ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology

To read the full abstract: Gastroenterology. 2017 Sep;153(3):711-722

In adults, prebiotic intake is associated with improvements in satiety, postprandial glucose and insulin concentrations (1). The effect of prebiotic intervention in overweight/obese children has been rarely studied. This clinical trial showed that supplementation with oligofructose-enriched inulin for 16 weeks decreased BMI z-score, percent body fat and percent trunk fat. Previous data in children with overweight and obesity showed that prebiotic supplementation, independent of other lifestyle changes, improved subjective appetite ratings (2), but another trial found no effect of oligofructose supplementation for 12 weeks on BMI z-score, percentage body weight reduction and total body fat (3); that was also a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of n=97 overweight and obese (BMI >85th percentile) children (7-18 years) who were randomly assigned to receive placebo (maltodextrin) or oligofructose for 12 weeks. In comparison to the study presented here by Nicolucci et al., that previous study by Parnell et al. did not assess the totality of changes in gut microbial composition and FBAs. Hence, the findings of Nicolucci at al. provide a foundation for larger clinical trials in overweight/obese children and adolescents. Prebiotics are non-invasive and a plausible dietary intervention in overweight/obese children. Further studies with larger sample sizes and a longer duration of supplementation are awaited with interest.

1. Hume MP, Nicolucci AC, Reimer RA. Prebiotic supplementation improves appetite control in children with overweight and obesity: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2017 Apr;105(4):790-799.

2. Liber A, Szajewska H. Effect of oligofructose supplementation on body weight in overweight and obese children: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Br J Nutr. 2014 Dec 28;112(12):2068-74.

3. Parnell JA, Reimer RA. Weight loss during oligo fructose supplementation is associated with decreased ghrelin and increased peptide YY in overweight and obese adults. Am J Clin Nutr 2009;89:1751–1759.