Heat-treated Postbiotic Consumption in Healthy People With Mild to Moderate Gastrointestinal Symptoms

The use of probiotics is a widespread clinical practice to improve the composition of the microbiota in healthy and pathological patients. However, in recent years, postbiotics have begun to be used that can exert a certain anti-inflammatory effect at the intestinal level. Among them, Bifidobacterium longum (CECT 7347) has been used in various clinical trials with promising results. It has immunoregulatory properties and an excellent ability to attenuate the activity of epithelial cells at the intestinal level. However, it is necessary to carry out clinical trials to verify its effects, preferably in healthy patients who show certain gastrointestinal discomfort. For this reason, a parallel, randomized, double-blind, controlled pilot clinical trial with 2 study arms has been proposed to assess the effect of habitual consumption of a heat treated postbiotic B. longum CECT 7347 on mild-moderate functional digestive disorders in a group of healthy people.

Recently, there has been a great advance in functional digestive disorders research by new methodological strategies development for their treatment. One of the most interesting line broads the use of microorganisms with the aim of reducing the gastrointestinal. The most studied in this context belong to the genus Bifidobacterium. These microorganisms have shown a remarkable capacity to modulate the inflammatory response, whose efficacy was previously evaluated in celiac patients. Subsequently, different in vitro studies and animal models has been carried out on Bifidobacterium strains, specifically B. longum CECT 7347. Its effect on inflammation caused by gliadins, has reported promising results. This strain is characterized by its anti-inflammatory activity and its ability to recover the intestinal barrier.

Clinical trials in humans took place once the genome of the B. longum CECT 7347 strain and its safety at the level of oral consumption were studied. Continuing with the work carried out in animal models, the efficacy of oral consumption in celiac patients was evaluated, although studies were also carried out on other individuals with liver or dermatological pathologies.

Gastrointestinal symptoms in adults are usually predominant and have important consequences for health and quality of life. In addition, recent studies suggest that the composition of the intestinal microbiota in those people who have gastrointestinal symptoms may come from intestinal dysbiosis, highlighting the role in the noticeable symptoms. Digestive disorders are characterized by compositional imbalances in the gut microbiota, particularly by a reduced number on both total bifidobacteria and Bifidobacterium longum ES1 (CECT 7347). Recent in vitro studies have shown that the presence of B. longum CECT 7347 reduces the toxic and inflammatory effects on intestinal cells.

The former evidences it has been hypothesised that the administration of a heat treated postbiotic B. longum CECT 7347 could modify the composition of the intestinal microbiota due to its immunoregulatory properties and the ability to attenuate the activity of epithelial cells. The proper administrations should attenuate the inflammatory effects, producing a decrease in the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in undiagnosed groups, but which may suffer from a certain intestinal dysbiosis. Based on the above background, a parallel, randomized, double-blind, controlled pilot clinical trial with two study arms has been proposed to assess the effect of habitual consumption of heat treated postbiotic B. longum CECT 7347 on mild to moderate functional digestive disorders in a group of healthy people.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjects who obtain a score between 13 and 39 points with diarrhea predominance in the Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale (GSRS-IBS) corresponding to the last week.
* Men and women between 18 and 65 years old.
* Absence of a family or social environment that prevents compliance with treatment.
* Adequate cultural level and understanding of the clinical study.
* Agree to voluntarily participate in the study and give their informed consent in writing.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subjects with BMI \<18.5 or \>35 kg/m2.
* Subjects who have participated in programs and/or clinical trials and who have lost or gained more than 4 kg in the last 3 months.
* Subjects diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus 1 or 2.
* Subjects diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, hypothyroidism and/or hyperthyroidism.
* Subjects with allergies to the excipients of the product/placebo.
* Subjects with an established diagnosis of eating behavior disorder.
* Women who do not agree to continue with their contraceptive method during the study period.
* Subjects who perform excessive physical exercise (\>2 h more than 3 times per week).
* Subjects who wish to start an exercise plan and/or dietary program during the study period.
* Subjects with serious diseases (liver disease, kidney disease, heart disease, lung disease, cancer, etc.).
* Subjects with chronic intestinal pathologies (gastritis, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, intestinal perforation, history of gastroparesis, etc.).
* Subjects with autoimmune diseases and/or subjects undergoing treatment with corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and/or biologicals in the last 12 months.
* Subjects with major surgeries in the last 3 months or gastrointestinal surgery in the last 6 months.
* Subjects with weight loss surgery (gastric bypass, lap band)
* Subjects under treatment with oral antibiotics during the 30 days prior to the start of the study.
* Subjects with recent episodes of acute gastrointestinal illness such as nausea, vomiting or acute gastroenteritis 2 weeks before the start of the study.
* Subjects who wish to quit smoking during the duration of the study.
* Subjects who consume antioxidant supplements, omega 3 supplements, vitamins, minerals, prebiotic, synbiotic, parabiotic or probiotic products in the 4 weeks prior to the start of the study and who do not agree to suppress their consumption during the study period.
* Subjects with alcohol consumption greater than 30 g/day (equivalent to 300 ml of wine, about 3 beers or a glass (75 ml) of whisky, cognac, anise, etc.)).
* Subjects with regular use of antidiarrheal medications (\>2 per week) during the last 3 months prior to the start of the study.
* Subjects on anticoagulant therapy.
* Subjects with dementia, mental illness, or decreased cognitive function.
* Pregnant or lactating women.