Skip to main content
. 2021 Nov 8;13(1):167–192. doi: 10.1093/advances/nmab114

TABLE 5.

Effect of prebiotic supplementation on immune cell populations in peripheral blood in participants of all ages1

Author, Year (Country) Design/Level of evidence Quality2 Participants, age, n Intervention, daily dose Control, daily dose Duration Effect of prebiotic intervention on peripheral immune cell populations
Infants
 Boyle et al., 2016 (Multiple) (79) RCT/II + Infants with parental atopy, ≥36 wk gestational age, n = 863 Infant formula containing: scGOS/lcFOS, 6.8 g/LpAOS, 1.2 g/L Standard infant formula 6 mo ↑ Regulatory T cells (%)3
↑Plasmacytoid DC (%)3
 Raes et al., 2010 (Belgium) (55) RCT/II + Healthy infants, 37–42 wk gestational age, n = 156 Infant formula supplemented with scGOS/lcFOS, 6 g/L Standard infant formula 26 wk ↔ CD2+ cells (%)
↔ CD3+ cells (%)
↔ CD4+ cells (%)
↔ CD4+ CD25+ cells (%)
↔ CD8+ cells (%)
↔ CD8+ CD38+ cells (%)
↔ CD8+ CD25+ cells (%)
↔ CD19+ (B) cells (%)
↔ CD22+ cells (%)
↔ CD38+ cells (%)
↔ NK cells (%)
Children
 Li et al., 2014 (China) (9) RCT/II + Children attending day care, 3–4 y, n = 264 Follow-up formula containing: PDX/GOS, 3.6 g; β-glucan, 26.1 mg Nonenriched cow's milk–based beverage 28 wk ↑ Leukocyte count3,4
↔ Neutrophils (%)
↔ Lymphocytes (%)
 Pontes et al., 20165 (Brazil) (75) RCT/II Ø Children attending childcare, 1–4 y, n = 97 Follow-up formula containing: GOS, 1.8 g; β-glucan, 26.1 mg Isocaloric, nonsupplemented cow's milk–based beverage 28 wk ↔ Leukocyte count
↔ Neutrophil (%)
↔ Lymphocyte (%)
Adults
 Bloomer et al., 2020 (USA) (74) RCT/II Ø Volunteers that partake in ≥2 times per week for ≥30 min, 20–65 y, n = 75 Advanced Ambrotose (aloe vera inner leaf gel, arabinogalactan, ghatti gum, glucosamine HCl, gum tragacanth, vitamin A, β-carotenem wakame algae extract, and rice starch), 2 g or 4 g MDX 8 wk ↔ Leukocyte count
↓ Lymphocytes (%)6,7
↔ Granulocytes (%)
↓ Monocytes (%)6,7
↓ Monocyte count6,7
Ambrotose LIFE (aloe vera inner leaf gel, arabinogalactan, ghatti gum, glucosamine HCL, gum tragacanth, vitamin A, β-carotenem wakame algae extract, and rice starch, rice bran, citrus pectin with sodium alginate), 2 g or 4 g ↔ Leukocyte count
↔ Lymphocytes (%)
↔ Granulocytes (%)
↓ Monocytes (%)7,8
↓ Monocyte count7,8
 Childs et al., 2014 (UK) (27) RCT/II, x-over + Healthy volunteers with BMI 25–30 kg/m2, 25–65 y, n = 79 XOS powder, 8 g MDX powder, 8 g 21 d/arm 28 d w/o ↓ CD16/56 on NKT cells7
↔ T cells (%)
↔ Helper T cells (%)
↔ Cytotoxic T cells (%)
↔ NKT cells (%)
↔ NK cells (%)
↔ B cells (%)
 Clarke et al., 2016 (Canada) (28) RCT/II, x-over + Healthy volunteers, 18–50 y, n = 30 Inulin powder, 15 g MDX powder, 15 g 28 d/arm 2 wk w/o ↑ TLR2+ mDC3
↑ TLR4+ mDC3
↔ T cells (%)
↔ Helper T cells (%)
↔ Cytotoxic T cells (%)
↔ B cells
↔ NK cells (%)
↔ γδ T cells (%)
↔ Monocytes (%)
↔ Granulocytes (%)
 Elison et al., 20165 (Denmark) (43) RCT/II Ø Healthy volunteers, 18–60 y, n = 40 HMOs (2’FL, LNnT) powder, 5, 10, or 20 g Glucose powder, 5, 10, or 20 g 14 d ↓ Monocyte count7,9
↔ Lymphocyte count
↔ Granulocyte count
 Farhangi et al., 2018 (Iran) (66) RCT/II + Female type 2 diabetics with BMI 25–35 kg/m2, 30–50 y, n = 55 Nutriose 06 (maize supplement powder), 10 g MDX powder, 10 g 8 wk ↑ Monocytes (%)7
↑ Cytotoxic T cells (%)7
↔ Neutrophils (%)
↔ Lymphocytes (%)
↔ Helper T cells (%)
↔ CD4/CD8 ratio
 Gill et al., 2020 (Australia) (77) RCT/II, x-over + Healthy volunteers, 18–65 y, n = 10 High-fiber diet containing resistant starch, 6.7 g; oligosaccharides, 6.8 g (fructans, 3.9 g, GOS, 2.8 g) Low-fiber diet containing resistant starch, 2.1 g; oligosaccharides, 1.2 g (fructans, 0.9 g; GOS, 0.2 g) 5 d ↔ CD4+ T cells (%)
↔ Regulatory T cells (% CD4+ cells)
 Kiewiet et al., 2020(The Netherlands) (63) RCT/II + Healthy Caucasian subjects, 55–80 y, n = 26 Inulin, 8 g Glucose, 5 g 7 d ↔ Helper T cells (%)
↔ Cytotoxic T cells (%)
↔ Regulatory T cells (% CD4+ cells)
↔ TH1 cells (% CD4+ cells)
↔ Memory T cells (%)
↔ Memory TH1 cells (%)
 Lomax et al., 2012 (UK) (47) RCT/II + Adults in good general health, 45–65 y, n = 49 Inulin powder, 8 g MDX powder, 8 g 4 wk10 ↑ CD8+ cells3
↑ CD3+/CD8+ cells3
↓ CD4/CD83
↔ CD3+/CD4+ cells (%)
↔ CD4+ cells (%)
↔ CD3–CD16+ (%)
↔ CD3–CD19+ (%)
↔ CD14+ cells (%)
↔ CD4+/CD25+/CD127low/– (%)
 Seidel et al., 2007 (Germany) (57) RCT/II, x-over + Males, ≥18 y, n = 19 Prebiotic bread containing: inulin, 4 g; soy fiber, 6 g Control bread 5 wk/arm no w/o ↑ Lymphocyte count 7
↑ Granulocyte count 7
↑ CD3+ HLA-DR+ cells 7
↓ NK cell count 7
↔ Leukocyte count
1

Studies were determined peripheral blood cell populations using flow cytometry unless otherwise specified. Abbreviations: 2′FL, 2′fucosyl lactose; DC, dendritic cell; FOS, fructooligosaccharide; GOS, galactooligosaccharide; HLA-DR+ human leukocyte antigen-DR positive; HMO, human milk oligosaccharide; lc, long chain; LNnT, lacto-N-neotetraose; mDC, myeloid dendritic cell; MDX, maltodextrin; NKT, natural killer T; pAOS, pectin-derived acidic oligosaccharide; PDX, polydextrose; RCT, randomized controlled trial; TH1, type 1 T helper; TLR, toll-like receptor; sc, short chain; w/o, washout period; XOS, xylooligosaccharide; x-over, crossover; Ø represents neutral study quality; + represents positive study quality; ↓ indicates decrease; ↑ indicates increase; ↔ indicates no change.

2

Methodological study quality was determined using the American Dietetic Association critical appraisal checklist.

3

Difference in postintervention measurements between groups.

4

Difference in change compared to baseline between groups.

5

Outcome determined by differential cell count.

6

Advanced Ambrotose at 2 g.

7

Change within group compared to baseline values.

8

Advanced LIFE at 4 g/d.

9

Change in 5-g and 10-g intervention groups only.

10

The intervention period was 8 wk, but only data from the first 4 wk were reported.