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  Discussion on Research Summary: Prebiotics: dietary short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides
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Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Oct 19, 2007 - 1:45 pm:

In an earlier discussion in this topic I was asked, "what is a prebiotic". I could not find a reliable definition at that time. This summary stimulated me to revisit the subject and now there are definitions all over but this seems the most consistent one:

a nondigestible dietary supplement: a dietary supplement in the form of nondigestible carbohydrate that favors the growth of desirable microflora in the large bowel.

Some definitions leave the carbohydrate requirement out. A more specific definition found in some references is a short chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS). These are mixtures of oligosaccharides consisting of glucose linked to fructose units, which is what this piece of research studied.

These prebiotics are produced commercially from sucrose using an enzymatic process. ScFOS are poorly digested in the human and horse small intestine but are fermented in the colon by the resident microflora.

It has been shown in humans that addition to the diet of short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS) at doses of 4 to 12.5 g/d leads to an increase in faecal bifidobacteria counts. Such bifidobacteria-promoting dietary interventions can be perceived as beneficial, since bifidobacteria are a saccharolytic genus and could contribute to protection of the colon by protecting it from infection and lowering the pH.

Symptoms relating to gas production in the gut are widely reported in human prebiotic feeding studies. From all these results, it appears that the most common symptoms noted during scFOS administration are excess flatus and/or bloating, but only a minority of subjects experiences them and they are usually very mild.

In this study on horses the feeding of this prebiotic protected the gut against the effects of a sudden increase in carbohydrate load. It is uncertain what the actual nutritional and clinical benefits might be under real life conditions. Hopefully there will be some pursuit of this as it may help ameliorate the effects of high carb diets in performance horses and decrease the incidence of laminitis in grass induced founders.

J Anim Sci. 2007 Oct 16;

Effects of dietary short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides on the intestinal microflora of horses subjected to a sudden change in diet.

Respondek F, Goachet AG, Julliand V.
BEGHIN-MEIJI, 67390 Marckolsheim, France.

Prebiotic compounds, such as short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS), have been shown to improve health, welfare, or both in several species, but few studies have been conducted in horses, despite the sensitivity of their hindgut microflora. We hypothesized that prebiotic oligosaccharides, known to be able to stabilize the intestinal microflora in other species, would be of great importance in horses. Our study was designed to evaluate the effect of scFOS supplementation on the equine intestinal microflora and to assess its effectiveness in reducing hindgut microbial disturbances related to sudden diet changes. Four adult geldings were allotted by weight into 2 groups and assigned to diets with and without (control) scFOS supplementation for 21 d in a cross-over design. Cecal and colonic contents were collected through cannulas to assess the effect of an abrupt incorporation of barley in the diet of horses on microbial populations and fermentation variables. The addition of barley to the control diet caused substantial changes in the colonic microflora, such as increases (P < 0.05) in the concentration in total anaerobes, lactobacilli, streptococci, and lactate utilizing-bacteria. The scFOS supplementation reduced the barley intake-related changes. In contrast to the control diet, Lactobacillus and Streptococcus populations did not increase. Although the colonic D-lactate concentration increased (P < 0.05) after the meal of barley in the control group, it did not accumulate with scFOS supplementation. These data indicate that a scFOS supplementation would be effective in reducing disruptions of the microbial populations in the equine hindgut under stressful situations like acute starch overloads.
Member:
hwood

Posted on Friday, Oct 19, 2007 - 8:47 pm:

I am glad to see this study, Dr. O. I believe it was me who asked about the difference between prebiotics and probiotics a few years ago. I have spoken with Dr. Colleen Wilson, founder of Adeptus Nutrition, and have used her prebiotic formulation, INVIGOR, with success in my oldest (40 yr old) gelding.
The way she explained it to me is that the PRE-biotics feed the bacteria so they can thrive, whereas PRO-biotics are the "leavings" of the bacteria. Both are beneficial to digestion, but she said that through research she had found that Pro-biotics are great for cattle, but the Pre-biotics work better in the equine digestive system. Their web-site and products are at: www.adeptusnutrition.com
It seems that you might like ADEPTUS's sub-title which is "Nutrition Based on Science."
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Oct 21, 2007 - 11:04 am:

I think that should read: "Nutrition Based on Conjecture" Holly. While the above work found a beneficial effect in a small number of horses (4) the conditions were under very specific and unusual conditions: the rapid addition of a grain to the diet. Note that the above benefit might be found through an already known simple, inexpensive, good management tool: slowly changing the feed. If I had it lying around and had an early grain overload I would be including it in the tubed in the mineral oil but wonder if the oil would inactivate the prebiotic however.

I cannot find any other published work on prebiotics in horses so any other beneficial effects would be conjectural and need research to back it up. The above work needs replication in a bit more rigorous form. So we will wait and see and current use of the product experimental. It would be a real boon if it reduces the incidence of grass founders by controlling the bacteria that release the laminitis-activating metabolites.
DrO
Member:
scooter

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 11, 2008 - 6:20 am:

Hi Dr.O. I found this research interesting and filed it away in my brain for spring. I do not quite understand the research summary, but would something like this benefit my founder prone horses in the spring? Of course with proper management.

I don't quite get what type of prebiotic a person should use? Is the product Holly mentioned a sample?

Is prebiotic oligosaccharides what I'm looking for in a product if I decide to try something like this? Thanks
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 12, 2008 - 6:06 am:

DianeE,
it is uncertain what the actual nutritional and clinical benefits might be under real life conditions.
DrO
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