Maltodextrin as a placebo and gut bacteria in 33 people
What it found
Maltodextrin, used as a dummy pill, boosted Bifidobacterium gut bacteria in 33 healthy people.
Both the dummy pill and the probiotic changed the overall mix of gut bacteria.
What they found
Studies in people
Maltodextrin boosted Bifidobacterium
People taking the maltodextrin dummy pill showed a rise in Bifidobacterium gut bacteria.
Both treatments changed bacteria
Taking either the probiotic or the maltodextrin dummy pill significantly changed the overall mix of gut bacteria in these 33 people.
Three starting gut types
Before the trial began, the gut bacteria of the 33 people fell into three distinct groups. These starting groups were linked to different responses to both the probiotic and the maltodextrin.
Probiotic bacteria found
Two of the specific bacteria from the probiotic pill were later found in the guts of people who took it.
What the authors conclude
- They say it is important to group people by their starting gut bacteria when studying how supplements change the gut.
- The authors suggest that certain gut bacteria might be linked to better sleep, but this needs more research.
How it was done
The researchers had already shown that a probiotic improved sleep and mood in 33 healthy people. They wanted to see how that probiotic, and the maltodextrin used as a dummy pill, changed gut bacteria.
They tested 33 healthy people who took either a probiotic or a maltodextrin dummy pill in an earlier trial. They analysed the gut bacteria from stool samples using DNA testing. The abstract does not say how long the trial lasted.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a small trial with only 33 people, so the results may not apply to everyone.
- The study looked at gut bacteria, so it cannot show whether maltodextrin changes how you feel or sleep on its own.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Verona, Italy
The paper
- Title
- Metabarcoding analysis of gut microbiota of healthy individuals reveals impact of probiotic and maltodextrin consumption
- Type
- Clinical trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Calgaro M, Pandolfo M, Salvetti E, et al (2021). Metabarcoding analysis of gut microbiota of healthy individuals reveals impact of probiotic and maltodextrin consumption. Beneficial microbes. doi:10.3920/BM2020.0137PubMed 33789555DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error