Dietary Prebiotics and Bioactive Milk Fractions Improve NREM Sleep, Enhance REM Sleep Rebound and Attenuate the Stress-Induced Decrease in Diurnal Temperature and Gut Microbial Alpha Diversity.

2017-01-10
Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience 10
- Robert S Thompson
- Rachel Roller
- Agnieszka Mika
- Benjamin N Greenwood
- Rob Knight
- Maciej Chichlowski
- Brian M Berg
- Monika Fleshner

PubMed: 28119579
DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00240

Study Design

Population: Male F344 rats, postnatal day (PND) 24
Methods: Rats received a diet with prebiotics, lactoferrin (Lf) and milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) (test) or a calorically matched control diet; fecal samples were collected on PND 35/70/91 for 16S rRNA sequencing, a subset had Lactobacillus rhamnosus measured using selective culture, biotelemetry devices were implanted on PND 59 to record sleep/wake electroencephalographic (EEG), and rats were exposed to an acute stressor (100, 1.5 mA, tail shocks) on PND 87 with recordings continued until PND 94

Severe, repeated or chronic stress produces negative health outcomes including disruptions of the sleep/wake cycle and gut microbial dysbiosis. Diets rich in prebiotics and glycoproteins impact the gut microbiota and may increase gut microbial species that reduce the impact of stress. This experiment tested the hypothesis that consumption of dietary prebiotics, lactoferrin (Lf) and milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) will reduce the negative physiological impacts of stress. Male F344 rats, postnatal day (PND) 24, received a diet with prebiotics, Lf and MFGM (test) or a calorically matched control diet. Fecal samples were collected on PND 35/70/91 for 16S rRNA sequencing to examine microbial composition and, in a subset of rats; Lactobacillus rhamnosus was measured using selective culture. On PND 59, biotelemetry devices were implanted to record sleep/wake electroencephalographic (EEG). Rats were exposed to an acute stressor (100, 1.5 mA, tail shocks) on PND 87 and recordings continued until PND 94. Test diet, compared to control diet, increased fecal Lactobacillus rhamnosus colony forming units (CFU), facilitated non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep consolidation (PND 71/72) and enhanced rapid eye movement (REM) sleep rebound after stressor exposure (PND 87). Rats fed control diet had stress-induced reductions in alpha diversity and diurnal amplitude of temperature, which were attenuated by the test diet (PND 91). Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed a significant linear relationship between early-life Deferribacteres (PND 35) and longer NREM sleep episodes (PND 71/72). A diet containing prebiotics, Lf and MFGM enhanced sleep quality, which was related to changes in gut bacteria and modulated the impact of stress on sleep, diurnal rhythms and the gut microbiota.

Research Insights

Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803→Improved Diurnal Temperature Rhythm
Rats fed control diet had stress-induced reductions in alpha diversity and diurnal amplitude of temperature, which were attenuated by the test diet (PND 91).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803→Improved Sleep Quality
Test diet, compared to control diet, increased fecal Lactobacillus rhamnosus CFU, facilitated non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep consolidation (PND 71/72) and enhanced rapid eye movement (REM) sleep rebound after stressor exposure (PND 87).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803→Maintained Gut Microbiota Diversity
Rats fed control diet had stress-induced reductions in alpha diversity and diurnal amplitude of temperature, which were attenuated by the test diet (PND 91).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803→Reduced Stress-Induced Gut Microbial Diversity Loss
Rats fed control diet had stress-induced reductions in alpha diversity ... which were attenuated by the test diet (PND 91).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803→Reduced Stress-Induced Reduction in Diurnal Temperature Amplitude
Rats fed control diet had stress-induced reductions in ... diurnal amplitude of temperature, which were attenuated by the test diet (PND 91).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate