Effects of Fructan Prebiotics on the Intestinal Microbiota

Overview

Prebiotics are carbohydrate polymers believed to improve health by stimulating beneficial gastrointestinal microbial populations. Prebiotic health claims are currently not permitted in Canada due to a lack of validating scientific data. Currently, Health Canada considers 'prebiotic' to imply a health benefit that must be substantiated. Our goal is to conduct a human clinical trial to define the impacts of fructans on the colonic microbiome as well as the physiological, psychological and immunological effects on the host.

Current health claims for the fructan prebiotics focus on the bifidogenic properties of these substrates. While these claims appear to be widely accepted among nutritionists, the gut-microbiology community considers this an archaic view on these complex communities which contain in excess of 400 species of which the majority have yet to be cultivated or characterized. The bifidogenic effect associated with fructans also forms the basis of current prebiotic health claims in Canada, claims which up until now have not stood up to regulatory scrutiny The primary objective of this study is to assess the impact of frucans on the human microbiome, as well as the physiological, immunological health of the host. Information generated from this study will address both aspects of the current FOA definition of what constitutes a "prebiotic". New data generated from this study will be applicable for a new health claim for prebiotics and will provide a guide for industry demonstrating the requirements for a scientifically valid study for other submissions involving prebiotics.

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes