A randomised, double- blind, cross-over study investigating the prebiotic effect of agave fructans in healthy human subjects

Abstract

AbstractThis placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind, cross-over human feeding study aimed to determine the prebiotic effect of agave fructans. A total of thirty-eight volunteers completed this trial. The treatment consisted of 3 weeks' supplementation with 5 g/d of prebiotic agave fructan (Predilife) or equivalent placebo (maltodextrin), followed by a 2-week washout period following which subjects were crossed over to alternate the treatment arm for 3 weeks followed by a 2-week washout. Faecal samples were collected at baseline, on the last day of treatment (days 22 and 58) and washout (days 36 and 72), respectively. Changes in faecal bacterial populations, SCFA and secretory IgA were assessed using fluorescentin situhybridisation, GC and ELISA, respectively. Bowel movements, stool consistencies, abdominal comfort and mood changes were evaluated by a recorded daily questionnaire. In parallel, the effect of agave fructans on different regions of the colon using a three-stage continuous culture simulator was studied. Predilife significantly increased faecal bifidobacteria (log109·6 (sd0·4)) and lactobacilli (log107·7 (sd0·8)) compared with placebo (log109·2 (sd0·4);P = 0·00) (log107·4 (sd0·7);P= 0·000), respectively. No change was observed for other bacterial groups tested, SCFA, secretory IgA, and PGE2concentrations between the treatment and placebo. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis indicated that bacterial communities were randomly dispersed and no significant differences were observed between Predilife and placebo treatments. Thein vitromodels showed similar increases in bifidobacterial and lactobacilli populations to that observed with thein vivotrial. To conclude, agave fructans are well tolerated in healthy human subjects and increased bifidobacteria and lactobacilli numbersin vitroandin vivobut did not influence other products of fermentation.