Monteloeder, a global provider of innovative, scientifically proven, botanical ingredients, has revealed the results of a new study on its Metabolaid ingredient, showing that supplementation with Metabolaid may help support gut health through its demonstrated ability to help modulate gut bacteriome and promote increases in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production.
Metabolaid is a polyphenol-enriched natural extract of hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) and lemon verbena (Lippia Citriodora) containing active compounds including anthocyanins, verbascoside and hibiscus acid.
Metabolaid is a polyphenol-enriched natural extract of hibiscus and lemon verbena
The study, "Gut microbiome-modulating properties of a polyphenol-enriched dietary supplement comprised of hibiscus and lemon verbena extract. Monitoring of phenolic metabolites" was conducted by researchers M. Silva, et al. and published in the Journal of Functional Foods 91 (2022) 105016, and online in March 2022.
The study demonstrated that the active compounds in Metabolaid may aid in modulating and supporting higher relative abundance of some major microbiota strains including Bifidobacterium, Blautia and Faecali-bacterium and of other minor genera such as Prevotella and Akkermansia. Supplementation with Metabolaid also demonstrated a lower Firmicutes/Bacteroides (F/B) ratio, wherein a high F/B ratio has been observed in obesity and lowering the F/B ratio may help support weight loss.
The study also verified that Metabolaid is highly bioavailable in the human body
The research also showed that Metabolaid may also promote increases in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production - particularly butyric acid. Butyric acid is a post-biotic that is absorbed and used as an energy source for the cells of the colon. SCFA is produced by certain bacteria as a consequence of digesting complex carbohydrates, including fibre (prebiotics). SCFA plays an important role in gut health, from inflammation, immunity to nutrient absorption, and increased SCFA production is known to help prevent obesity and metabolic syndrome. A plant-based diet, rich in polyphenols, increases SCFA production.
The study also verified that Metabolaid is highly bioavailable in the human body and may be safely and completely metabolized by the gut microbiota. The research also supports the hypothesis that the bioactives in Metabolaid may exert beneficial gut microbiome-modulating properties in vivo, although additional studies covering more population groups are needed.
Overall, this study demonstrated positive results for these plant-based, polyphenol-rich extracts in support of gut health. results reveal a certain level of gut microbiota-modulating properties of Metabolaid that could be implicated, at least partially, in the mechanisms behind the potential beneficial effects of this supplement in weight management as well.