Effect of gut microbiome modulation on muscle function and cognition: the PROMOTe randomised controlled trialOriginal paper
Karen Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease, four years before the first published case study.
Read MoreWhat was studied?
A placebo controlled, double blinded randomised trial tested whether a prebiotic supplement changes muscle function and cognition in older adults. It enrolled 36 twin pairs, 72 people total, aged 60 or older.
How was it studied?
Each twin pair was block randomised so one twin received prebiotic and the other placebo for 12 weeks. All participants also did resistance exercise and took branched chain amino acid supplements, with the trial run remotely via video visits, online questionnaires, mailed equipment, and posted biological samples.
What did they find?
The prebiotic was well tolerated and increased relative Bifidobacterium abundance in the gut microbiome. Chair rise time, the primary physical function outcome, did not differ significantly between groups, but the prebiotic group showed significantly better cognition scores than placebo.
Why it matters
A low cost, widely available prebiotic improved cognition in an ageing population, and the fully remote design shows a feasible way to include more older adults in clinical trials.