Prebiotic inulin-type fructans induce specific changes in the human gut microbiota
Open accessAbstract
Objective Contrary to the long-standing prerequisite of inducing selective (ie, bifidogenic) effects, recent findings suggest that prebiotic interventions lead to ecosystem-wide microbiota shifts. Yet, a comprehensive characterisation of this process is still lacking. Here, we apply 16S rDNA microbiota profiling and matching (gas chromatography mass spectrometry) metabolomics to assess the consequences of inulin fermentation both on the composition of the colon bacterial ecosystem and faecal metabolites profiles. Design Faecal samples collected during a double-blind, randomised, cross-over intervention study set up to assess the effect of inulin consumption on stool frequency in healthy adults with mild constipation were analysed. Faecal microbiota composition and metabolite profiles were linked to the study's clinical outcome as well as to quality-of-life measurements recorded. Results While faecal metabolite profiles were not significantly altered by inulin consumption, our analyses did detect a modest effect on global microbiota composition and specific inulin-induced changes in relative abundances of Anaerostipes , Bilophila and Bifidobacterium were identified. The observed decrease in Bilophila abundances following inulin consumption was associated with both softer stools and a favourable change in constipation-specific quality-of-life measures. Conclusions Ecosystem-wide analysis of the effect of a dietary intervention with prebiotic inulin-type fructans on the colon microbiota revealed that this effect is specifically associated with three genera, one of which ( Bilophila ) representing a promising novel target for mechanistic research. Trial registration number NCT02548247.
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A diet high in fermentable carbohydrates can lead to reduced microbial diversity within a faecal sample as a result of decreased transit time and softened stools.
“For example, contrary to expectations a diet high in fermentable carbohydrates can lead to reduced microbial diversity within a faecal sample as a result of decreased transit time and softened stools [106].”
From Effect of Diet on the Gut Microbiota: Rethinking Intervention Duration (2019) · cites this paper as [106]
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- Authors
- Vandeputte, D., Falony, G., Vieira-Silva, S., Wang, J., Sailer, M., Theis, S., Verbeke, K., & Raes, J.
- Affiliations
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE)
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology (BE)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- BENEO-Institute, Obrigheim, Germany
- KU Leuven (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Raes, Jeroen
- ORCID
- Venue
- Gut
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2017-02-17
- Volume
- 66
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1968-1974
- ISSN
- 0017-5749 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-3288
- PMC
- PMC5739857
- OpenAlex
- W2588769605
- Cited by
- 554
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 52 · 2025: 61 · 2024: 62 · 2023: 65 · 2022: 83 · 2021: 63 · 2020: 66 · 2019: 56 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 10
- FWCI
- 37.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc
- Locations
- Gut (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Lirias (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Digital Access to Libraries (submittedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- VUBIR (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
- Vlaamse regering
- Medical Research Council (MR/M004945/1)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Microbial Metabolites in Food Biotechnology
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Keywords
- inulin-type fructans, prebiotics, gut microbiota, fecal metabolites, constipation, stool frequency, Anaerostipes, Bilophila, Bifidobacterium, quality of life, dietary intervention
- MeSH terms
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Colon, Constipation, Double-Blind Method, Feces, Female, Humans, Inulin, Male, Biomarkers, Treatment Outcome, Cross-Over Studies, Metabolome, Prebiotics
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