Prebiotic and postbiotic synergy alleviates age-related dysbiosis and inflammation in mice

Advances in medicine and veterinary medicine extend the lifespan of humans and companion animals. Interest in nutritional strategies to support healthy aging consequently increases. In this study, the effect of 11% scFOS+ supplementation (a blend of short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides and yeast-derived postbiotics) in 18-month-old mice was evaluated, compared with aged or adult mice of 9 weeks old on a control diet. Bodyweight and food intake were monitored throughout the 56-day study. Faecal samples were collected on days 0, 28, and 56, and caecal samples at the end of the study (day 56), for microbiota analysis. Immune markers, including cytokine production in tissues and blood and toll-like receptor (TLR) expression, were analysed at day 56. The results showed that scFOS+ supplementation reduced the abundance of potentially pathogenic bacterial species and enhanced the growth of beneficial genera like Allobaculum and Bifidobacterium, aligning the microbiota profile of aged mice more closely with that of adult mice. The pro- and anti-inflammatory balance was maintained in supplemented old mice, and their TLR expression patterns resembled those observed in adults. In conclusion, combining prebiotics and postbiotics modulates immune responses in aged mice, restoring adult-like levels through gut microbiota changes and suggesting potential for promoting healthy aging in companion animals.