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Change in Human Gut Flora and in Immune Functions Following Probiotic Administration
Healthy human gut contains a large number of bacteria, which belong to several different species. Some genes in these bacteria encode enzymes that the human body cannot produce. These enzymes can catalyze metabolic reactions in the distal small bowel. For instance, bacterial enzymes can breakdown indigestible dietary constituents, making available extra energy to the host. The current paradigm treats the human body as a 'metagenome', i.e. a composite of Homo sapiens genes and genes in the genomes of the colonizing bacteria. Till recently, accurate determination of bacterial gut flora was not possible. Recent development of multi-parallel sequencing techniques has allowed unbiased determination of profile of gut flora. These techniques have revealed changes in gut flora in several disease conditions, including those of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. This has prompted the use of drugs, such as probiotics to restore the gut flora. Probiotics contain living microorganisms, and are administered in an attempt to obtain health benefits by restoring normal gut flora. These preparations provide benefit to patients with several diseases, including childhood diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, vaginitis, etc. However, the mechanisms of their beneficial effects remains unclear. Gut microbiota appear to modulate the development of immune system and maintain a balance between Th17 and T regulatory cells in animals. However, it is not known whether administration of probiotics changes the profile (nature and relative density of various species) of gut flora, and whether these changes are short-lasted or persistent. This proposal aimed to study whether probiotic administration influences the gut bacterial profile and host immune responses. In addition, we wished to determine whether the changes in gut flora and immune responses persist after probiotic administration is stopped.
Details
| Lead sponsor | Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences |
|---|---|
| Phase | NA |
| Status | COMPLETED |
| Enrolment | 14 |
| Start date | 2013-12 |
| Completion | 2015-12 |
Conditions
- Probiotics
Interventions
- Probiotic (VSL#3)
Primary outcomes
- Profile of gut flora among healthy Indian women — Baseline
To determine the profile of gut flora (% abundance of various bacterial phyla, families, genera and species) in healthy Indian women, using a metagenomic technique (sequencing of V3 region of 16S ribosomal RNA). - Effect of probiotic preparation on gut-flora profile — 4 weeks of probiotics administration
To determine the effect of administration of a probiotic preparation for a 4-week period on the profile of gut flora in healthy Indian women. - Effect of probiotic on immune responses — 4 weeks of probiotics administration
To assess the effect of probiotic administration on immune responses, and the persistence of such changes on discontinuation of probiotic administration