Topic: Inflammatory and Immune System, Primary Care Research Network for England
Conditions
Interventions
Placebo: Maltodextrin, 4 g twice daily, 6 weeks, no follow-up beyond this
Active: Short-chain fructooligosachharide, 4 g twice daily, 6 weeks, no follow-up beyond this
Sponsors
Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust (UK)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Aged 65 years or older, either sex 2. In general good health 3. Body mass index 20 to 32 kg/m2 4. Not consuming probiotic supplements, yoghurts, drinks or other foods 5. Not consuming prebiotic supplemented drinks or foods 6. No antibiotic use in the 2 months prior to entering the study or during the study 7. Not already have received the 2010/2011 seasonal influenza vaccine 8. Willing to receive the seasonal influenza vaccination 9. Being able to provide written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Aged less than 65 years 2. Body mass index less than 20 or greater than 32 kg/m2 3. Being diabetic (type 1 or type 2) 4. Being egg allergic 5. Use of prescribed medicine to control inflammation or immune dysfunction 6. Chronic gastrointestinal problems (e.g. IBD, IBS, celiac disease, cancer) 7. Participation in another clinical trial 8. Use of prebiotic or probiotic supplements, foods or drinks 9. Consuming high-dose vitamin, mineral or fish oil supplements 10. Use of antibiotics within the previous two months 11. Previously vaccinated with the seasonal influenza vaccine
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Serum anti-vaccine antibodies, measured at weeks 3 and 6 (0 and 3 weeks post-vaccination) | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Blood immune cell subsets, measured at 0, 3 and 6 weeks 2. Ex vivo T-cell responses, measured at 0, 3 and 6 weeks 3. Faecal bacteria counts, measured at 0, 3 and 6 weeks 4. Salivary IgA, measured at 0, 3 and 6 weeks | — |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed