Oligofructose Decreases Serum Lipopolysaccharide and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 in Adults with Overweight/Obesity

Objective: To determine the effect of prebiotic supplementation on metabolic endotoxemia and systemic inflammation in adults with overweight and obesity. Methods: Samples from a previously conducted randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial were used for analysis. Participants were randomized to 21 g of oligofructose (n = 20; BMI 30.4 kg/m(2)) or a maltodextrin placebo (n = 17; BMI 29.5 kg/m(2)) for 12 weeks. A total of 37 participants had samples available for the current analysis. Resistin, adiponectin, plasminogen activator innhibitor-1 (PAI-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were quantified using MILLIPLEXV (R) assays. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was measured using PyroGene(TM) Recombinant Factor C Assay. Results: Plasma LPS concentrations were reduced by 40% in the oligofructose group over 12 weeks compared to a 48% increase in the placebo group (P = 0.04). PAI-1, a risk factor for thrombosis, was reduced to a greater extent in the oligofructose group (-17.3 +/- 2.6 ng/ml) compared to the placebo group (-9.7 +/- 1.8 ng/ml; P = 0.03). Oligofructose did not affect IL-6, TNF-a, MCP-1, adiponectin, or resistin. Conclusions: Oligofructose reduces metabolic endotoxemia and PAI-1. Incorporating prebiotics into the diet through supplements or functional foods may help mitigate some markers of obesity-associated inflammation.