A new study published inJournal of Applied Microbiologyfound that Epicor, a yeast fermentate prebiotic from Embria Health Sciences, improves the integrity of the intestinal barrier during heat stress by altering the gut microbiota in rats.

The study split rats into two groups. One group was treated orally with the yeast fermetate; the other was given phosphate-buffered saline. After 14 days, half the rats in each group were exposed to heat stress conditions, while the other half were kept at room temperature.
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Heat stress resulted in inhibition of tight junction proteins expression, decrease of Paneth and goblet cells, a decrease in beneficial bacteria and increase of pathogenic bacteria—but not in the rats treated with the yeast fermentate. Epicor elevated the beneficial gut bacteria, particularly butyrate-producing bacteria, significantly protecting them from the adverse effects of heat stress.

The researchers concluded: “Our results will contribute to the development of new approaches to prevention of heat stress-related complications.”