupus and synbiotic groups, respectively, before and after treatment. Joint analyses revealed that amino acid biosynthesis, aminoacyltRNA biosynthesis, purine metabolism, and other metabolic pathways may be involved in the changes in the metabolic function of patients with LN after the addition of synbiotics. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed the interaction between clinical features and flora, and flora exhibited a complex biological network regulatory relationship. Conclusion: Synbiotics regulate the metabolic functions of intestinal microorganisms in patients with LN and play a role in various biological functions. Synbiotic supplements may be safe and promising candidates for patients with LN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]