Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
10:36

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage

Published on: January 27, 2019

Pro/synbiotics reduce systemic inflammation and improve gut health in Kenyan infants: An open label, randomized,

Mary Iwaret Otiti1, Micah June1, Alloys K'Oloo1

  • 1Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Centre for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya.

Cell Reports. Medicine
|May 28, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Probiotics and synbiotics significantly reduced chronic systemic inflammation (CSI) in Kenyan infants. This intervention improved gut health and growth markers, showing a safe and effective approach for vulnerable populations.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pediatric Health
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is prevalent in infants with poor sanitation, causing impaired growth and chronic systemic inflammation (CSI).
  • EED negatively impacts child development through malabsorption and sustained inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of live, multi-strain Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillaceae pro/synbiotics in reducing CSI in infants.
  • To assess the safety and impact of pro/synbiotics on gut health biomarkers and growth hormones.

Main Methods:

  • An open-label, randomized, four-arm, phase II clinical trial involving infants (birthweight ≥2000 g) in western Kenya.
  • Infants received either pro/synbiotics or were controls from 0 to 6 months, with CSI assessed at 6 months via plasma α1-acid glycoprotein levels.

Main Results:

  • Pro/synbiotic interventions markedly reduced CSI at 6 months: Labinic synbiotic arm (3%), Lab4b synbiotic arm (2%), and Lab4b probiotic arm (2%) compared to controls (43%).
  • Risk ratios for CSI were significantly lower in all intervention groups (0.05-0.06) compared to controls.
  • Improvements were observed in gut health biomarkers and growth hormones, with no serious adverse events linked to the interventions.

Conclusions:

  • Live pro/synbiotics offer a safe and highly effective strategy for reducing chronic systemic inflammation in infants from disadvantaged settings.
  • These findings support further investigation into the broader health benefits of pro/synbiotics for improving child development in vulnerable populations.

Keywords:
Africabiomarkerchildrenclinical trialenvironmental enteric dysfunctiongrowth hormonesprobioticsynbioticsystemic inflammation

More Related Videos

Effect of Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa on an In Vitro Model of Preterm Small Intestinal Injury and Healing Using Enteroid-Derived Monolayers09:36

Effect of Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa on an In Vitro Model of Preterm Small Intestinal Injury and Healing Using Enteroid-Derived Monolayers

Published on: July 28, 2022

A Clinical Trial Assessing the Safety, Efficacy, and Delivery of Olive-Oil-Based Three-Chamber Bags for Parenteral Nutrition04:53

A Clinical Trial Assessing the Safety, Efficacy, and Delivery of Olive-Oil-Based Three-Chamber Bags for Parenteral Nutrition

Published on: September 20, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics01:21

Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics

Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine by saving countless lives from bacterial infections. However, their widespread use has inadvertently harmed the delicate balance of the human gut microbiota. The gut microbiota, a complex community of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, immune responses, and maintaining intestinal health. Antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum types, disrupt this ecosystem by eradicating both harmful and beneficial...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy01:30

Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy

Various diagnostic tests are employed in the diagnostic process for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), particularly to differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...
Probiotics01:22

Probiotics

Probiotics are live, non-pathogenic microorganisms that confer health benefits by modulating the gut microbiota. The human gastrointestinal tract harbors a complex microbial ecosystem, and the balance of this microbiota is crucial for digestive and systemic health. Among the most extensively studied and utilized probiotics are species formerly classified within the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These organisms not only naturally colonize the human gut but are also consumed through...
Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients01:15

Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients

Bioavailability studies are essential for evaluating a drug's therapeutic efficacy and understanding its absorption patterns under various physiological conditions. Conducting such studies on target patient populations provides more relevant data by simulating real-world disease states. However, practical challenges often necessitate the use of young, healthy adult volunteers as study subjects.Patients may exhibit altered drug absorption patterns due to the effects of the disease itself,...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management01:29

Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management

Upon diagnosis, managing Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) involves addressing several crucial aspects. The primary goals include resting the bowel, correcting malnutrition, and providing symptomatic relief. Resting the bowel may consist of medications to reduce inflammation and promote healing. Correcting malnutrition is essential, often requiring dietary adjustments and nutritional supplements. Symptomatic relief aims to ease pain, diarrhea, and other discomforts in IBD.
Pharmacologic...