University of Alberta researchers are working with an international team of experts to learn whether a high-fibre diet could make life better for people with Prader-Willi syndrome.
Prader-Willi is a rare genetic disorder affecting about one in 15,000 people. It causes extreme appetite and often leads to childhood obesity, as well as neurodevelopmental delays, according to the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research.
In newly published research, the team reports results from 14 children and young adults with Prader-Willi syndrome who added 35 grams of fibre to their daily diet in the form of a powdered supplement and patties made from chickpeas and beans. Patient blood and stool samples were taken before, during and after the fibre period.
The team observed little change in appetite but identified shifts in gut microbiota composition, including increases in some bacteria previously associated with gut health, as well as changes in select metabolic markers.
“These findings suggest that dietary fibre may influence gut microbiota and metabolic pathways differently between individuals, highlighting the potential for more personalized approaches,” says first author Qiming Tan, a postdoctoral scholar in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, noting that further research is needed to fully unlock the therapeutic potential of dietary fibre for people with Prader-Willi syndrome.