Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) intake modulates oxidative stress and restores gut morphology in Giardia lamblia-infected gerbils

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) supplementation on the prevention of experimental giardiasis by analyzing morphological, biochemical, and parasitological parameters in a gerbil model. Gerbils were divided into four groups: uninfected control (CT), infected control (CTIN), uninfected and FOS-treated (FOS), and infected and FOS-treated (FOSIN). The FOS and FOSIN groups received 250 mg/day of FOS by gavage for 14 days. After this period, the CTIN and FOSIN groups were inoculated by gavage with 1 x 106 trophozoites/ml of Giardia lamblia. Fourteen days post-infection, all animals were euthanized, and blood, liver, small intestine, and feces were collected for analysis. FOS supplementation resulted in a 77% reduction in parasitic load. Additionally, FOS reduced infection-induced damage by preserving intestinal structure, improving metabolic parameters, and reducing hepatic oxidative stress. FOS was also effective in mitigating the effects of an established G. lamblia infection. These preliminary findings suggest that FOS has beneficial effects in the preventive treatment of Giardia lamblia infection.