Consumption of kiwifruit capsules increases Faecalibacterium prausnitzii abundance in functionally constipated individuals: a randomised controlled human trial

• Published in: Journal of nutritional science (Cambridge) 2017, Vol.6, p.e52-e52, Article e52
• Main Authors: Blatchford, Paul, Stoklosinski, Halina, Eady, Sarah, Wallace, Alison, Butts, Christine, Gearry, Richard, Gibson, Glenn, Ansell, Juliet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: anti-inflammatory activity; Bacteroidales; butyrates; Constipation; cross-over studies; Faecalibacterium prausnitzii; gastrointestinal diseases; Gut microbiota; Human studies; humans; intestinal microorganisms; Kiwifruit; metabolism; metabolites; placebos; ribosomal RNA; Roseburia; Ruminococcaceae; sequence analysis
• ISSN: 2048-6790; 2048-6790
• DOI: 10.1017/jns.2017.52

This study investigated the impact of ACTAZIN™ green (2400 and 600 mg) and Livaux™ (2400 mg) gold kiwifruit supplements on faecal microbial composition and metabolites in healthy and functionally constipated (FC) participants. The participants were recruited into the healthy group (n 20; one of whom did not complete the study) and the FC group (n 9), each of whom consumed all the treatments and a placebo (isomalt) for 4 weeks in a randomised cross-over design interspersed with 2-week washout periods. Modification of faecal microbiota composition and metabolism was determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and GC, and colonic pH was calculated using SmartPill® wireless motility capsules. A total of thirty-two taxa were measured at greater than 1 % abundance in at least one sample, ten of which differed significantly between the baseline healthy and FC groups. Specifically, Bacteroidales and Roseburia spp. were significantly more abundant (P < 0·05) in the healthy group and taxa including Ruminococcaceae, Dorea spp. and Akkermansia spp. were significantly more abundant (P < 0·05) in the FC group. In the FC group, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii abundance significantly increased (P = 0·024) from 3·4 to 7·0 % following Livaux™ supplementation, with eight of the nine participants showing a net increase. Lower proportions of F. prausnitzii are often associated with gastrointestinal disorders. The discovery that Livaux™ supplementation increased F. prausnitzii abundance offers a potential strategy for improving gut microbiota composition, as F. prausnitzii is a butyrate producer and has also been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects in many studies.