Supplementation of Heat-treated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum nF1 Changes the Production of Short-chain Fatty Acids in Healthy Infants

BACKGROUND: Imbalance of the gut microbiome and decrease in the number of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria often affect human health by altering intestinal and immune homeostasis. Probiotic use is an attractive method for modulating gut microbiota to prevent or treat intestinal dysbiosis. This study aimed to determine whether the oral consumption of heat-treated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum nF1 (HLp-nF1) induces changes in the gut environment in healthy infants by measuring changes in fecal SCFAs. METHODS: The study enrolled 43 infants aged <2 months, with 30 infants in the HLp-nF1 group receiving HLp-nF1 orally (2.5 × 10¹² cells/g/pack, daily dose of two packs) for 8 weeks. The fecal samples were collected and the questionnaires were administered at weeks 0 and 8. RESULTS: The concentrations of the total SCFAs, acetate, propionate, and butyrate significantly increased following HLp-nF1 supplementation (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, and P = 0.028, respectively). Additionally, gut microbiota composition was altered in the HLp-nF1 group. CONCLUSIONS: Using probiotics is a useful and easy method for manipulating SCFA formation by altering the human gut microbiota composition.