Volume 8, Issue 10, October – 2023 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165

The Effects of Prebiotics on Gut Microbiota

Composition and Diversity in Healthy Individuals
Janvi Yadav 1, Anindita Ghosh 2
Department of Nutritional sciences and Dietetics,
Symbiosis Skills and Professional University, Pune

Abstract:- A literature review of the literature has been Prebiotics were administered in an experiment, and the
conducted. With the goal of thoroughly examining and results revealed certain specific alterations in the microbial
tying all the studies already done on the impact of makeup(Denji,2016). Collective data from experiments
prebiotics on the diversity and composition of the gut using animal models and human research has shown that
microbiota in healthy people. 25 articles were selected these factors alter the variety of healthpromoting
for the research project. In accordance with the microorganisms like Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria in the
inclusion and exclusion criteria given. The method gastrointestinal tract. The promotion of microbial activity
involved a methodical process of searching, choosing, and growth has positive effects on health and
extracting data, and synthesizing it. The findings of this wellbeing(Daiva Baltriukiene,2022). According to research
research provide important information about how done in specified pure culture fermentation, when inulin
prebiotics affect the variety and composition of the gut supplementation is given to 10 women for 19 days, the
microbiota in healthy individuals. The proband prebiotic amount of Bifidobacteria in the gut microbiota considerably
principles are based on the modification of gut increases. It has been demonstrated that inulin, also known
microbiota via dietary methods. Prebiotics encourage the as fructans, selectively stimulates bacterial growth(Kleesen,
growth or activities of specific bacterial genera and Sykura,2020). By creating a significant amount of butyrate,
species in the gut microbiota in order to boost the host’s resistant starch supports the health benefits. Asparagus,
health. When certain food products with a prebiotic sugarbeet, garlic, chicory, onion, artichoke, wheat, honey,
effect have been employed, preliminary studies have banana, legumes, barley, tomato, rye, soybean, milk, peas,
indicated encouraging beneficial outcomes, including beans, seaweeds, etc. are only a few examples of the foods
changes in the composition of the gut flora. that naturally contain them. The ecosystem of the human
intestine can be entirely altered by prebiotics. Because
Keywords:- Prebiotics, Gut Microbes, Microbiota, Gut prebiotics’ fermentation products are acids, they change the
Bacteria, Human Gut, Gastrointestinal Tract, Gut Flora, pH of the gut and affect the composition of the gut
Colonic Fermentation, Microbiome, Prebiotic Concept, microbiota(Dorna Davani-Davani,2019). A diet high in
Microbial Diversity, Microbial Composition prebiotics, particularly inulin, oligosaccharides, and
oligofructose, has also been shown to support the growth of
I. INTRODUCTION lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the gut microbiota. As was
already said, prebiotics are fermented by bacteria to form
Prebiotics are non-digestible food items that have SCFAs, which affect cellular processes by activating G
positive effects on the host by encouraging the growth of a protein-coupled receptors and lowering pH, both of which
small number of bacteria there. Prebiotics are a family of prevent pathogenic bacteria from growing.
dietary compounds that are characterized by their ability to
promote the activity and growth of bacteria in the According to studies, prebiotics can be regularly
gastrointestinal flora, hence improving host consumed to sustain the favorable alterations in the
health(Akanksha Nirmal,2022). Incorporating prebiotics microbiome. Native microorganisms, including some
into a daily diet promotes specialized bacterial growth and species’ development and enzymatic activity, are entirely
functionality, which modifies the gut microorganisms. responsible for the microbial diversity in an
Prebiotics are fermented by the controlled microorganisms environment(Alma Cruz,2021). Resistance starch and the
into short chain fatty acids, which have a number of positive raffinose family of oligosaccharides are examples of
health effects(Ashwini priyadarshini, 2022). Prebiotics are prebiotic carbohydrates that support bacterial
consumed to regulate gut flora, which creates SCFAs that growth(Sangam Dwivedi,2014). According to the study by
are good for lowering blood sugar, reducing inflammation, Gibson et al., consumption of oligofructose or inulin raised
and other things. Food is regarded as the primary substrate the proportion of Bifidobacterium, demonstrating the impact
that greatly influences the makeup of microorganisms and of prebiotics on intestinal flora(Shumin Wang,2020).
contributes to their proliferation(De Angelus, Garruti,2019).
Prebiotics in the diet may have the ability to influence the
composition of the host’s microbial community in a way
that will benefit the host’s overall health and well-
being(Vallianou, Davani-Davani,2019).

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Volume 8, Issue 10, October – 2023 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
A. Prebiotics’ mode of action environment in the gut through interactions with the bacteria
Prebiotics can alter the composition of the bacteria in that live on intestinal epithelial cells, possible pathogens,
the gut, and they can also help the host by changing the and the immune system.

Fig 1 Prebiotics’ mode of action

Figure illustrating Prebiotics’ mode of action.. II. METHODOLOGY

Prebiotics’ impact is thus displayed: (1) Bifidobacteria and
lactobacilli are specifically colonized as a result of A. Information Search Strategies
competition with pathogenic strains for prebiotics. (2) The For all of the publications that were available, searches
pH is lowered as a result of the production of short-chain were done using the search phrases in Google Scholar,
fatty acids (SCFA), including acetate, propionate, and Pubmed, Research Gate, Science Direct, and Open Access
butyrate. (3) Preventing pathogens from attaching to publications. Published between 2017 and 2022.Any studies
epithelial cells. (4) Increased mucus results in improved missed by the database search were looked for in the
intestinal barrier performance. (5) Immune response reference lists of earlier evaluations. Conferencing
modulation. presentations, reviews, unpublished dissertations or theses,
or any other publications (such as government studies or
Figure 1, summarizes the mechanism of action of market research) that were not published in peer-reviewed
prebiotics. Immune cell carbon hydrate receptors are journals, were excluded due to a lack of thorough peer
affected by prebiotics. Betaglucans cause the phagocytosis assessment. Relevance was checked on article titles. A total
of neutrophils by binding to receptors on phagocytes and of 25 pertinent research articles were found and included in
natural killer cells. Because they serve as receptors for the review of the literature. The literature search, article
bacterial or viral adhesion molecules and are absorbed from screening, and data extraction were all completed by the
the GI tract into the gastrointestinal system, human milk first author. The papers that met the inclusion criteria as well
oligosaccharides (HMOs) have antibacterial and antiviral as the data they contained were examined by both authors.
properties. The gut microbiota’s ability to break down
indigestible carbohydrates that pass through the distal B. Inclusion Criteria
intestine intact is made possible by the presence of We only included articles in our search that met the
polysaccharide lyases and glycoside hydrolases. The following criteria:
fermentation of these prebiotics produces SCFAs, which can  Genuine and authentic research papers.
cross the colon and affect the immune system. Acetate,  Studies examining the benefits of prebiotics on gut
propionate, and butyrate are SCFAs that exhibit antibacterial health.
activity and reduce the pH in the stomach. Prebiotics also  Surveys and trails proving that prebiotics effects on the
selectively boost or decrease certain intestinal bacteria that gut microbiota composition.
may be beneficial to health(Fatima Enam,2019).  Journals comprising of articles which shows clear view
that prebiotics effects the microbial diversity in healthy
The species in the intestine can be clearly and individuals.
permanently upregulated by prebiotics. We will be able to  Journals with peer review 6) Articles available on the
make more informed judgments about how to change the Authentic journals with clear understanding of concept
microbiota for the better by understanding the biology of and language.
prebiotics and how they relate to the dynamics of the gut
microbiome.

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Volume 8, Issue 10, October – 2023 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Studies were considered if they examined the diversity scientific definitions that have been updated to reflect
and composition of the gut microbiota in relation to developments in the field have helped us comprehend and
prebiotics. According to more recent definitions of appreciate the significance of prebiotics for the health of the
prebiotics, after being processed by gut bacteria, they have a overall gut microbiota.(as shown in Table No.1).
positive physiological effect on the host by altering the
composition or activity of the gut microbiota. Additionally,

Table 1 : Inclusion and Exclusion Table

Source Inclusion Exclusion
Google scholar 101 papers were shown, of which 11 were selected for Others were about diseases, food allergies, mental
review, suitable as per topic disorders, maternal womens, etc.
Pubmed 559 results were shown of which Papers on pediatrics, infants, overweight and
15 were selected for review obese individuals were excluded.
Research gate 200 results were shown of which Others were about diseases, fermentation by
20 were relevant to topic probiotics, gut- brain axis and trials on disease
individuals
Science direct 250 results were shown of which research papers based Excluded ones were about diseases, infants, trials
on effect of prebiotic on microbial diversity and on obese and diabetic individuals,etc.
composition on healthy individuals were selected

C. Method of Analysis widely recognized. The bacteria Bifidobacterium spp. And

This review of the literature gives a narrative summary Lactobacillus spp. Are therefore thought to be present in
of the studies that met the inclusion criteria. The foundation larger concentrations in healthy people who consume
of prebiotic notions is the dietary manipulation of gut prebiotics. In their gut flora. Additionally, some scientists
microbiota. The prebiotics' mode of action is displayed, contend that consuming prebiotics does not always result in
demonstrating how significantly they affect the metabolism a global alteration in the variety of gut microorganisms.
of the host. Prebiotics have the ability to hasten the Modification is, however, largely seen in bacterial taxa like
opportunistic growth of advantageous members, so Parabacteroides and Ruminococcaceae.
enhancing the host's gut flora.
It was successful in achieving the review's goal of
III. RESULT educating readers on the value of the host's gut flora.
Prebiotic consumption has a direct impact on how diverse
The review includes a total of 25 research articles that and composed the gut microbiota is in healthy people.
satisfied the inclusion requirements. These studies include a
variety of designs, although the majority are cross-sectional IV. DISCUSSION
or case-control studies. Small groups to extensive
population studies comprise a range of sample sizes. Beyond microbial growth, the regulation of colonic
Prebiotics have the ability to increase the opportunity for microbial to a healthy condition is anticipated to become an
helpful microbial members while decreasing the number of important and developing target for prebiotics. With
detrimental members in the gut microbiome, according to pathogens excluded, a new area of research is pathogens’
studies in general. A healthier variety of bacteria is capacity to regulate bacterial development. Prebiotics have
produced as a result, which enhances the host microbiota. certain known health advantages, some of which led to
changes in the microbiota such an increase in SCFAs.
According to recent studies, diets containing prebiotics Future microbiome regulation, especially its impact on the
can be used to modulate the gut microbiota while diversity and composition of gut bacteria, will heavily
maintaining a healthy gut environment and variety. depend on the prebiotic scope.
Prebiotics also have an impact on the immune system,
lowering the risk of immunological illnesses and boosting Following the metagonic investigation, it is learned
the activity of natural killer (NK) cells, according to a that prebiotics have an effect on the entire composition of
number of studies. In reality, the importance of the gut gut flora(Alma Cruz, 2021)(As shown in Table No. 2).
microbiota as a substantial organ separate from the rest of
the body and essential to human health is becoming more

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Volume 8, Issue 10, October – 2023 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Table 2 : The impact of Prebiotics on Gut bacteria
Prebiotic Model information Impact on gut bacteria

Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) were Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are

Galacto-Oligosaccharides
given to a group of healthy adult now more prevalent.
(GOS)
volunteers, dose of 2.4 g

Effects of BMO and lactose coculture on Reduce Clostridium perfringens

Bifidobacterium longum subsp. Longum and raise Bifidobacterium
Bovine milk-
metabolism and suppression of
Oligosaccharides (BMO)
Clostridium perfringens

2 months of daily 3g barley beta-glucan Firmicutes and fusubacterium

administration to healthy human concentrations decreased, but the
B- glucans
subjects concentrations of Prevotella, Roseburia,
and Clostridium increased.

Prebiotic diet percentage was raised by Prevotella, Ruminococcus, and

Resistant starch type 3 20% increments until it reached 100% Lachnospiraceae prevalence is
rising

Metabolic syndrome patients 26 weeks Bacteroides and Parabacteroides species

Resistant starch type 4 of treatment, including a two- to are mostly increasing.
twelveweek intervention period

In several investigations, fructans were shown to be decrease in pH, which encourages the growth of the
able to specifically promote lactic acid bacteria. In a gastrointestinal microbiome and prevents or slows the
randomized trial, prebiotics like 4 grams of GOS in juice spread of harmful microorganisms.
were consumed twice daily for three weeks to study the
effects of GOS. It was found that supplementing with GOS An earlier definition of the term “prebiotics” was “a
had a bifidogenic effect and increased the number of non-digestible food ingredient that benefits the host by
bifidobacteria. The production of the byproduct of bacterial promoting the growth and activity of microbes in the gut
fermentation known as butyrate was also seen to be rising. and thereby improves host health.”

In the other trial, fructooligosaccharides were used, Later, this definition was amended to “selectively
and GOS results revealed a rise in bifidobacteria and a fall fermented ingredient” in order to allow for beneficial
in harmful bacteria. A study on the effects of inulin changes in the composition and activity of the GI
supplementation on 10 healthy women over the course of 19 microflora.
days reveals a notable rise in the bifidobacteria that make up
the gut flora. Furthermore, research on both humans and A new definition of “prebiotics” is now being
animals has demonstrated that prebiotics can reduce the developed to better represent the changes in our knowledge
number of dangerous Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. and appreciation of the significance of gut flora as a whole.
According to clinical investigations, prebiotics can also have Recent definitions have advocated for a broader perspective.
an impact on the immune system(Dorna Davani-
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