Prebiotics Help B. infantis Proliferate and Help Regulate Body Weight

Student Name: Won Park
UCD Department: Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology (Vet Med)
UCD Mentor: Dr. Helen Raybould

The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) of humans is colonized by immense amounts of microorganisms. They significantly affect the epithelial cells’ role of balancing the absorption of the necessary nutrients, ions, and water with the protection against potentially harmful toxins and pathogens. However, specific populations of microbiota tolerate only a certain range of conditions. Change in diet and nutrients (e.g. the consumption of prebiotics) can drastically change the population of microbiota present and consequently, the effects these microorganisms have on the GI tract.  This study suggests that inulin is able to help nurture B. infantis up to a certain point , that microbiota may play a role in regulating body weight, and that BMO may also be a prebiotic that helps microbiota proliferate.