Nutrients, Vol. 18, Pages 1013: Gut Microbiota Changes Following Short-Term Probiotic Supplementation in Older Home Enteral Nutrition Patients
Nutrients doi: 10.3390/nu18061013
Authors:
Niki Tombolesi
Emanuele Francini
Giulia Matacchione
Debora Sparvoli
Nikolina Jukic Peladic
Maurizio Cardelli
Rina Recchioni
Matilde Sbriscia
Sonia Fantone
Chiara Giordani
Angelica Giuliani
Stefania Silvi
Dennis Fiorini
Sabrina Donati Zeppa
Antonio Domenico Procopio
Fabiola Olivieri
Fabrizia Lattanzio
Maria Capalbo
Paolo Orlandoni
Francesca Marchegiani
Background: Home Enteral Nutrition (HEN) patients, often older adults, are susceptible to gut microbiota dysbiosis and low-grade chronic inflammation (inflammaging), which negatively impacts overall health and intestinal integrity. However, evidence on microbiota-targeted interventions in this population remains limited. The development of targeted nutritional strategies, such as probiotic supplementation, has been proposed to address these age-related changes. Methods: This exploratory randomized, open-label study explored changes in gut microbiota composition following a 30-day probiotic intervention in a cohort of sixteen older HEN patients. Gut microbiota profiles were analyzed at baseline and post-intervention using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Results: Significant shifts in the gut microbiota were observed, including a statistically significant increase in alpha diversity after 30 days. At the taxonomic level, the treated group showed an increased relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Erysipelotrichaceae, suggesting a modulation of gut microbiota structure following probiotic supplementation. Conclusions: These findings provide preliminary insights into microbiota dynamics in this population and may inform the design of future studies integrating functional and clinical outcomes.
Background: Home Enteral Nutrition (HEN) patients, often older adults, are susceptible to gut microbiota dysbiosis and low-grade chronic inflammation (inflammaging), which negatively impacts overall health and intestinal integrity. However, evidence on microbiota-targeted interventions in this population remains limited. The development of targeted nutritional strategies, such as probiotic supplementation, has been proposed to address these age-related changes. Methods: This exploratory randomized, open-label study explored changes in gut microbiota composition following a 30-day probiotic intervention in a cohort of sixteen older HEN patients. Gut microbiota profiles were analyzed at baseline and post-intervention using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Results: Significant shifts in the gut microbiota were observed, including a statistically significant increase in alpha diversity after 30 days. At the taxonomic level, the treated group showed an increased relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Erysipelotrichaceae, suggesting a modulation of gut microbiota structure following probiotic supplementation. Conclusions: These findings provide preliminary insights into microbiota dynamics in this population and may inform the design of future studies integrating functional and clinical outcomes. Read More