A novel study published in Microorganisms has found that FutureCeuticals' proprietary blend of polyphenol-rich fruit and vegetable fibres, NatureKnit, exhibits a long-lasting and profound prebiotic effect.
The blend of whole spinach and apple, carrot, blueberry and cranberry fibres was also found to influence metabolic parameters.
In partnership with Belgian microbiome research specialist ProDigest, FutureCeuticals tested the impact of NatureKnit in comparison to widely used prebiotic fibres inulin and psyllium on the organisation's M-SHIME model, which simulates the human gastrointestinal tract.
These results suggest the wide-spanning potential of the nutraceutical in promoting overall health.
Compared with inulin and psyllium, NatureKnit exhibited a higher prebiotic effect after 48 hours
The rise of prebiotics
Prebiotics have been gaining significant traction as an ingredient for dietary supplements and functional foods alike, with traditional polysaccharides such as fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and galactooligosaccharides (GOS) being incorporated to support gut health.
Meanwhile, the gut-supporting fibres are also gaining traction in the functional RTD beverage market, with Poppi's prebiotic soda brand recently getting acquired by Pepsi for just under $2bn, and Bloom Pop debuting a functional prebiotic soda, Bloom Pop, after its energy drink's success.
Research suggests that, alongside their gut health benefits, prebiotics can support weight management efforts, as well as mood and growth of 'good' microbiome bacteria, suggesting their wide-spanning approach to health and wellbeing.
Therefore, FutureCeuticals wanted to test the potential of 2g of its polyphenol-rich fruit and vegetable fibre ingredient through the M-SHIME model.
NatureKnit's prebiotic effect
During the study, researchers found that 2 grams of NatureKnit slowly and 'gently' fermented in the gut — exhibiting a sustained and long-lasting prebiotic effect.
Notably, when compared with inulin and psyllium, the nutraceutical exhibited a higher prebiotic effect after 48 hours, measured by the abundance of healthy gut bacteria and their species richness.
The prevalence of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) propionate and acetate also significantly increased through NatureKnit supplementation.
This effect was also observed for butyrate, but to a much lesser extent, and researchers note that buytrate concentration was highly donor-dependent.
"This research is an excellent illustration of how gut simulation models enable us to fully comprehend the behavior of functional ingredients in relation to the microbiome," said Massimo Marzorati, CEO of ProDigest and Faculty of CMET at Ghent University.
"By replicating the human gut's complexity, we can create detailed insights that close the gap between laboratory research and actual applications."
"These results show that NatureKnit is able to provide a sustained prebiotic effect throughout the entire large intestine, as opposed to popular purified fibres which typically ferment rapidly and provide only short-term benefits," added Brendan Kesler, Innovation Director at FutureCeuticals.
"NatureKnit's powerful ability to promote the production of SCFAs offers significant benefits within the gut but also lays a foundation for how NatureKnit may impact overall human health beyond the gut."