Galactooligosaccharide and Aging
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does Galactooligosaccharide Supplementation Improve Markers of Skeletal Muscle Health in Elderly Individuals?
IRAS ID
329308
Contact name
Javier Gonzalez
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bath
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 1 days
Research summary
Research Summary
Sarcopenia is a progressive muscle disease, most commonly affecting older individuals, that is categorised by 1) low muscle strength, 2) low muscle quantity or quality, and 3) low physical performance. This disease has several negative implications for human health, including an increased risk of falls, fractures, mobility limitations, and mortality. Sarcopenia also imposes significant burden on healthcare systems. For example, it was estimated that a 10% reduction in the prevalence of sarcopenia would save the US healthcare system $1.1 billion per year. Strategies to reduce the incidence and severity of sarcopenia are therefore of great interest.
One potential cause for sarcopenia is long-term, low-level inflammation, which can occur for a number of reasons. One cause may relate to the intestinal wall becoming more susceptible to leaking of toxic particles. Evidence suggests that prebiotic supplementation can reduce this 'leakage'. Galactooligosaccharide (a prebiotic) has previously been shown to reduce inflammation in elderly individuals. We hypothesise that galactooligosaccharide will improve physical function in the elderly indirectly via a reduction in inflammation.
This will be a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel study. 32 elderly individuals (65-85 years; mix of males and females) will be randomised to one of two groups, GOS or PLACEBO. The GOS group will supplement their diet with 2.9 g galactooligosaccharide per day for 16 weeks in the form of one sachet (3.65 g) of Bimuno® Daily. The PLACEBO group will supplement with 3.65 g maltodextrin per day for 16 weeks. The study will involve one screening visit and two main trials (baseline and 16 weeks). For the main trials, participants will complete the short physical performance battery (SPPB) and handgrip strength test. In addition, participants will provide blood, urine and faecal samples, as well as a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), and a peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) scan.
Summary of Results
Introduction: Sarcopenia, the progressive loss of muscle mass and function with age, is a growing concern for aging populations. Prebiotics such as galactooligosaccharides (GOS) can beneficially modulate the gut microbiota and reduce systemic inflammation, potentially supporting muscle health through gut–muscle interactions. This pilot study explored the potential effects of 16 weeks of GOS supplementation on skeletal muscle size, strength, and function in older adults, with the aim of determining whether future definitive studies are justified.
Methods: Thirthy healthy adults (16 males and 14 females; 65–85 years) completed the study in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel design. Participants consumed a sachet containing either 3.65 g/day of Bimuno® galactooligosaccharide (GOS; 2.8 g active GOS) or a maltodextrin placebo (PLA) for 16 weeks. Mid-thigh muscle cross-sectional area [mCSA; assessed via peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT)], handgrip strength, five-time chair stand, 4-metre gait speed, and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) were assessed pre and post supplementation.
Results: GOS supplementation increased mCSA by +0.9 ± 4.8 cm² compared to a decrease of –1.0 ± 5.3 cm² in PLA, but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.263, d = 0.38). No between-group differences were observed for handgrip strength (p = 0.224; d = 0.47), chair stand (p = 0.439; d = -0.41), gait speed (p = 0.679), or SPPB (p = 0.198). Exploratory correlation analyses revealed a significant group x age interaction (p = 0.034), with older individuals in the GOS group showing greater gains in mCSA.
Conclusions: Sixteen weeks of GOS supplementation did not significantly improve muscle size, strength, or function in healthy older adults. However, exploratory findings suggest that GOS may preferentially benefit older individuals within this age range and may result in small-to-moderate improvements in strength or functional outcomes. Future larger studies are required to determine the efficacy of GOS in supporting musculoskeletal health.REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EM/0264
Date of REC Opinion
18 Jan 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion