16S sequencing - Conjugated 2’-Fucosyllactose-potato protein hydrolysate as novel prebiotics

Background:
Most prebiotics are carbohydrate-based, and their consumption is a well-established strategy for promoting gut-probiotics and human-health. However, ~90% of the consumed proteins are absorbed in the small-intestine. Therefore, gut-microbes compete for the residual unabsorbed-peptides reaching the colon. To harness this situation to promote health, we introduced protein-containing-prebiotics, which selectively-deliver both proteins and carbohydrates to gut-probiotics, boosting their growth more effectively than conventional carbohydrate-only prebiotics. This novel prebiotic is based on Maillard-conjugates of prebiotic-oligosaccharides and protein-hydrolysates, forming protein-core–oligosaccharide-shell micelles. This reduces protein absorption, while the prebiotic-oligosaccharides facilitate targeted-delivery to colonic-probiotics. Here we study a novel composition of protein-containing-prebiotic: Maillard-conjugates of 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL) and potato-protein hydrolysate (PPH).
Results:
2'-FL-PPH conjugates exhibited resistance to gastrointestinal digestion, substantially increasing the protein fraction reaching the colon. To assess prebiotic efficacy, mice were fed with diets containing 2′-FL-PPH, its unconjugated components, 2′-FL, or saline for 5 weeks. 2′-FL-PPH significantly increased the abundance of Bifidobacteria and short-chain-fatty-acids (SCFA)-producing genera, and colonic SCFAs compared to saline, outperforming conventional prebiotics. Notably, no increase in harmful proteolytic fermentation byproducts was observed. 2′-FL-PPH promoted gut-barrier integrity, as indicated by higher colonic MUC2 and claudin-1 levels compared to 2’-FL. Additionally, 2′-FL-PPH significantly increased fecal moisture content relative to 2’-FL and saline, and more effectively reduced weight gain and hepatic fat accumulation than the conventional prebiotic.
Conclusions:
These cumulative health-promoting findings indicate that protein-containing-prebiotics offer an improved alternative to carbohydrate-only prebiotics, presenting a promising strategy for enhancing gut and metabolic health.

Description of data:
A = 2'-FL-PPH
B = Unconjugated components
C = 2'-FL
D = Saline

2 = After
Without index = Before