Impact of fructooligosaccharides on gut microbiota composition and metabolite production: implications for childhood obesity

Background Contemporary dietary habits in children have been linked to various health issues, particularly the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity. However, the complex relationship between children’s diets, gut microbiota, and health outcomes remains incompletely understood. This study investigates the effects of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) on gut microbiota composition and metabolic processes in children, and explores their potential impact on pediatric health outcomes such as obesity and metabolic disorders. Methods Fecal samples from 39 children (19 boys, 20 girls) aged 6–15 were subjected to in vitro fermentation with or without FOS supplementation. Bacterial composition, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and gas generation were analyzed. Potential biomarkers and associations between gut microbiota, metabolites, and metabolic pathways were identified using Random Forest algorithms and the MetOrigin cloud platform. Results FOS supplementation significantly altered the β -diversity of the gut microbiota, increasing the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus , while decreasing Escherichia-Shigella and Bacteroides . FOS also led to a significant increase in SCFA levels, particularly acetic acid, which correlated positively with Bifidobacterium and negatively with Streptococcus . Conversely, gas production (NH 3 , H 2 , and H 2 S) decreased significantly and showed a positive correlation with Escherichia-Shigella and a negative correlation with Bifidobacterium . Conclusions This study highlights changes in microbial structure, metabolite production, potential biomarkers, and altered metabolic pathways following FOS intervention. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex relationship between diet and gut microbiota in obese children and suggest that dietary interventions may influence pediatric health through modulation of the gut microbiome.