Prebiotic Effect of a Jelly Containing Short Chain Fructo-Oligosaccharides and Sideritis Euboea Extract
Condition: Healthy Adult Subjects
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The human intestinal microflora is characterized as a complex and dynamic microbial ecosystem
      with crucial contribution to our nutrition and welfare. Health-promoting genera such as
      Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. play a key role in digestion of nutrients,
      production of short chain fatty acids and vitamins, inhibition of harmful bacteria,
      immunostimulation, reduction of blood cholesterol and ammonia levels and restoration of
      normal flora after antibiotic therapy. Proteolytic species such as toxin-producing clostridia
      and toxigenic E. coli are considered as potential pathogens with detrimental effects to human
      host.

      Recently, part of novel food research is directing towards the concept of prebiotics e.g.
      food ingredients that are not hydrolyzed by the human gastrointestinal tract and beneficially
      affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or limited
      number of bacteria in the colon that can improve host health.

      Fructo-oligosaccharides and inulin, are considered as the most extensively studied and
      well-established prebiotics. In vitro and in vivo data suggest the bifidogenic effect of
      inulin and oligofructose, which can be attributed to their selective fermentation by
      Bifidobacterium species. Due to their documented prebiotic properties, both inulin and FOS
      are increasingly applied in novel food product development through the fortification of
      commonly ingested foodstuffs.

      The aim of this study is to evaluate the in vivo prebiotic effect of a functional food
      containing short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (sc-FOS) and Sideritis euboea extract on the
      faecal microflora composition of healthy human volunteers.
    

Detailed description: 
      In this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical study we aimed to evaluate
      the in vivo prebiotic effects of a functional food containing short-chain
      fructo-oligosaccharides (sc-FOS) and Sideritis euboea extract on human faecal microflora.
      Sixty-four healthy volunteers (26 men and 38 women) (age range:22-51) were assigned to
      consume daily a jelly containing 5 g sc-FOS and 0.3 g S.euboea extract or a placebo for 30 d.
      Stool samples were collected prior to the study on day 15 and 30 of intervention and 2 weeks
      after. Enumeration of faecal bacteria was performed by plate count techniques.
      Gastrointestinal side effects were recorded during the treatment period.
    

Intervention name(s): sc-FOS and Sideritis euboea extract
Intervention type(s): Dietary Supplement
Intervention description(s): dietary supplement: jelly with 5g sc-FOS and 0.3g Sideritis euboea extract per daily portion for 30 days
placebo food: jelly with no sc-FOS and Sideritis euboea
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Investigator)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care