Behaviour clinical trials

Oxford Study of Prebiotics in Children

Recently, there has been an emerging interest in how manipulating gut microbiota (which is composed by microorganisms living in our digestive system) can influence learning, memory and cognition. This influence is thought to primarily occur via the gut endocrine and immune systems, and the vagus nerve, all of which influence brain function and are modulated by intestinal microorganisms. One way to manipulate the microbiota is to ingest dietary compounds, such as prebiotics. Prebiotics are non-digestible dietary fibres that enhance the growth of "healthy" bacteria in the intestines when given in adequate amounts. Prebiotics are relatively stable, can be stored at room temperature and can be easily added to foods or drinks. They are not degraded by enzymes and acids in the digestive tract; therefore they reach the colon relatively unchanged, where they are metabolised by specific bacteria, thus promoting their beneficial effects. Prebiotics can be found in very small proportions in vegetables and fruits such as leeks, onions, tomatoes, garlic, etc., but this naturally occurring quantity is generally insufficient to promote a significant growth of beneficial bacteria. Therefore, large quantities of purified prebiotics are available as powder supplements and sold in packages of the appropriate dose. Pre-clinical studies in animals have shown that prebiotics modulates brain expression of key molecules involved in cognition and brain health in rats. These findings therefore highlight the potential of influencing cognition through the manipulation of gut microbiota (in this case, via the ingestion of a prebiotic). Building on this evidence, the aim of this study is to investigate how manipulating gut microbiota can influence reading, learning and behaviour in a group of children whose reading scores suggest there is room for improvement.