OBJECTIVE: Feed additives have attracted increased attention in aquaculture due to their ability to modulate fish gut microbiota, resulting in improved fish growth and immunity. This study assessed the effects of two synbiotics in Japanese Eel Anguilla japonica: Bacillus subtilis with mannooligosaccharides (MOS) and Enterococcus faecium with fructooligosaccharides (FOS). METHODS: Six diets, including a control (CON) diet, oxytetracycline (OTC) diet, and four synbiotic diets (B. subtilis at 1 × 106 or 1 × 107 colony-forming units [CFU]/g with MOS at 5 g/kg [BS6MO and BS7MO; collectively, BSMOS diets] and E. faecium at 1 × 106 or 1 × 107 CFU/g with FOS at 5 g/kg [EF6FO and EF7FO; collectively, EFFOS diets]), were fed to triplicate groups of 20 fish (average weight ± SD = 6.00 ± 0.07 g) for 8 weeks. RESULT: Fish fed the BSMOS diets showed significantly higher weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), and feed efficiency compared to fish fed the CON and OTC diets, but the values were not significantly different from those of fish fed the EFFOS diets. Weight gain and SGR of fish that were given EFFOS diets were not significantly different from those of fish fed all other diets. Fish fed the OTC diet showed a higher mean aspartate aminotransferase level, although the difference was not statistically significant. The myeloperoxidase activity of fish fed the BS7MO diet was significantly higher than those of fish receiving all other diets, and the superoxide dismutase activity of fish fed the BS7MO diet was also significantly higher than that of fish fed the EF7FO diet. Overall, the BSMOS synbiotic diets were significantly more effective than the CON diet in enhancing fish survival against a Vibrio anguillarum challenge. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that synbiotics can be a preferable alternative to antibiotics in aquaculture.

• Keywords
• antibiotics, feed additives, fish diseases, immune response, probiotics,
• MeSH
• Anguilla growth & development   MeSH
• Bacillus subtilis MeSH
• Diet * veterinary   MeSH
• Enterococcus faecium MeSH
• Animal Feed * analysis   MeSH
• Oligosaccharides administration & dosage   pharmacology   MeSH
• Immunity, Innate drug effects   MeSH
• Synbiotics * administration & dosage   MeSH
• Aquaculture methods   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Randomized Controlled Trial, Veterinary MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Oligosaccharides MeSH

This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to summarize the effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on insulin resistance (IR), lipid profiles, anthropometric indices, and C-reactive protein (CRP) level for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We searched 8 databases from their inception until 1st October, 2020. The effect sizes were expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Subgroup analyses were undertaken for further identification of effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics, based on the following aspects: (1) type of intervention (probiotics, prebiotics, or synbiotics); (2) study duration (≥ 12 weeks or < 12 weeks); (3) number of probiotic strains (multi strains or single strain); (4) probiotic dose (≥ 2 × 108 colony-forming units [CFU] or < 2 × 108 CFU). A total of 17 eligible RCTs with 1049 participants were included. Results showed that probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic intake decreased fasting plasma glucose (SMD, -1.35; 95% CI, -2.22 to -0.49; p = 0.002), fasting insulin (SMD, -0.68; 95% CI, -1.08 to -0.27; p = 0.001), homeostatic model of assessment for IR (SMD, -0.73; 95% CI, -1.15 to -0.31; p = 0.001), triglycerides (SMD, -0.85; 95% CI, -1.59 to -0.11; p = 0.024), total cholesterol (SMD, -1.09; 95% CI, -1.98 to -0.21; p = 0.015), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (SMD, -0.84; 95% CI, -1.64 to -0.03; p = 0.041), very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (SMD, -0.44; 95% CI, -0.70 to -0.18; p = 0.001), and increased quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (SMD, 2.00; 95% CI, - 0.79 to 3.22; p = 0.001). However, probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic supplements did not affect anthropometric indices, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and CRP levels. Subgroup analysis showed that probiotic or prebiotic might be the optimal choice for ameliorating IR or lipid profiles, respectively. Additionally, the effect was positively related to courses and therapeutical dose. Overall, the meta-analysis demonstrates that probiotic, prebiotic, or synbiotic administration is an effective and safe intervention for modifying IR and lipid profiles.

• Keywords
• Meta-analysis, polycystic ovary syndrome synbiotic, prebiotic, probiotic,
• MeSH
• Cholesterol, HDL MeSH
• Insulin Resistance * MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Prebiotics MeSH
• Probiotics * therapeutic use   MeSH
• Synbiotics * MeSH
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome * metabolism   MeSH
• Triglycerides MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Meta-Analysis MeSH
• Systematic Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Cholesterol, HDL MeSH
• Prebiotics MeSH
• Triglycerides MeSH

Recent advancement in manipulation techniques of gut microbiota either ex vivo or in situ has broadened its plausible applicability for treating various diseases including cardiovascular disease. Several reports suggested that altering gut microbiota composition is an effective way to deal with issues associated with managing cardiovascular diseases. However, actual translation of gut microbiota manipulation-based techniques into cardiovascular-therapeutic approach is still questionable. This review summarized the evidence on challenges, opportunities, recent development, and future prospects of gut microbiota manipulation for targeting cardiovascular diseases. Initially, issues associated with current cardiovascular diseases treatment strategy, association of gut microbiota with cardiovascular disease, and its influence on cardiovascular drugs were discussed, followed by applicability of gut microbiota manipulation as a cardiovascular disease intervention strategy along with its challenges and future prospects. Despite the fact that the gut microbiota is rugged, interventions like probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, fecal virome transplantation, antibiotics, diet changes, and exercises could manipulate it. Advanced techniques like administration of engineered bacteriophages and bacteria could also be employed. Intensive exploration revealed that if sufficiently controlled approach and proper monitoring were applied, gut microbiota could provide a compelling answer for cardiovascular therapy.

• MeSH
• Fecal Microbiota Transplantation MeSH
• Cardiovascular Diseases * therapy   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Prebiotics MeSH
• Probiotics * MeSH
• Gastrointestinal Microbiome * MeSH
• Synbiotics * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Prebiotics MeSH

The mode of delivery plays a crucial role in infant gastrointestinal tract colonisation, which in the case of caesarean section is characterised by the presence of clostridia and low bifidobacterial counts. Gut colonisation can be modified by probiotics, prebiotics or synbiotics. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are infant prebiotics that show a bifidogenic effect. Moreover, genome sequencing of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis within the infant microbiome revealed adaptations for milk utilisation. This study aimed to evaluate the synbiotic effect of B. longum subsp. infantis, HMOs and human milk (HM) both in vitro and in vivo (in a humanised mouse model) in the presence of faecal microbiota from infants born by caesarean section. The combination of B. longum and HMOs or HM reduced the clostridia and G-bacteria counts both in vitro and in vivo. The bifidobacterial population in vitro significantly increased and produce high concentrations of acetate and lactate. In vitro competition assays confirmed that the tested bifidobacterial strain is a potential probiotic for infants and, together with HMOs or HM, acts as a synbiotic. It is also able to inhibit potentially pathogenic bacteria. The synbiotic effects identified in vitro were not observed in vivo. However, there was a significant reduction in clostridia counts in both experimental animal groups (HMOs + B. longum and HM + B. longum), and a specific immune response via increased interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-6 production. Animal models do not perfectly mimic human conditions; however, they are essential for testing the safety of functional foods.

• Keywords
• bifidobacteria, cytokine, human milk, short chain fatty acids, synbiotics,
• MeSH
• Acetates metabolism   MeSH
• Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis * MeSH
• Cesarean Section MeSH
• Feces microbiology   MeSH
• Gastrointestinal Tract microbiology   MeSH
• Interleukin-10 biosynthesis   MeSH
• Interleukin-6 biosynthesis   MeSH
• Lactates metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Milk, Human chemistry   MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Oligosaccharides administration & dosage   MeSH
• Prebiotics administration & dosage   MeSH
• Probiotics administration & dosage   MeSH
• Gastrointestinal Microbiome drug effects   MeSH
• Synbiotics administration & dosage   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Acetates MeSH
• IL10 protein, mouse MeSH Browser
• Interleukin-10 MeSH
• interleukin-6, mouse MeSH Browser
• Interleukin-6 MeSH
• Lactates MeSH
• Oligosaccharides MeSH
• Prebiotics MeSH