"[The findings] suggest that the interaction between beneficial microbes and dietary fiber may be key to supporting immune balance and metabolic health," said study author, Dr. Amrita Vijay from the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham, UK, in a press release.
In the study, researchers compared the effects of three different supplement regimens on blood inflammatory markers. The regimes included supplementation with a single-source prebiotic fiber (inulin), omega-3 alone, and a synbiotic treatment comprising 170ml fermented kefir with a prebiotic fiber mix.
Altogether, 20 participants received the symbiotic regime, 33 omega-3, 31 inulin fibre, while 20 served as controls and received no supplementation. Inflammatory markers were assessed from blood samples.
Ultimately, all three dietary interventions significantly reduced inflammatory markers compared to no supplementation. Those taking the synbiotic regime, however, experienced broader and stronger effects, specifically for proteins linked to immune and metabolic function.
To explain the findings, the researchers wrote in their study that kefir, unlike isolated supplements, provides a combination of beneficial live microbes, short-chain fatty acids, and bioactive peptides, and that a diverse prebiotic fiber mix synergistically enhances its anti-inflammatory effects. The combination may serve as a naturally accessible, non-pharmacological, and cost-effective dietary intervention to reduce a wide range of inflammatory markers, they noted.
The researchers also acknowledged, however, that their study has limitations. They wrote that each intervention had a relatively small sample size, which may limit the generalizability of the findings, and that the absence of participant and investigator blinding may have introduced bias.
“[The study] highlights the potential of designing targeted dietary interventions to influence systemic inflammation and metabolic health, opening avenues for future research into the specific microbiome-mediated mechanisms that underpin these effects,” wrote the researchers.
Sources: Science Daily, Journal of Translational Medicine
