Prebiotic effects of a wheat germ preparation in human healthy subjects

A double-blind placebo-controlled study was performed to investigate the behaviour of different intestinal bacterial groups in 32 healthy subjects during treatment with the prebiotic wheat germ preparation Viogerm®PB1. Microbiological methods and fluorescent in situ hybridization technique were used to identify the following bacterial groups: coliforms, clostridia, bacteroides, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. After 20 days of supplementation of the product, the coliform population and pH decreased significantly. The number of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria increased significantly only in subjects with low basal levels. No significant changes were observed for the other bacterial groups and total bacteria did not increase. Treatment with placebo did not induce any variation. These results showed that the product Viogerm®PB1 possesses a prebiotic effect and has a potential to improve host's health.