The Feasibility of Integrating Spray-Dried and Freeze-Dried Oat β-Glucans into a Synbiotic Formulation with Akkermansia muciniphila

The objective of this research was to investigate the feasibility of integrating oat (1 -> 3, 1 -> 4)-beta-D-glucan (beta-glucan) dried by two different techniques (freeze drying and spray drying) into a synbiotic formulation with Akkermansia muciniphila. The study evaluated the impact of this synbiotic formulation on the growth of A. muciniphila and its effect on the fermentation process. The extracted oat beta-glucans underwent freeze-drying (FD) and spray-drying (SD) processes before being introduced as supplementary carbon sources (1%) to brain heart infusion (BHI) medium containing A. muciniphila MSCL 1582. The BHI medium containing inulin, D-glucose, and BHI without added substrates served as the control. Bacterial growth and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production were measured before and after 72 h of fermentation. A light microscope and KOVA slides were used for the A. muciniphila count, and SCFA levels were measured via gas chromatography. Our findings revealed that oat beta-glucans could effectively function as prebiotic substrates in complementary synbiotic composition with A. muciniphila, without inhibiting growth and causing metabolic impairment. Both FD and SD techniques demonstrated equivalent and favorable impacts on the fermentative capacity of A. muciniphila, rendering them suitable choices for the drying of beta-glucans. Incorporating oat beta-glucan into synbiotic formulations offers potential benefits, contributing to A. muciniphila growth and the fermentation process.

Automated summary

The feasibility of integrating oat beta-glucan dried by freeze drying and spray drying into a synbiotic formulation with Akkermansia muciniphila was investigated. The study found that oat beta-glucan can effectively function as prebiotic substrates in a synbiotic composition, promoting the growth and fermentation process of A. muciniphila.