Synbiotics aim to improve gastrointestinal health by combining pre- and probiotics. This study evaluated combinations of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 with seven fructans: oligofructoses (OF1-OF2; low degree of polymerization (DP)), inulins (IN1-IN2-IN3; high DP) and OF/IN mixtures (OF/IN1-OF/IN2). During monoculture incubations, all fructans were fermented by BB-12 as followed from increased BB-12 numbers and increased acetate and lactate concentrations, with most pronounced fermentation for low DP fructans (OF1-OF2). Further, short-term colonic incubations for three human donors revealed that also in presence of a complex microbiota, all fructans (particularly OF1) consistently selectively enhanced the growth of BB-12. While each fructan as such already increased Bifidobacteriaceae numbers with 0.94–1.26 log(cells/mL), BB-12 co-supplementation additionally increased Bifidobacteriaceae with 0.17–0.46 log(cells/mL). Further, when co-supplemented with fructans, BB-12 decreased Enterobacteriaceae numbers (significant except for IN1-IN3). At metabolic level, all fructans decreased pH due to increased acetate and lactate production, while OF/IN2-IN1-IN2-IN3 also stimulated propionate and butyrate production. BB-12 co-supplementation further increased propionate and butyrate for OF/IN2-IN3 and IN1-IN2, respectively. Overall, combinations of BB-12 with fructans are promising synbiotic concepts, likely due to intracellular consumption of low DP-fructans by BB-12 (either present in starting product or released upon fermentation by indigenous microbes), thereby enhancing effects of the co-administered fructan.

Background: Chickpeas are a legume that may help improve glycemic control, but their acute effects on postprandial glucose and insulin responses are unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of acute chickpea consumption on these outcomes in controlled, crossover trials. Methods: We screened PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Embase from inception through March 21, 2024 for acute, controlled, experimental (randomized or non-randomized) trials comparing chickpea consumption with carbohydrate-matched controls that reported on postprandial glucose and insulin responses (iAUC and C_max). Two reviewers extracted the data and assessed risk-of-bias (RoB 2) and certainty-of-evidence (GRADE). Data were analyzed using generic inverse-variance with random-effects model. Results: A total of 28 eligible studies (40 comparisons) were identified. Chickpea consumption significantly reduced postprandial glucose iAUC compared to carbohydrate-matched controls (MD: -47.89, 95% CI: -64.20, -31.58, p < 0.0001). No significant effects were observed on glucose C_max (MD: -0.23, 95% CI: -1.48, 1.02, p = 0.7207) or insulin iAUC (MD: 50.06, 95% CI: -3771.14, 3871.26, p = 0.9795). The GRADE assessment indicated very low certainty for glucose iAUC due to heterogeneity. Conclusion: Meta-analysis of controlled trials suggest that acute chickpea consumption lowers postprandial glucose iAUC, albeit with low certainty of evidence. While no significant effects were observed on glucose peak or insulin response, the findings align with previous research on pulses and glycemic control. Further high-quality studies are needed to confirm these findings, as the current evidence is of low to very low certainty. Future studies should explore the long-term effects of chickpea consumption, investigate the impact of processing methods, and include metabolically unhealthy populations to enhance generalizability. Registration: This review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022365074).

Background: There is significant global interest in promoting wellness, with digital solutions like mobile health apps being broadly downloaded; yet, there is a challenge in maintaining engagement for long-term behavior change. Developing a widely accepted mobile wellness app is imperative for advancing personalized wellness interventions. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the Aspire2B wellness app (powered by Salus Optima), designed to exceed industry standards for participant engagement by incorporating evidence-based behavior change strategies and to assess its acceptability (eg, liking the face scan) and utility (eg, willing to use the face scan technology for other health insights) as a digital health solution. Methods: Participants aged 18-65 years, who were smartphone and fitness tracker users, were recruited in the United States during March-May 2022. Participants received US $5 compensation for downloading the app, with no further incentive for usage. Following completion of onboarding (ie, survey questions about lifestyle behaviors), participants were placed in either a nutrition, sleep, or fitness 4-week challenge. During the challenge, participants used various app features at their own will, such as a facial scan for wellness insights (eg, heart rate and biological age), recipes, and workout videos. These interactions with the app were cumulatively evaluated as engagement metrics. Participants were also asked to answer offboarding questions to evaluate any changes to lifestyle behaviors and experience using the app features (eg, acceptability of face scan experience). Results: Out of the 398 people who created an account, 85.9% (342/398) completed onboarding and a face scan. Following this, 74.9% (298/398) of users completed additional survey questions about current wellness behaviors. Notably, interaction with the app was relatively stable from week 2 to 4 (173/398, 43.5%), outperforming industry standards by roughly 3×. In addition, on average, participants completed 2.1‐2.7 face scans per week, with approximately 7% (24/342) of participants maintaining regular use of face scan technology for 4 weeks. In users who completed offboarding questions, 88.8% (111/125) found Aspire2B credible, 64.8% (81/125) liked the face scan experience, 7.2% (9/125) disliked the face scan experience, and 83.2% (104/125) said they would use face scan technology for other insights into their health. Conclusions: These findings highlight strong initial engagement with Aspire2B, followed by significant sustained user engagement over a 4-week period. Furthermore, users indicated high levels of credibility and willingness to use face scan technology for wellness insights. These findings collectively demonstrate the capability of a personalized wellness app using AI-enabled digital biomarkers and evidence-supported behavior change techniques to yield positive user perception and provide long-term engagement.

Objectives: Human resources (HR) initiatives can reduce healthcare costs and improve productivity, yet participation remains low. This study evaluated usability and predictors of engagement for Aspire2B, a personalized wellness application leveraging behavior change principles, alongside a 6-week HR-led movement challenge. Methods: Participants were US-based, salaried PepsiCo employees, aged 21-68. Aspire2B integrated step data and provided heart rate, stress index, and biological age via transdermal optical imaging. No monetary incentives were provided. Results: Of 512 registrants, 84% completed onboarding, 14% interacted with the app in week 2, 12% in week 3, and 6% in week 6, trending higher than commercial apps, though populations may not be directly comparable. Older age and higher heart and respiratory rates were associated with more steps and app usage. Conclusions: Aspire2B demonstrated preliminary feasibility for increasing engagement in HR wellness initiatives.