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01-03-2021 | Probiotics | Original Contribution

Effects of probiotic supplementation on serum trimethylamine-N-oxide level and gut microbiota composition in young males: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial

Authors: Si Chen, Ping-ping Jiang, Danxia Yu, Gong-cheng Liao, Shang-ling Wu, Ai-ping Fang, Pei-yan Chen, Xiao-yan Wang, Yun Luo, Jing-an Long, Rong-huan Zhong, Zhao-yan Liu, Chun-lei Li, Dao-ming Zhang, Hui-lian Zhu

Published in: European Journal of Nutrition | Issue 2/2021

Abstract

Purpose

To explore whether probiotic supplementation could attenuate serum trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) level and impact the intestinal microbiome composition.

Design

Forty healthy males (20–25 years old) were randomized into the probiotic group (1.32 × 10¹¹ CFU live bacteria including strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Bifidobacterium animalis, and Bifidobacterium longum daily) or the control group for 4 weeks. All participants underwent a phosphatidylcholine challenge test (PCCT) before and after the intervention. Serum TMAO and its precursors (TMA, choline and betaine) were measured by UPLC-MS/MS. The faecal microbiome was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing.

Results

Serum TMAO and its precursors were markedly increased after the PCCT. No statistical differences were observed in the probiotic and the control group in area under the curve (AUC) (14.79 ± 0.97 μmol/L 8 h vs. 19.17 ± 2.55 μmol/L 8 h, P = 0.106) and the pre- to post-intervention AUC alterations (∆AUC) (− 6.33 ± 2.00 μmol/L 8 h vs. − 0.73 ± 3.04 μmol/L 8 h, P = 0.131) of TMAO; however, higher proportion of participants in probiotic group showed their TMAO decrease after the intervention (78.9% vs. 45.0%, P = 0.029). The abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (P = 0.043) and Prevotella (P = 0.001) in the probiotic group was significantly increased after the intervention but without obvious differences in α- and β-diversity.

Conclusions

The current probiotic supplementation resulted in detectable change of intestinal microbiome composition but failed to attenuate the serum TMAO elevation after PCCT.

Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

NCT03292978.

Clinicaltrials.gov website

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03292978.

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Title: Effects of probiotic supplementation on serum trimethylamine-N-oxide level and gut microbiota composition in young males: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial
Authors: Si Chen
Ping-ping Jiang
Danxia Yu
Gong-cheng Liao
Shang-ling Wu
Ai-ping Fang
Pei-yan Chen
Xiao-yan Wang
Yun Luo
Jing-an Long
Rong-huan Zhong
Zhao-yan Liu
Chun-lei Li
Dao-ming Zhang
Hui-lian Zhu
Publication date: 01-03-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Probiotics
Respiratory Microbiota
Published in: European Journal of Nutrition / Issue 2/2021
Print ISSN: 1436-6207
Electronic ISSN: 1436-6215
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-020-02278-1

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