Impact of short-chain galactooligosaccharides on the gut microbiome of lactose-intolerant individuals

Directed modulation of the colonic bacteria to metabolize lactose effectively is a potentially useful approach to improve lactose digestion and tolerance. A randomized, double-blind, multisite placebo-controlled trial conducted in human subjects demonstrated that administration of a highly purified...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2017-01, Vol.114 (3), p.E367-E375
Main Authors: Azcarate-Peril, M. Andrea, Ritter, Andrew J., Savaiano, Dennis, Monteagudo-Mera, Andrea, Anderson, Carlton, Magness, Scott T., Klaenhammer, Todd R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacteria
Biological Sciences
Clinical outcomes
Dairy products
Human subjects
PNAS Plus
Ribonucleic acid
RNA
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Summary:Directed modulation of the colonic bacteria to metabolize lactose effectively is a potentially useful approach to improve lactose digestion and tolerance. A randomized, double-blind, multisite placebo-controlled trial conducted in human subjects demonstrated that administration of a highly purified (>95%) short-chain galactooligosaccharide (GOS), designated “RP-G28,” significantly improved clinical outcomes for lactose digestion and tolerance. In these individuals, stool samples were collected pretreatment (day 0), after GOS treatment (day 36), and 30 d after GOS feeding stopped and consumption of dairy products was encouraged (day 66). In this study, changes in the fecal microbiome were investigated using 16S rRNA amplicon pyrosequencing and high-throughput quantitative PCR. At day 36, bifidobacterial populations were increased in 27 of 30 of GOS subjects (90%), demonstrating a bifidogenic response in vivo. Relative abundance of lactose-fermenting Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium, and Lactobacillus were significantly increased in response to GOS. When dairy was introduced into the diet, lactose-fermenting Roseburia species increased from day 36 to day 66. The results indicated a definitive change in the fecal microbiome of lactose-intolerant individuals, increasing the abundance of lactose-metabolizing bacteria that were responsive to dietary adaptation to GOS. This change correlated with clinical outcomes of improved lactose tolerance.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.1606722113