Isomalto-oligosaccharide and gut Prevotella growth in lab and mice
What it found
In lab tests and mice, isomalto-oligosaccharide supported the growth of Prevotella gut bacteria.
The authors say this may help explain how diet shapes gut bacterial types.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Lab fermentation results
In lab tests with human fecal samples, isomalto-oligosaccharide, inulin, and starch supported the growth of Prevotella bacteria. Isomalto-oligosaccharide produced the lowest number of bacterial types.
Chemostat simulation
In chemostat systems, isomalto-oligosaccharide with a fast dilution rate and low pH increased Prevotella abundance by 16%, while fructo-oligosaccharide reduced it by 66%.
Mouse study
Mice fed isomalto-oligosaccharide or honey had more Prevotella in their colon than mice fed soluble starch or water. This was seen mainly in mice on a high-fat diet.
Bacterial enzymes
Prevotella bacteria had enzymes like amylo-α-1,6-glucosidase that can break down isomalto-oligosaccharide, while Bacteroides had a wider range of enzymes for other carbohydrates.
Body weight and feces
The substrates did not affect mouse body weight, fecal pH, or fecal moisture content.
What the authors conclude
“In conclusion, both in vitro systems and a mouse model were used to demonstrate that IMO maintains the Prevotella enterotype.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that isomalto-oligosaccharides are key nutrients that support the growth of Prevotella-type gut bacteria.
- They suggest that this could help in precisely modulating the human gut microbiome to maintain health.
- They advise that future human clinical trials should test whether isomalto-oligosaccharide intake increases Prevotella in the gut.
How it was done
The authors wanted to understand what dietary factors determine the different gut bacterial types, called enterotypes, and how specific carbohydrates affect them.
They tested 11 carbohydrates in lab fermentation with fecal samples from 15 healthy volunteers, then used chemostat systems to simulate gut conditions, and finally fed 48 mice either a standard or high-fat diet with isomalto-oligosaccharide, honey, soluble starch, or water for 7 weeks.
What it can’t tell you
- The human part was done in lab dishes and chemostat models, not in people, so it cannot show what happens in the human gut.
- The mouse study cannot prove that the same effects would occur in people.
- The study cannot show whether changes in Prevotella lead to health benefits.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- Institute of Food Science, People's Republic of China; Chinese PLA General Hospital, People's Republic of China; University of Arkansas, USA
The paper
- Title
- Isomaltooligosaccharides Sustain the Growth of Prevotella Both In Vitro and in Animal Models
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Chen J, Li Z, Wang X, et al (2022). Isomaltooligosaccharides Sustain the Growth of Prevotella Both In Vitro and in Animal Models. Microbiology spectrum. doi:10.1128/spectrum.02621-21Free full textPubMed 36377936DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error