Comparative prebiotic potential of galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides, native inulin, and acacia gum in Kenyan infant gut microbiota during iron supplementation.

Iron fortification to prevent anemia in African infants increases colonic iron levels, favoring the growth of enteropathogens. The use of prebiotics may be an effective strategy to reduce these detrimental effects. Using the African infant PolyFermS gut model, we compared the effect of the prebiotics short-chain galacto- with long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scGOS/lcFOS) and native inulin, and the emerging prebiotic acacia gum, a branched-polysaccharide-protein complex consisting of arabinose and galactose, during iron supplementation on four Kenyan infant gut microbiota. Iron supplementation did not alter the microbiota but promoted Clostridioides difficile in one microbiota. The prebiotic effect of scGOS/lcFOS and inulin was confirmed during iron supplementation in all investigated Kenyan infant gut microbiota, leading to higher abundance of bifidobacteria, increased production of acetate, propionate, and butyrate, and a significant shift in microbiota composition compared to non-supplemented microbiota. The abundance of the pathogens Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens was also inhibited upon addition of the prebiotic fibers. Acacia gum had no effect on any of the microbiota. In conclusion, scGOS/lcFOS and inulin, but not acacia gum, showed a donor-independent strong prebiotic potential in Kenyan infant gut microbiota. This study demonstrates the relevance of comparing fibers in vitro prior to clinical studies.

Adherencia a la dieta mediterránea en población universitaria colombiana / Mediterranean diet adherence in Colombian university population

Objetivo: Medir la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea de universitarios de dos ciudades de Colombia pertenecientes a la región andina y costa caribe de Colombia, y su relación con los estratos socioeconómicos. Materiales y métodos: Se aplicó el cuestionario KIDMED a un total de 795 estudiantes de universidades privadas de la ciudad de Bogotá, y de ciudad de Montería. Resultados y discusión: Los resultados mostraron que sólo el 9,3% de los participantes tenían una dieta acorde a la dieta mediterránea en la ciudad de Bogotá, 29,3% en la ciudad de Montería. La mayoría de los participantes mostraron tener una dieta media con posibilidad a mejorar a lo estipulado por este modelo alimenticio, en ambas ciudades con porcentajes de 60,3% y 63% respectivamente. El otro 30,3% de la población de la ciudad de Bogotá, y 7,7% de la ciudad Montería, mostró tener una dieta de muy baja calidad. Se identifican diferencias entre los estratos socioeconómicos y géneros de los participantes en ambas ciudades. Conclusiones: La adherencia a la dieta mediterránea de los jóvenes universitarios parece estar relacionada no sólo con el estrato socioeconómico, sino también por los hábitos alimenticios

Objective: The aim of this stydy was to estimate the level of Mediterranean diet in two groups of university students, of two different cities of Colombia, and the relation to their socioeconomic status. Materials and methods: The KIDMED Questionnaire was administered to 795 students of a private university in Bogotá, and Monteria, Colombia. Results and Discussion: Showed that only 9,3% of the participants had an optimum adherence to the Mediterranean diet in Bogotá, and 29,3% in Monteria. Most of the participants showed to had a medium adherence to improve to Mediterranean diet in both cities, 60,3% in Bogotá and 63% in Monteria. The other 30,3% of the participants of Bogota and 7,7% of Monteria students, showed a poor adherence. Differences between the socioeconomic status and gender, in relation with the Mediterranean diet was identified.Conclusion: Therefore, it is concluded that the university student's Mediterranean diet adherence may be related not only to socioeconomic factors, but also to nutrition habits