Formulation teams working in today’s health and nutrition market face a familiar constraint: space. Capsules, tablets, gummies and stickpacks remain consumer favourites, yet they leave formulators with limited room to work with. This has historically placed prebiotics at a disadvantage; many require doses of 3–6 g or more to exert an effect, limiting their use in smaller formats without forcing multiple daily servings.
As gut health continues its march from niche to mainstream, the nutraceutical industry has been grappling with how to make prebiotics compatible with compact formats. It’s an important challenge: consumers want solutions that are evidence-backed and convenient, which means they are unlikely to commit to bulky doses or high capsule counts. In short, we need ingredients that work harder.
A breakthrough at 380 mg
Recent peer-reviewed research has confirmed that our galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) ingredient, Bimuno® GOS, delivers a statistically significant bifidogenic (prebiotic) effect at just 380 mg of active GOS per day. The study, “Galacto-Oligosaccharides Exert Bifidogenic Effects at Capsule-Compatible Ultra-Low Doses,” published in the journal Metabolites, demonstrated that Bimuno GOS stimulated bifidobacteria growth in just 6 hours — with further acceleration observed at 24 hours.1 This was accompanied by increases in short-chain fatty acids such as acetate and butyrate, alongside a decrease in gut pH. All of these are recognised markers of a favourable gastric environment.
This finding is highly significant because it confirms that Bimuno GOS delivers a proven prebiotic effect at an ultra-low, capsule-compatible dose. This builds on the existing clinical evidence that supports a range of health benefits in areas such as gastrointestinal health, immune function and brain health at daily doses from 1.37–2.75g. This new research verifies the fundamental prebiotic effect at an ultra-low dose.
What this means for product development
For formulators, ultra-low-dose efficacy removes a major barrier to innovation. A 380 mg dose of active GOS fits comfortably into a capsule format without taking up the entire fill weight. This frees up valuable space for complementary ingredients or allows prebiotics to be included in products when they were previously impractical.
The implications extend beyond capsules. In stickpacks or sachets, the reduced dose leaves more room for other functional ingredients. In synbiotics, an emerging format that combines prebiotics and probiotics, it enables a more balanced pairing of the two within a single daily dose. The same applies to functional beverages; low doses improve cost-effectiveness and broaden application potential without compromising on the science. For consumers, these benefits are clear: fewer capsules to swallow, more compact products and greater flexibility when it comes to choosing how they integrate prebiotics into their routines.
Why structure matters
It is important to note that the latest study’s confirmation of an ultra-low-dose effect is not universal for all prebiotics. The bifidogenic activity observed at 380 mg can be attributed to the unique structure and selectivity of Bimuno GOS, which makes it highly effective at selectively feeding beneficial bacteria (such as bifidobacteria).
This is why formulation teams should be considerate and avoid underdosing “prebiotics” just to grab consumer attention as the term continues to gain appeal. The specific composition, selectivity and supporting evidence of the ingredient matter. Choosing a prebiotic with a strong body of published science not only ensures efficacy but also helps to protect consumer trust in a rapidly expanding category.
What does the future hold?
As demand for gut health innovation continues to grow at speed, formulators need practical, evidence-based solutions that can keep pace. Our work with Bimuno GOS has shown that innovation in prebiotic science is not only about uncovering new health benefits, but also about making proven effects more accessible. With more than 125 scientific publications and 20-plus clinical trials, Bimuno GOS already holds the most comprehensive research portfolio of any GOS prebiotic. Adding ultra-low-dose efficacy to that profile gives formulators even greater flexibility to meet modern consumer needs. The message is loud and clear: the future of prebiotics lies not only in what they do, but in how we make them work for consumers. Compact formats are here to stay. And, with the right science at their foundation, they can carry the full weight of evidence-backed innovation.
Reference
www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/15/8/530.
For more information
Per Rehne
CEO
Clasado Biosciences
www.clasado.com