Solutions for a good gut feeling

Health, wellbeing and the gut

Over the last twelve months, 85% of consumers say that they have taken some form of step to improve their digestive health, compared to 67% in 2018.¹ These are all uncomfortable, embarrassing and unpleasant conditions that many people have to cope with on a daily basis.

Digestive health issues range from stomach discomfort to diagnosed issues such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Constipation is the main problem among seniors.

In the area of sports nutrition, (mainly endurance) athletes are also affected, with 30-50% suffering from gastro-intestinal (GI) problems, which may impair performance and/or subsequent recovery².

While most people still look to medicine to remedy their immediate digestive problems, healthy eating and fitness are increasingly recognised as viable, longer-term solutions.

¹FMCG Gurus, Understanding Digestive Health in 2021; ²De Oliveira et al., 2014

The Human microbiome:
trillions of symbiotic microbes & much more

The recognition that the microbes living inside us outnumber our body’s own cells (by almost 10x) has led to a radical rethink of human health and its potential management. Humans have an estimated 100 trillion symbiotic microbes living in and on their bodies and 95% of these are located in the gut.

The microbiome is more medically accessible and manipulatable than the human genome, which could unlock the door to exciting new therapies¹.

It’s important that gut microbiota are balanced, diverse and stable. Disruption (or dysbiosis) can lead to fewer ‘good’ bacteria and more harmful, disease-causing bacteria, as well as restricting a healthy diversity of microorganisms.

It’s estimated that somewhere between 300 and 1000 species of bacteria live in the gut. But the two that are most critical to digestive health are Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli.

Bifidobacteria:

• Produce metabolites by breaking down fibres like resistant starch into e.g. molecules called short-chain fatty acids².
• Influence the immune system and fight against inflammation³.
• Improve gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, and slow transit times⁴.
• Protect the gut barrier³.

Lactobacilli:

• Help maintain the health of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and immune system.⁵
• Prevent bad bacteria invading the body through the gut.⁶
• Inhibit the growth of bad bacteria by producing anti-bacterial compounds and reducing gut pH.⁷
• Help lactose breakdown — live cultures in yoghurt can improve lactose digestion.⁸
• Help reduce gas, bloating, abdominal pain and stool problems in people with IBS.⁹
• Reduce the occurrence and duration of diarrhoea caused by antibiotics or illness.^10,11
• Digest prebiotic fibre to produce beneficial compounds, including lactate and the short-chain fatty acid acetate, which both help maintain a healthy gut barrier.¹²

Microbiota balance changes with age

As we move through different life stages, the balance of microbes in our gut changes. There are contradictory findings about what happens while babies are in the womb, but from birth until 24 months, the microbiome is rich and diverse, with a preponderance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. As adults, the gut microbiota tends to be fairly stable, and finally in old age, there’s less richness and diversity and a danger of harmful bacteria groups developing.¹³

What shapes the gut microbiota?

The way you were born, your genetics, your age, your exercise regime and medications you take (particularly antibiotics) can all affect the make-up and therefore overall health of your gut. But the main factor under your control is what you eat and drink – your diet can impact your microbiota in the course of just a few days.

¹Adapted from worldmicrobiomeday.com; Adapted from: Gut Microbiota for Health; ²O’Callaghan & Van Sinderen, 2016; ³Picard et al., 2005; ⁴Hungin et al., 2018; ⁵Conlon and Bird,2014; ⁶Mackowiak, 2013; ⁷Moal and Servin, 2014; ⁸EFSA, 2010; ⁹Didai, 2015; ¹⁰Newberry, 2012; ¹¹Gao et al., 2010; ¹²Gong and Yang, 2012; ¹³Arboleya et al., 2016.

Leading the pack

We have a growing body of evidence on the health effects of GOS for adults. Scientific studies show that GOS provides a superior prebiotic effect^1-5 and improvement in GI (Gastro-Intestinal) health⁶.

We are also researching lactose-derived complex carbohydrates called Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs), to sow the seeds for future innovations in gut health and beyond, such as Biotis™ 2’FL-HMO (2’-Fucosyllactose).

Clinical research reveals that GOS: 

• Significantly increases Bifidobacteria in the gut of healthy adults with regular consumption⁷
• Has a positive influence on constipation in adults, with increased defecation frequency and easier defecation^8,9
• Reduces GI-symptoms, like bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain and urgency¹⁰
• Reduces GI-symptoms in IBS patients, with less bloating and pain^11,12
• Alleviates GI-symptoms in IBS patients, whereas inulin-type fructans aggravate these⁶
• We’re proud that our GOS prebiotics are the most researched in the world. They’ve been extensively trialled and tested in the context of both Early Life Nutrition and Adult Nutrition, where we’ve thoroughly investigated its potential health benefits, including digestive health and immunity. 

FrieslandCampina Ingredients is the world’s leading GOS expert and supplier, with our very own tried and tested supply chain. This means we have complete control of the quality of our GOS solutions and can ensure the highest standards every step of the way.

References:
¹ Watson, D. et al. Selective carbohydrate utilization by lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. J. Appl. Microbiol. 1132–46 (2013).
² Stiverson, J. et al.cA comparative evaluation of prebiotic oligosaccharides using in vitro cultures of infant fecal microbiome. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 7388–7397 (2014).
³ Rada, V. et al. Growth of infant faecal bifidobacteria and clostridia on prebiotic oligosaccharides in in vitro conditions. Anaerobe 205–208 (2008).
⁴ Rycroft, C., Jones, M., Gibson, G. & Rastall, R. A comparative in vitro evaluation of the fermentation properties of prebiotic oligosaccharides. J Appl Microbiol 91,878–887 (2001).
⁵ Bouhnik, Y. et al. The capacity of nondigestible carbohydrates to stimulate fecal bifidobacteria in healthy humans (2014).
⁶ Wilson, B., Rossi, M., Dimidi, E. & Whelan, K. Prebiotics in irritable bowel syndrome and other functional bowel disorders in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 109, 1098–1111 (2019).
⁷ Walton, G. E. et al. A randomised crossover study investigating the effects of galacto-oligosaccharides on the faecal microbiota in men and women over 50 years of age. Br. J. Nutr. 107, 1466–75 (2012).
⁸ Teuri, U. & Korpela, R. Galacto-oligosaccharides relieve constipation in elderly people. Ann. Nutr. Metab. 42, 319–27 (1998).
⁹ Surakka, A. et al. Yoghurt containing galactooligosaccharides facilitates defecation among elderly subjects and selectively increases the number of Bifidobacteria. Int. J. Probiotics Prebiotics 4, 65–74 (2009).
¹⁰ Vulevic, J., Tzortzis, G., Juric, A. & Gibson, G. R. Effect of a prebiotic galactooligosaccharide mixture (B-GOS®) on Gastro-Intestinal symptoms in adults selected from a general population who suffer with bloating, abdominal pain, or flatulence. Neurogastroenterol. Motil. 30, (2018).
¹¹ Huaman, J. W. et al. Effects of Prebiotics vs a Diet Low in FODMAPs in Patients With Functional Gut Disorders. Gastroenterology 155, 1004–1007 (2018).
¹² Silk, D. B. A., Davis, A., Vulevic, J., Tzortzis, G. & Gibson, G. R. Clinical trial: the effects of a trans-galactooligosaccharide prebiotic on faecal microbiota and symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome. Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. 29, 508–18 (2009).