Effect of Probiotic (VSL#3) on Gut Microbiome and Bacterial Translocation in Healthy Asian Volunteers
Status:
Recruiting
Trial end date:
2022-11-30
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome has been recognized to underlie the pathogenesis of various
gastrointestinal conditions. Probiotics are known to exert beneficial effects on gut health
and have great potential for use as microbiome interventions for gastrointestinal and
metabolic diseases. While it is widely known that probiotic bacteria favourably alter the
intestinal microflora balance, their other mechanisms of action have not been systematically
characterized. The ability of probiotics to modulate dysbiosis may lead to reduced levels of
endotoxaemia and oxidative stress. In this study, the investigators propose to examine the
effects of 4-week VSL#3 treatment on the gut microbiome and bacterial translocation in
healthy Asian volunteers with and without colonic lavage or antibiotic treatment. The study
will also examine the same outcome parameters 4 weeks upon cessation of the product. The
findings derived from the study will provide valuable insights into the microbiota changes
associated with colonic lavage or antibiotic treatment, and the use of probiotic (VSL#3).
This has important clinical implications in designing treatment strategies in clinical
practice such as the use of VSL#3 as microbiome interventions with antibiotics which are
known to induce Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea, as well as in the therapeutic
management of various diseases associated with dysbiosis.