Plain language summary
The importance of diversity in human gut microbiome to host health is well established. However there are fewer data on the ability of oral probiotics to change the composition of the intestinal bacterial environment. This small randomised study of 20 individuals, aimed to assess the ability of Lactobacillus kefiri to colonise the intestines of healthy individuals and change microbial diversity. Following a one month period of eating a Mediterranean style diet and avoiding fermented foods, probiotics and antibiotics, the study participants were randomised to receive a 1010 suspension of Lactobacillus kefiri either ½ hour before eating or ½ hour after eating. Fecal samples were collected at baseline, after one month of supplementation and one month after finishing the probiotic course. Lactobacillus kefiri was found in fecal samples of all subjects after one month of oral probiotic consumption and was still present in about a quarter of samples one month after finishing supplementation. Changes were observed in overall microbial diversity from baseline, with a reduction in some bacteria and pathogens associated with disease. In conclusion, Lactobacillus kefiri altered intestinal bacterial composition, leading a significant reduction in some bacteria associated with inflammation and intestinal disease. These effects were not affected with timing (i.e. before or after food) of taking the probiotic supplement.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Probiotics have been observed to positively influence the host's health, but to date few data about the ability of probiotics to modify the gut microbiota composition exist. AIMS To evaluate the ability of Lactobacillus kefiri LKF01 DSM32079 (LKEF) to colonize the intestinal environment of healthy subjects and modify the gut microbiota composition. METHODS Twenty Italian healthy volunteers were randomized in pre-prandial and post-prandial groups. Changes in the gut microbiota composition were detected by using a Next Generation Sequencing technology (Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine). RESULTS L. kefiri was recovered in the feces of all volunteers after one month of probiotic administration, while it was detected only in three subjects belonging to the pre-prandial group and in two subjects belonging to the post-prandial group one month after the end of probiotic consumption. After one month of probiotic oral intake we observed a reduction of Bilophila, Butyricicomonas, Flavonifractor, Oscillibacter and Prevotella. Interestingly, after the end of probiotic administration Bacteroides, Barnesiella, Butyricicomonas, Clostridium, Haemophilus, Oscillibacter, Salmonella, Streptococcus, Subdoligranolum, and Veillonella were significantly reduced if compared to baseline samples. CONCLUSION L. kefiri LKF01 showed a strong ability to modulate the gut microbiota composition, leading to a significant reduction of several bacterial genera directly involved in the onset of pro-inflammatory response and gastrointestinal diseases.
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