Prebiotic Effects on Gut Microbiota, Gut Comfort and Immune Function

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 40 and ≤ 55 years

• Male/female

• Total score of >2 on the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS)

• Body Mass Index 18-30 kg/m2

• Stable body weight (± 5%) for at least 6 months

• Stable lifestyle and dietary habits within the 4 weeks prior and during study period

• Owns device (computer, smartphone, tablet) with access to the internet

• Adequate fluency in the English language to understand the inform consent process,study instructions and study assessments

• Sufficient vision and hearing to complete study procedures

• Willing and able to participate, follow the study procedures and to give writteninformed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• History (< 6 months prior to the study) or presence of severe gastrointestinal,metabolic, immunological, psychiatric disorder, or major surgery

• Current or past (< 4 weeks) use of prescription, over-the-counter, or traditionalmedication, or dietary supplements with a relevant impact on GI system or onvisceral motility

• Having received antibiotic treatment < 4 weeks prior to study

• Alcohol intake >1 units/day

• Currently pregnant or pregnancy in past 6 months

• Use of pro/prebiotics < 4 weeks prior to study start

• Fully vegetarian/vegan diet < 4 weeks prior to study start

• High habitual vegetable and fruit intake (> 2 servings of fruits and >2 servings ofvegetables per day) < 4 weeks prior to study start

• Lactose intolerance

• Maltodextrin allergy

• Members of the research team or their immediate family members. Immediate familymember is defined as spouse, parent, child, or sibling, whether biological orlegally adopted