Gut Microbiome modulation in patients treated with an enriched nutraceutical composition: a multi target strategy

Abstract

Introduction: The contribution of gut microbiota to health and disease is now well accepted and under continuous investigation. It is the most representative in the body (about 70% of the total) with over 400 different species of microorganisms living there. It is exclusive to each individual and therefore represents a real biological imprint, capable of distinguishing humans from one another.

Gut microbiota works synergically with the host, promoting health by performing protective, metabolic and structural functions. Thus, when a modification of the personal normal gut microbiota composition occurs, a predisposition to develop different diseases may increase. Probiotics are functional food that may modulate gut microbiota stimulating protective bacterial properties and inhibiting detrimental activity. We have previously reported a beneficial effect from the administration of an enriched nutraceutical composition containing probiotics in reducing irritable bowel syndrome-related symptoms and improving metabolic profile by lowering triglycerides. However, if these effects are attributed to gut microbiota remain unknown.

Objective: This analysis aims at evaluating microbiota modulation in subjects before and after Triobiotix® administration using a metagenomic approach 

Methods: Triobiotix® is an enriched nutraceutical composition containing maltodextrin, hyaluroic acid and mineralized seaweed extract Lithothamnion Calcareum plus a mix of five different lactic bacterial species. A total of 46 subjects with availability of sample test before and after treatment were included in the present analysis selected from 265 subjects. A fecal sample was collected before and up to 90 days after the administration of Triobiotix®. Feces were analyzed by Wellmicro® gut test that uses the next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene on Illumina MiSeq. Additionally, for 171 subjects a 90-day clinical evaluation was available.

Results: Treatment with this enriched nutraceutical for up to 3 months resulted in a positive modulation of the main indices of improved gut microbiota, such as biodiversity and dysbiosis. Improvement on metabolic functions, such as glycemic and lipid metabolisms, as well as on immunological and anti-inflammatory activities have been described, thus indicating that the observed clinical benefits associated with the administration of this nutraceutical formulation might be also attributed to a gut microbiota modulation. Improvement in main IBS-related symptoms and bloating was maintained up to 90 days as well as microbiota diversity.

Conclusions: Our analysis suggests that the gut microbiota of subjects taking Triobiotix® rapidly returns to a high diversity with reduced dysbiosis after treatment with associated improvement of main physiological functions linked to brain, heart and liver. 

Keywords: gut microbiota; microbiome, metagenomic; Nutraceuticals