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Microbiome

Prebiotics

Fibers and related substrates that feed gut microbes. AgeBeacon tracks 901 registry-linked trials; 10 are directly aging-relevant and 44 are indirect. No direct healthy-aging efficacy result is ready to score.

Why researchers are interested

Prebiotics has become part of the longevity conversation because it sits at the boundary between an interesting biological idea and a much harder question: does that idea produce meaningful benefits in people? That gap between mechanism and real-world outcome is exactly where the evidence becomes most useful.

Researchers are not only asking whether Prebiotics changes a laboratory marker. The more important questions are whether the effect is reproducible, whether it matters for function or age-related health, how large the benefit is, and what trade-offs or safety concerns appear with real use. Human trials can look very different from animal experiments or mechanistic studies, so AgeBeacon keeps those layers separate.

Below, we follow the evidence from human studies and reported outcomes through study quality, safety and remaining uncertainties. The aim is to show why Prebiotics is being discussed, what has actually been observed, and what still needs to happen before an intriguing longevity hypothesis can become a dependable conclusion.

Where the science stands

This page summarizes the current human evidence captured in the Longevity Compass database. Result interpretation is conservative and unresolved outcomes remain unknown.

Research path

From biological idea to human evidence

These stages show different kinds of evidence for Prebiotics. Moving through them does not mean an intervention is proven to slow aging.

  1. 1

    Biological idea

    Reviewing animal and laboratory research…

  2. 2

    Human testing

    10 direct aging trial links and 44 related trial links tracked. A trial count describes research activity, not benefit.

  3. 3

    What results show

    0 beneficial, 0 neutral and 0 harmful result links interpreted; 0 remain unresolved.

  4. 4

    Still unanswered

    Whether these findings translate into meaningful, lasting healthy-aging benefits in people remains unproven. Longer follow-up and clearer safety and clinical outcomes are needed.

How AgeBeacon evaluates evidence →

Beyond human trials

The bigger longevity story

Loading animal and laboratory evidence…

Animal and cell studies help explain biological plausibility and identify promising directions. They are shown separately and do not increase the human evidence-depth score.

Research depth

Human evidence picture

Evidence depth describes how much relevant human research exists; it is not an efficacy score. Unknown results are not treated as neutral.

10
Direct aging trials
44
Indirect relevant trials
10
Publications linked
0
Results publications

Interpreted results

Beneficial
0
Neutral
0
Harmful
0
Unknown / unresolved
0

Population relevance

Healthy / aging
0
Disease-specific
0

Safety evidence

0

Trials currently identified with safety-result data.

Go to the source

Studies & publications

Inspect the original evidence behind this profile. Links open the trial registry, PubMed or the publication DOI.

Protein and Skeletal Muscle in Older Twins: Role of the Gut MicrobiomeNCT04309292INTERVENTIONAL · NA · 71 participants · COMPLETEDGOS and Microbial Fermentation in AgingNCT03077529INTERVENTIONAL · NA · 44 participants · COMPLETEDMicrobiota-Inflammation-Brain Axis in Heart Failure: New Functional Food for the Prevention of undeRnutrition in OlderNCT07076329INTERVENTIONAL · NA · 60 participants · RECRUITINGOsteoPreP: Food Supplements for Postmenopausal Bone HealthNCT05348694INTERVENTIONAL · PHASE4 · 160 participants · UNKNOWNThe Correlation and Intervention of Intestinal Flora and Frailty in the ElderlyNCT03995342INTERVENTIONAL · NA · 300 participants · UNKNOWNThe Effects of a High Protein Diet on Microbiota, Gastrointestinal Function and Wellness in Older WomenNCT02445560INTERVENTIONAL · NA · 29 participants · COMPLETEDEvaluation of the Hepatoprotective Effects of a Nutritional Supplement in Patients With Liver Disease Secondary to Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection (RESQUETI Study).NCT07487623INTERVENTIONAL · NA · 26 participants · RECRUITINGEffects of β-glucans on Gut Permeability and Microbiota in ElderlyNCT05584254INTERVENTIONAL · NA · 43 participants · COMPLETEDDietary Strategy to Tackle Sarcopenia in Early Elderly Subjects (FOOP-Sarc)NCT05485402INTERVENTIONAL · NA · 39 participants · COMPLETEDExploratory Study on a Multi-nutrient Supplement and Exercise Program for Improving Health Markers Associated to Longevity in Pre-frail AdultsNCT07454616INTERVENTIONAL · NA · 40 participants · RECRUITINGPrebiotics (Dried Plum) and Immune Function in Postmenopausal WomenNCT07222111INTERVENTIONAL · NA · 30 participants · RECRUITINGDetermining How Indoor Lighting Affects the Brain Health of Older AdultsNCT05978934INTERVENTIONAL · NA · 70 participants · UNKNOWNLi N, Cui C, Xu J, Mi M, Wang J, Qin Y. Quercetin intervention reduced hepatic fat deposition in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2024 Sep;120(3):507-517. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.07.013. Epub 2024 Jul 19.PMID 39032786Linked publicationLu NT, Crespi CM, Liu NM, Vu JQ, Ahmadieh Y, Wu S, Lin S, McClune A, Durazo F, Saab S, Han S, Neiman DC, Beaven S, French SW. A Phase I Dose Escalation Study Demonstrates Quercetin Safety and Explores Potential for Bioflavonoid Antivirals in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C. Phytother Res. 2016 Jan;30(1):160-8. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5518. Epub 2015 Dec 1.PMID 26621580Linked publicationVidot H, Cvejic E, Carey S, Strasser SI, McCaughan GW, Allman-Farinelli M, Shackel NA. Randomised clinical trial: oral taurine supplementation versus placebo reduces muscle cramps in patients with chronic liver disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2018 Oct;48(7):704-712. doi: 10.1111/apt.14950. Epub 2018 Aug 23.PMID 30136291Linked publicationSchwarzer R, Kivaranovic D, Mandorfer M, Paternostro R, Wolrab D, Heinisch B, Reiberger T, Ferlitsch M, Gerner C, Trauner M, Peck-Radosavljevic M, Ferlitsch A. Randomised clinical study: the effects of oral taurine 6g/day vs placebo on portal hypertension. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2018 Jan;47(1):86-94. doi: 10.1111/apt.14377. Epub 2017 Nov 3.PMID 29105115Linked publicationBomhof MR, Parnell JA, Ramay HR, Crotty P, Rioux KP, Probert CS, Jayakumar S, Raman M, Reimer RA. Histological improvement of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with a prebiotic: a pilot clinical trial. Eur J Nutr. 2019 Jun;58(4):1735-1745. doi: 10.1007/s00394-018-1721-2. Epub 2018 May 19.PMID 29779170Linked publicationElattar G, Saleh Z, El-Shebini S, Farrag A, Zoheiry M, Hassanein A, El-Ghannam M, Shendy S, El-Dabaa E, Zahran N. The use of whey protein concentrate in management of chronic hepatitis C virus - a pilot study. Arch Med Sci. 2010 Oct;6(5):748-55. doi: 10.5114/aoms.2010.17091. Epub 2010 Oct 26.PMID 22419935Linked publicationChitapanarux T, Tienboon P, Pojchamarnwiputh S, Leelarungrayub D. Open-labeled pilot study of cysteine-rich whey protein isolate supplementation for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2009 Jun;24(6):1045-50. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2009.05865.x.PMID 19638084Linked publicationChen S, Zhao X, Ran L, Wan J, Wang X, Qin Y, Shu F, Gao Y, Yuan L, Zhang Q, Mi M. Resveratrol improves insulin resistance, glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized controlled trial. Dig Liver Dis. 2015 Mar;47(3):226-32. doi: 10.1016/j.dld.2014.11.015. Epub 2014 Dec 16.PMID 25577300Linked publicationPennisi M, Bertino G, Gagliano C, Malaguarnera M, Bella R, Borzi AM, Madeddu R, Drago F, Malaguarnera G. Resveratrol in Hepatitis C Patients Treated with Pegylated-Interferon-alpha-2b and Ribavirin Reduces Sleep Disturbance. Nutrients. 2017 Aug 18;9(8):897. doi: 10.3390/nu9080897.PMID 28820468Linked publicationFaghihzadeh F, Adibi P, Rafiei R, Hekmatdoost A. Resveratrol supplementation improves inflammatory biomarkers in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Nutr Res. 2014 Oct;34(10):837-43. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2014.09.005. Epub 2014 Sep 23.PMID 25311610Linked publication

The big unanswered question

Can promising biology translate into meaningful healthy-aging benefits?

That is the standard this evidence profile is tracking. New trials and results can strengthen, weaken or change the picture over time.

Confidence: very-lowScore model: liveUpdated: 2026-09Source: live evidence database