Effects of Prebiotics on Intestinal Colonization and Mood in a University Cohort
Condition: Mood
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      There is a growing interest within the scientific community of whether prebiotics can aid in
      clinical outcomes including mood via modulation of the gut microbiota and its resulting
      metabolites via the gut-brain axis. This is especially prevalent given that mental health
      conditions are associated with cost and burden on the health care system. Yet, to date very
      few studies have investigated the potential effects of prebiotics to influence mood via the
      modulation of the gut microbiota with previous studies recording mixed results indicating
      further work in this area would be highly beneficial.
    

Detailed description: 
      Several reports have suggested that poor mental health among university students is on the
      increase. Factors driving this; including academic pressure, overdemanding workloads,
      financial concerns, and peer pressure; can adversely affect academic performance and
      self-worth. Thus, there is an increasing need to develop new strategies to help tackle these
      modalities while also reducing the burden on the health system.

      In recent years there has been increasing interest in the bi-directional relationship that
      exists between the gut and the brain, a term coined the gut-brain axis, and it is suggested
      to play a role in influencing mood via chemical messengers.

      As diet is key manipulator of the gut microbiota one way to influence the composition of the
      gut is via diet and the use of functional foods including prebiotic oligosaccharides.

      The idea that functional foods like prebiotics may help to affect mood holds particular
      appeal due to them being relatively free of side effects, cheap, readily accessible and
      possessing additional health benefits including improving bowel transit function and
      improving satiety amongst others. Yet, to date previous research on the potential for
      prebiotics has produced mixed results due to differences in the populations tested, doses and
      types of prebiotics used, and means of assessing changes in mood suggesting further work in
      this area would be highly beneficial.

      Therefore, this present study aims to address the question "can manipulation of the gut
      microbiota using prebiotic oligosaccharides alone or in combination influence mental state in
      a taught university student population?".
    

Intervention name(s): Placebo; Prebiotic supplement; Prebiotic combination; Prebiotic oligosaccharides
Intervention type(s): Dietary Supplement; Dietary Supplement; Dietary Supplement; Dietary Supplement
Intervention description(s): maltodextrin taken daily for 4 weeks with water; Prebiotic supplement taken daily for 4 weeks with water; prebiotic oligosaccharides mixture taken daily for 4 weeks with water; Prebiotic oligosaccharides taken daily for 4 weeks with water
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Prevention