Maternal Prebiotic Ingestion Increased the Number of Fecal Bifidobacteria in Pregnant Women but Not in Their Neonates Aged One Month

Overview

Journal Nutrients

Date 2017 Mar 2

PMID 28245628

Citations 16

Authors

Shinji Jinno

Takayuki Toshimitsu

Yoshitaka Nakamura

Takayuki Kubota

Yuka Igoshi

Naoko Ozawa

Shuichi Suzuki

Taiji Nakano

Yoshinori Morita

Takayasu Arima

Fumiya Yamaide

Yoichi Kohno

Kentaro Masuda

Naoki Shimojo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) can selectively stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria. Here, we investigated the effect of maternal FOS ingestion on maternal and neonatal gut bifidobacteria. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we administered 8 g/day of FOS or sucrose to 84 women from the 26th week of gestation to one month after delivery. The bifidobacteria count was detected using quantitative PCR in maternal (26 and 36 weeks of gestation) and neonatal (one month after delivery) stools. Maternal stool frequency was recorded from 24 to 36 weeks of gestation. The number of fecal spp. and in the FOS group was significantly higher than that in the placebo group at 36 weeks of gestation (2.7 × 10/g vs. 1.1 × 10/g and 2.3 × 10/g vs. 9.7 × 10⁸/g). In their neonates, these numbers did not differ between the groups. Also, stool frequency in the FOS group was slightly higher than that in the placebo group two weeks after the intervention (1.0 vs. 0.8 times/day), suggesting a potential constipation alleviation effect. In conclusion, the maternal FOS ingestion showed a bifidogenic effect in pregnant women but not in their neonates.

Citing Articles

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