Prebiotics
In adult asthmatic patients, a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design study examined the effects of 3 weeks supplementation with 5.5 g/day Bimuno-galactooligosaccharide (B-GOS). Supplementation with this prebiotic reduced the severity of hyperpnoea-induced bronchoconstriction (HIB, a surrogate for exercise-induced bronchoconstriction), as well as concomitant markers of airway inflammation.50 Recipients displayed a 40% improvement in FEV1 decline after EVH, and B-GOS supplementation reduced baseline concentrations of CCL17, CRP and TNF-α as well as EVH-induced increase in TNF-α.