Efficacy of an Anthocyanin and Prebiotic Blend on Intestinal Environment in Obese Male and Female Subjects

Abstract

Background . Anthocyanins and prebiotics impact overall health and wellness, likely through modulation of the microbiota and the intestinal ecosystem. Objectives . An 8-week open-label study in male and female volunteers with uncomplicated obesity was designed to study the efficacy of an anthocyanin and prebiotic blend in modulating intestinal microbiota and intestinal inflammation. Results . After 8 weeks of daily supplementation, participants had a significant decrease in Firmicutes (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M1"><mml:mrow><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo>&lt;</mml:mo><mml:mn>0</mml:mn><mml:mo>.</mml:mo><mml:mn>001</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math>) and Actinobacteria (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M2"><mml:mrow><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo>&lt;</mml:mo><mml:mn>0</mml:mn><mml:mo>.</mml:mo><mml:mn>001</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math>) and a significant increase in Bacteroidetes (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M3"><mml:mrow><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo>&lt;</mml:mo><mml:mn>0</mml:mn><mml:mo>.</mml:mo><mml:mn>001</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math>). Bowel habits were improved as evidenced by reductions in the severity of bloating (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M4"><mml:mrow><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo>&lt;</mml:mo><mml:mn>0</mml:mn><mml:mo>.</mml:mo><mml:mn>05</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math>), gas (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M5"><mml:mrow><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>0</mml:mn><mml:mo>.</mml:mo><mml:mn>035</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math>), and abdominal pain (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M6"><mml:mrow><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>0</mml:mn><mml:mo>.</mml:mo><mml:mn>015</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math>) as well as significant improvements in stool consistency (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M7"><mml:mrow><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo>&lt;</mml:mo><mml:mn>0</mml:mn><mml:mo>.</mml:mo><mml:mn>05</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math>). Finally, a nonsignificant decrease in the inflammatory marker fecal calprotectin was seen (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M8"><mml:mrow><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>0</mml:mn><mml:mo>.</mml:mo><mml:mn>107</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math>). The supplement was safe and well tolerated. Conclusions . The results suggest that regular consumption of the anthocyanin-prebiotic blend positively modulated the intestinal ecosystem and provided insights into the mechanisms of action and its impact on health benefits.