Fiber supplements could improve brain function in seniors, study says (“Significant improvement”)

Medical Xpress / Atlanta Journal-Constitution / Nature Communications ^ | March 23, 2024 | Ebony Williams / Mary Ni Lochlainn et al

[ConservativeMind]

Fiber is essential for the digestive system. It helps maintain a healthy weight and lowers the risk of diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. Getting the right amount of fiber, whether through food or drinks, is a great way to relieve constipation.

In addition to all that, fiber supplements could improve brain function in older adults, according to a new study.

The study followed individuals over the age of 60 for a 12-week period. Results found those who took prebiotic fiber supplements showed a "significant improvement in memory."

The study evaluated the gut microbiome and its correlation with both cognitive and physical function in the aging process. Age increases the resilience of the gut microbiome and reduces it, making it more vulnerable to disease and medications.

After the individuals were given either a placebo or fiber supplement, they underwent a series of visual memory tests from the Paired Associates Learning test.

"This particular cognitive test has clinical significance, having been identified as an early identifier of Alzheimer's dementia," the study said. By inducing gut microbiota, the researchers saw changes that may alter "both muscle physiology and cognitive behavior."

[ConservativeMind]

36 sets of twins were used, making it 72 individuals, in all. Everyone got exercise help and amino acid packets, as follows:

“All sachets contained 3.32 g of branched-chain amino acid protein powder, consisting of L-leucine 1660 mg, L-isoleucine 830 mg, and L-valine 830 mg. The intervention arm sachets also contained 7.5 g of prebiotic (Darmocare Pre®, Bonsuvan), which consists of inulin (3.375 mg) and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) (3.488 mg). The placebo sachets contained 7.5 g of maltodextrin powder.”

The exercise and amino acids helped both, but the prebiotics doubled the benefit the placebo group had, in a few areas.

Fiber does a body good.

[ConservativeMind]

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[ConservativeMind]

They had just one packet a day of all the supplements. Not much there, overall.

[steve86]

I just start taking chicory fiber root derived inulin and also psyllium, if that counts.

[Scrambler Bob]

Fiber supplements could improve brain function in seniors,
x x x

As a Senior, they have a different definition of brain than I do.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Fiber supplements could improve brain bowel function in seniors.

There, fixed it.

[lee martell]

I shall be ‘running’ to the nearest keyboard to order some Metamucil tablets online TODAY!!

[Mr Rogers]

“In terms of secondary outcomes, the prebiotic improved cognition compared with placebo. By using a factor score to combine the components of the CANTAB cognitive battery, it is difficult to report whether this improvement is clinically meaningful. The only individual cognitive test which had a significant improvement in the prebiotic versus placebo groups was the number of errors in the Paired Associates Learning test, which is a memory test particularly focused on visual memory and new learning. This measure has also been identified as an early marker of disease phenomena such as Alzheimer’s Disease....

Thus, to confirm our findings, a larger study which includes a range of cognitive tests, alongside measures of effect and attention, and detailed microbiome measures (compositional and functional) is warranted.”

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-46116-y

A somewhat underwhelming result, at least in the actual paper.

[power2]

Any idea of what brand or type of over the counter fiber would be good?

[Roadrunner383]

Oatmeal, beans and rice (especially brown rice), whole grain pasta, all easy ways to get fiber without going the Metamucil route.

[Seaplaner]

Agree, my FRiend, except for the "pasta" part.

Wheat, while unavoidable to some degree, is not on our side.

[steve86]

Keep in mind soluble vs. non-soluble fiber. Overall, it’s thought a balance of the two types is best. Inulin is soluble fiber.

[ConservativeMind]

Metamucil is helpful, but not the sort of fiber that will substitute for the inulin/FOS this used.

[Weirdad]

Ahhh, yeah

36 in each group

billions should do fiber

i like fiber, but really?

[matthew fuller]

Thanks for the info here.

[P.O.E.]

I add flax seed to my oatmeal.

As well as sugar & cinnamon (or even maple syrup), but nobody’s perfect :)

[DAC21]

Just received this yesterday. Hopefully it will help with digestion issues, if it helps with brain function that would be a bonus.

Jarrow Formulas Prebiotic Inulin FOS - 180g - Promotes Beneficial Bacteria - Soluble Prebiotic Fiber Supplement - Promote Gut and Overall Health - Approx. 47 Servings https://a.co/d/3kzueA4

[ConservativeMind]

That is what we have recently started taking, as well.

[matthew fuller]

There is a very helpful chart in the part 2 PDF article below.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4415962/ Pt 1

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4415970/ Pt 2

[ConservativeMind]

This is a graph describing the amount of various types of fiber one can have, without expecting issues with bloating/gas: