Identifying Gut Microbiome Features that Predict Responsiveness Toward a Prebiotic Capable of Increasing Calcium...

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Microbiome Research
• Pediatric Bone Health

Background:

• Prebiotics show potential for enhancing calcium absorption in adolescents, crucial for bone health.
• Individual responses to prebiotic interventions vary, necessitating identification of predictive factors.
• Understanding gut microbiome composition is key to personalizing prebiotic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if baseline gut microbiome composition predicts adolescent responsiveness to prebiotic intervention for calcium absorption.
• To identify specific microbial taxa associated with increased calcium absorption following prebiotic supplementation.
• To develop a predictive model for identifying individuals likely to benefit from prebiotics.

Main Methods:

• A secondary analysis compared gut microbiota in responders and non-responders to soluble corn fiber (SCF).
• Fractional calcium absorption was measured using dual stable isotope methodologies.
• 16S rRNA gene sequencing characterized the gut microbiome, and machine learning models predicted responsiveness based on baseline data.

Main Results:

• A predictive model utilizing 19 microbial features accurately identified responders with 96.0% average accuracy.
• Significant differences in relative taxa abundance were observed between responders and non-responders.
• The findings highlight the potential for microbiome-based prescreening for prebiotic efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Baseline gut microbiome composition can predict adolescent response to prebiotics for enhancing calcium absorption.
• Microbiome profiling offers a potential method for prescreening individuals who may benefit from prebiotic interventions for bone health.
• Further research into the metabolic and genetic factors influencing calcium absorption during development is warranted.