We tested whether maternal supplementation with fructo-oligosaccharide affects the gut mucosal barrier and oral immune tolerance, which are mechanisms preventing food allergy, in the offspring of BALB/c mice. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of the PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene showed that dietary fructo-oligosaccharide modulates gut microbiota.
The gut barrier was evaluated by in vitro translocation of horseradish peroxidase in isolated segments of terminal ileum. Oral immune tolerance was evaluated by serum anti-ovalbumin antibody levels and splenocyte proliferation in response to ovalbumin in ovalbumin-primed mice. Although dietary fructo-oligosaccharide in the offspring decreased gut permeability,
maternal supplementation with fructo-oligosaccharide exhibited no effect on both gut permeability and oral immune tolerance induction in the offspring. In conclusion, it appears unlikely that manipulation of gut microbiota in infancy by maternal supplementation with fructo-oligosaccharide reduces the risk of food allergy later in life.

Key words: fructo-oligosaccharide, gut microbiota, gut barrier, oral immune tolerance, BALB/c mice