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 written informed 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 traditional medication, or dietary supplements with a relevant impact on GI system or on visceral 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 of vegetables per day) < 4 weeks prior to study start Lactose intolerance Maltodextrin allergy Members of the research team or their immediate family members. Immediate family member is defined as spouse, parent, child, or sibling, whether biological or legally adopted