Kirsten Berding1, Caitriona M Long-Smith1, Carina Carbia1, Thomaz F S Bastiaanssen1,2, Marcel van de Wouw1, Niamh Wiley1,3,4, Conall R Strain1,4, Fiona Fouhy1,4, Catherine Stanton1,3,4, John F Cryan5,6, Timothy G Dinan1,3. 1. APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. 2. Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. 3. Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. 4. Teagsac Food Research Centre, Moorepark Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland. 5. APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. j.cryan@ucc.ie. 6. Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. j.cryan@ucc.ie.
Abstract
RATIONALE: The impact of the microbiota on the gut-brain axis is increasingly appreciated. A growing body of literature demonstrates that use of dietary fibre and prebiotics can manipulate the microbiota and affect host health. However, the influence on cognition and acute stress response is less well understood. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a dietary fibre, polydextrose (PDX), in improving cognitive performance and acute stress responses through manipulation of the gut microbiota in a healthy population. METHODS: In this double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover design study, 18 healthy female participants received 12.5 gLitesse®Ultra (> 90% PDX polymer) or maltodextrin for 4 weeks. Cognitive performance, mood, acute stress responses, microbiota composition, and inflammatory markers were assessed pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS:PDX improved cognitive flexibility as evidenced by the decrease in the number of errors made in the Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift (IED) task. A better performance in sustained attention was observed through higher number of correct responses and rejections in the Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVP) task. Although there was no change in microbial diversity, abundance of Ruminiclostridium 5 significantly increased after PDX supplementation compared with placebo. PDX supplementation attenuated the increase of adhesion receptor CD62L on classical monocytes observed in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with the PDX resulted in a modest improvement in cognitive performance. The results indicate that PDX could benefit gut-to-brain communication and modulate behavioural responses.
RCT Entities:
RATIONALE: The impact of the microbiota on the gut-brain axis is increasingly appreciated. A growing body of literature demonstrates that use of dietary fibre and prebiotics can manipulate the microbiota and affect host health. However, the influence on cognition and acute stress response is less well understood. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a dietary fibre, polydextrose (PDX), in improving cognitive performance and acute stress responses through manipulation of the gut microbiota in a healthy population. METHODS: In this double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover design study, 18 healthy female participants received 12.5 g Litesse®Ultra (> 90% PDX polymer) or maltodextrin for 4 weeks. Cognitive performance, mood, acute stress responses, microbiota composition, and inflammatory markers were assessed pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS: PDX improved cognitive flexibility as evidenced by the decrease in the number of errors made in the Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift (IED) task. A better performance in sustained attention was observed through higher number of correct responses and rejections in the Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVP) task. Although there was no change in microbial diversity, abundance of Ruminiclostridium 5 significantly increased after PDX supplementation compared with placebo. PDX supplementation attenuated the increase of adhesion receptor CD62L on classical monocytes observed in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with the PDX resulted in a modest improvement in cognitive performance. The results indicate that PDX could benefit gut-to-brain communication and modulate behavioural responses.
Authors: Kirra Borrello; Unhee Lim; Song-Yi Park; Kristine R Monroe; Gertraud Maskarinec; Carol J Boushey; Lynne R Wilkens; Timothy W Randolph; Loïc Le Marchand; Meredith A Hullar; Johanna W Lampe Journal: Nutrients Date: 2022-02-04 Impact factor: 6.706