Fighting leaky gut: Researchers flag commercialization opportunities for dead probiotics

11 Dec 2019 --- Research in maintaining a healthy gut and microbiome is booming, with research from Wake Forest School of Medicine, US, identifying that dead Lactobacillus paracasei (D3-5) reduces age-related leaky gut in older mice as effectively as the live strain. Based on the study’s promising results, the research team highlights the human potential for the postbiotic strain as a supplement or as a functional food and beverage ingredient, with commercialization expected in mid-2020.

“The survival profiles of live probiotics limits their inclusion in several nutritional formulations. Dead probiotics, on the other hand, can open new avenues of being included in several food and nutritional products where live probiotics are not amenable,” Dr. Hariom Yadav, Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology at Wake Forest School of Medicine and principal investigator of the study, tells NutritionInsight.

Published in the journal GeroScience, the study’s researchers initially screened eight strains of human-origin probiotics in roundworms, who have a short lifespan of 11 to 20 days. They found that dead D3-5 strain, even in the non-viable or heat-killed form, extended roundworms’ life span.

D3-5 has several health benefits that help to not only mitigate gut microbiome dysbiosis and mucus production, but can also benefit metabolism, cognition, musculoskeletal function and mental health, Dr. Yadav explains.

The research was repeated in a mice study, which revealed that feeding heat-killed D3-5 to older mice prevented high fat diet-induced metabolic dysfunctions, decreased leaky gut and inflammation, as well as improved physical and cognitive functions. Leaky gut can cause increased intestinal inflammation, which can play a role in the development of many age-related diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, cancer and cardiovascular disease. 

“Not only did we determine which probiotic strain was the most effective in preventing leaky gut and inflammation, we also showed that the dead version of that probiotic had the same benefits,” Dr. Yadav. 

People with leaky gut experience microbes and bacteria in the gut leaking into the bloodstream through holes or cracks in the intestinal lining.He identifies potential applications as acidic and alcoholic beverages, hot drinks, baked products as well as supplements that can be stored at ambient temperatures. With promising preclinical research, Dr. Yadav and his research team are planning clinical trials to prove its efficacy in humans and Dr. Yadav has filed a provisional patent application for D3-5.

“As a supplement, we believe that it can be used as a standalone product, as well as hold synergistic value in combination with the verified probiotic strains available on the market. The fact that our probiotic bacteria confer the benefits while dead also gives our product distinct advantages over live probiotics used as a functional food and beverage ingredient,” Dr. Yadav maintains. 

Additional benefits of such postbiotic supplementation include circumventing the difficulties associated with ingredient efficacy, such as decreased product shelf life and limitations on product compatibility.

“So far, very limited dead probiotics are on the market and the evidence of their benefits are lacking research. Therefore, new products with known efficacy are highly warranted,” he says.

Leaky gut
A common condition of the eldery is a leaky gut, in which microbes and bacteria in the gut leak into the bloodstream through holes or cracks in the intestinal lining. Symptoms include bloating, gas, cramps and food sensitivities. These leakages cause an increase in low-grade inflammation, which can contribute to diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease and a decline in physical and cognitive functions.

However, the exact cause of leaky gut is yet to be found. “The condition appears in few circumstances, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and infections. Abnormal changes in gut microbiome appear with leaky gut and fixing the balance in the gut microbiome can help to suppress leaky gut.”

By Anni Schleicher