Microbiota modulation with prebiotic chicory root fiber and how it can improve mood.
First human intervention study using prebiotic dietary fiber oligofructose and the human milk oligosaccharide 2’fucosyllactose
A recent study demonstrated that the intake of the prebiotic dietary fiber oligofructose alone, or in combination with the human milk oligosaccharide 2’fucosyllactose, promotes a significant increase in bifidobacteria in the gut and can therefore result in substantial improvements in mood in healthy adults with mild to moderate feelings of anxiety and depression.
Two out of three consumers worldwide are already aware that digestive health has an influence on their mental well-being and stress levels. Due to the gut-brain axis, important mood parameters can be influenced via microbiota modulation. With mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression becoming an increasing burden to global health services, a dietary-approach that positively influences microbiota using gut-friendly food is an attractive proposition to decrease public health costs and support healthy living.
At the end of the four-week intervention period, the participants taking the prebiotic oligofructose on its own, or in combination with 2’fucosyllactose, experienced significant increases in beneficial gut bacteria, including Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Roseburia and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, compared to the control group. In addition, they significantly outperformed the control group in improvements in several mood parameters – like reduced scores of anxiety and depression as well as lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone.
This study contributes to the fascinating science surrounding the gut-brain-axis. It is notable that oligofructose has been shown to have a significant effect on beneficial microbiota and significantly improved mood parameters either alone or when combined with 2’fucosyllactose. A further analysis in this study showed a correlation within the gut-brain axis: the higher the levels of beneficial bifidobacteria, the lower the scores of anxiety, depression and levels of cortisol.
For more information, refer to:
Jackson PPJ, Wijeyesekera A, Williams CM, Theis S, van Harsselaar J, Rastall RA, (2023) Inulin-type fructans and 2’fucosyllactose alter both microbial composition and appear to alleviate stress-induced mood state in a working population compared to placebo (maltodextrin): the EFFICAD Trial, a randomized, controlled trial.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Published 29 August 2023, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.08.016
