Enhancing gut microbiota and microbial function with inulin supplementation in children with obesity

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Pediatric nutrition
• Metabolic health

Background:

• Gut dysbiosis exacerbates obesity-induced systemic inflammation.
• Prebiotic inulin may reverse metabolic abnormalities and improve obesity.
• Understanding inulin's effect on gut microbiota in obese children is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if inulin supplementation improves intestinal microbiota and microbial functional pathways in children with obesity.
• To evaluate the impact of inulin on gut bacteria diversity and specific microbial groups.
• To assess the correlation between microbiota changes and clinical outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.
• 143 children (7-15 years) with obesity received inulin, maltodextrin, or dietary advice for 6 months.
• Gut microbiome analysis via 16S rRNA sequencing and functional pathway inference.

Main Results:

• Inulin significantly increased gut bacterial alpha-diversity.
• Inulin supplementation enhanced beneficial bacteria, including Bifidobacterium and butyrate-producers.
• Functional pathways related to proteasome and riboflavin metabolism were altered by inulin, correlating with clinical outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Inulin supplementation effectively promotes gut bacterial diversity and corrects dysbiosis in obese children.
• Inulin modulates gut microbial functional pathways, suggesting beneficial host-microbe interactions.
• Inulin is a potential therapeutic strategy for restoring gut microbiota balance in childhood obesity.