Scientific Research and Studies
Diverse Prebiotic Fibres
Prebiotic Fibre Research
Dietary fibre in gastrointestinal health and disease
“Epidemiological studies have consistently demonstrated the benefits of dietary fibre on gastrointestinal health through consumption of unrefined whole foods, such as wholegrains, legumes, vegetables and fruits. Mechanistic studies and clinical trials on isolated and extracted fibres have demonstrated promising regulatory effects on the gut (for example, digestion and absorption, transit time, stool formation) and microbial effects (changes in gut microbiota composition and fermentation metabolites) that have important implications for gastrointestinal disorders.”
Link to research: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-020-00375-4
Unveiling the Health Benefits of Prebiotics: A Comprehensive Review
“The integration of prebiotics and probiotics into our daily diet establishes a cornerstone for optimal health, a priority for health-conscious consumers emphasizing nutrition that supports a balanced gut flora. Prebiotics offer diverse biological functions in humans, exhibiting antiobesity, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and cholesterol-lowering properties, along with preventing digestive disorders.”
Link to research: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12088-024-01235-4
Apple Fibre
Exploring the prebiotic potential of unpurified apple dietary fibre concentrate
“digestion of UADFC increased the relative abundance of probiotic microorganisms such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus spp., as analysed by qPCR. Furthermore, the digestion of UADFC released a significant amount of Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs), particularly butyric acid (10.01 mM), as quantified using gas chromatography. This is likely related to the observed increase in Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus spp. Based on these results, UADFC could be classified as a prebiotic”
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2025.117608
Prebiotic potential of apple pomace and pectins from different apple varieties: Modulatory effects on key target commensal microbial populations
“Apple pomace and pectin modulated beneficial gut bacteria including Eubacterium and Lachnospiraceae in fecal fermentations.”
“Apple pomace promoted short-chain fatty acid producers in Chron's disease microbiota.”
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2022.107958
Chicory Root Fibre (Inulin):
Inulin: properties and health benefits
“It is universally acknowledged that inulin as a prebiotic has an outstanding effect on the regulation of intestinal microbiota via stimulating the growth of beneficial bacteria. In addition, inulin also exhibits excellent health benefits in regulating lipid metabolism, weight loss, lowering blood sugar, inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors, reducing the risk of colon cancer, enhancing mineral absorption, improving constipation, and relieving depression.”
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2FO01096H
Effect of consumption of chicory inulin on bowel function in healthy subjects with constipation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Clinical Trial)
“Inulin was effective in subjects with chronic constipation. A significant increase of stool frequency was documented, which was accompanied by a softening of stool consistency and that had a positive impact on the quality of life, primarily increasing the satisfaction.”
https://doi.org/10.1080/09637486.2016.1212819
Role of inulin as prebiotics on inflammatory bowel disease
“Inulin enhances the growth of indigenous lactobacilli and/or bifidobacteria by inducing colonic production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA's) and these properties are related to decreased mucosal lesion scores and diminished mucosal inflammation. Inulin shows a positive approach to retain microbial populations and to support epithelial barrier function by their prebiotic effect”
Green Banana Fibre
Effect of green banana and pineapple fibre powder consumption on host gut microbiome (Clinical Trial)
“Green bananas are rich in pectin, which slows gastric emptying, improves bowel function, reduces glucose and cholesterol absorption, and produces SCFAs when fermented by colonic microbiota. In turn, these processes reduce intestinal inflammation, improve gut microbiome balance, and lower the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).”
“Dietary fibre and resistant starches (RS) in GBP (Green Banana Fibre) and PFP (Pineapple Fibre Powder) promoted temporal increases in beneficial bacteria.”
“PFP benefitted both genders aged 16–23, while GBP benefitted overweight/obese individuals, including females. GBP and PFP fiber and RS improved bowel regularity and health as well as metabolism by promoting histidine, branched-chain amino acids, short-chain fatty acids, and biotin production. The additional fiber caused “low” bloatedness and reduced “fairly bad” sleep disruptions, without affecting sleep durations.”
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1437645
Bioaccessibility of Phenolic Compounds, Resistant Starch, and Dietary Fibers from Australian Green Banana during In Vitro Digestion and Colonic Fermentation
“Green bananas contain a substantial amount of resistant starch (RS), dietary fiber (DF), and phytochemicals, which exhibit potent antioxidant capabilities, primarily attributable to the abundance of polyphenols.”
“the consumption of whole green bananas may have an advantageous effect on bowel health and offer antioxidant characteristics.”
Beta-Glucan - Yeast Derived
Mechanistic insights into β-glucans and gut microbiota interactions for enhancing human health
“As non-digestible fibers, β-glucans reach the colon intact, where fermentation by gut microbes produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate, which support gut integrity, immune modulation, and metabolic balance. Their ability to modulate cholesterol, glucose metabolism, and immune responses has positioned them as promising agents for therapeutic applications.”
“By supporting the growth of beneficial microbes like Lactobacillus sp. and Bifidobacterium sp., β-glucans help maintain microbial balance and may alleviate the risks linked to dysbiosis, such as metabolic, inflammatory, and neurological disorders. A thorough synthesis of current research reveals that β-glucans not only enhance these species but also encourage the growth of other beneficial microbes, including Faecalibacterium sp. and Roseburia sp., which are key butyrate producers. This interaction shapes gut microbial metabolism, promotes short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and influences systemic immune responses and chronic disease management. Integrating structurally diverse β-glucans into functional foods and precision nutrition approaches holds great potential for improving both gut and overall health.”
“β-glucans have gained recognition for their significant impact on gut health, immune function, and overall well-being. Their role as prebiotics, promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, enhances digestive health and supports immune system activation, making them a valuable dietary component. While current research underscores their potential in preventing
chronic diseases”
https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00503-6
Yeast β-glucan, a potential prebiotic, showed a similar probiotic activity to inulin
“β-glucan could modulate the structure and composition of gut microbiota by inhibiting the proliferation of harmful gut microbiota and promoting the growth of health-promoting gut microbiota.”
“Unlike inulin, β-glucan was able to better promote the growth of Bifidobacterium_longum.”
https://doi.org/10.1039/d0fo02224a
A critical review on the impacts of β-glucans on gut microbiota and human health
“β-(1,3/1,6)-glucans are predominantly found in fungi, yeasts, and mushrooms. These molecules possess a more intricate, branched structure, with a backbone of β-(1→3)-linked glucose units and side chains attached via β-(1→6) linkages (Vetter, 2023). This branching architecture enables them to interact with specific immune receptors, such as Dectin-1, found on macrophages and dendritic cells, thereby activating innate immune responses (Mata-Martínez et al., 2022). Compared to their cereal counterparts, fungal β-glucans exhibit lower solubility and moderate fermentability. Nonetheless, they exert potent immunomodulatory effects, making them especially valuable in the development of nutraceuticals and therapeutic agents aimed at enhancing immune function.”
“Similar to mushroom β-glucans, those from yeast enhance the activity of immune cells like macrophages and neutrophils, making them valuable in strengthening the immune defense against infections and improving overall immune resilience.”
“β-glucans, especially those with a (1,3/1,6) structure from yeast and fungi, bind to immune cell receptors, activating responses that enhance pathogen defense and reduce inflammation”
“Clinical studies show that β-glucans from oats, barley, mushrooms, and yeast improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), reduce inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and support immune health in individuals prone to infections”
“Although there is no officially recommended daily dose for immune support, studies have shown that even small amounts of 250–500 mg per day of yeast-derived β-glucans can enhance immune parameters”
Soluble Guar Fibre
Role of guar fiber in improving digestive health and function
“Guar fiber has dual action to reduce both constipation and diarrhea. Guar fiber alleviated the conditions and symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome. All the digestive health effects were observed with intake of about 5 to 6 g of guar fiber.”
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2018.07.109
Partially hydrolyzed guar gum is associated : with improvement in gut health, sleep, and motivation among healthy subjects
“PHGG was found effective in improving constipation, intestinal microbiota, as well as sleep, and motivation in the healthy subjects.”
PMID: 36936875
Dietary intervention of prebiotic partially hydrolyzed guar gum improves skin viscoelasticity, stratum corneum hydration, and reduction of trans-epidermal water loss: a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical study in healthy humans (Clinical Trial)
“Results confirmed the improvement in skin conditions throughout the winter season by restoring skin hydration, reducing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), and improving skin elasticity parameters. After 6 weeks of PHGG intake, there was a substantial decrease in TEWL and improvement in viscoelasticity metrics when compared to placebo.”
PMID: 39896159
Prebiotic Effects of Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum on the Composition and Function of the Human Microbiota- Results from the PAGODA Trial
“In healthy subjects, PHGG had significant effects on stool frequency and consistency. These effects were paralleled by changes in α-(species evenness) and β-diversity (Bray–Curtis distances), along with increasing abundances of metabolites including butyrate, acetate and various amino acids.”
Rice Bran
Comprehensive assessment of rice bran dietary fiber on gut microbiota composition and metabolism during in vitro fermentation
“results showed that rice bran dietary fiber could promote the production of short-chain fatty acids and the growth of probiotics during the fermentation in vitro”
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2024.115231
Supplementation with soluble or insoluble rice-bran fibers increases short-chain fatty acid producing bacteria in the gut microbiota in vitro
“We found that insoluble and soluble fiber fractions increased short-chain fatty acid production, indicating that both fractions were fermented. Both soluble and insoluble rice bran fractions increased the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lachnospiraceae taxa.”
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1304045
Ameliorative Effects of Rice Bran: Bridging Research Gaps and Emerging Trends
“it is a rich source of essential constituents such as dietary fibers, vitamins, and minerals. Moreover, the bioactive composites in RB comprise polyphenols, phytosterols, and antioxidants, which have been comprehensively studied for their therapeutic applications.”
“Its role in improving overall health has been recognized through research demonstrating its capability to decrease oxidative stress, inflammation, and chronic illness risk. RB is a prospective component in functional foodstuffs and nutraceuticals due to its bioactive composites, chiefly phenolic acids and flavonoids, which support its immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. In accumulation, the medicinal worth of RB is also joined by its capability to improve gut health and modify gut flora.”
Purposeful Probiotics
Bifidobacterium animalis lactis
A double blinded randomized placebo trial of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 on sleep quality and gut microbiota in healthy adults
“The randomized, placebo-controlled study evaluated the impact of BLa80 supplementation on sleep quality and gut microbiota in healthy individuals. The probiotic demonstrated a regulatory effect on gut microbiota, significantly enhancing the abundance of Bifidobacterium while reducing levels of Proteobacteria. Following an 8-week intervention, participants in the BLa80 group showed markedly lower PSQI scores compared to those in the placebo group, indicating improved sleep quality. Additionally, the intervention notably increased the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium, Fusicatenbacter, and Parabacteroides. Metabolic pathway analysis via PICRUSt2 revealed significant upregulation in purine metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and arginine biosynthesis pathways. These findings underscore BLa80’s capability to enhance sleep quality, potentially through synergistic effects on GABA production and gut microbiota modulation.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95208-2
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis TISTR
2591 Improves Glycemic Control and Immune Response in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Clinical Trial
“This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial investigated the effects of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis TISTR
2591 (BA-2591), a probiotic strain isolated in Thailand, on metabolic,
immunologic, and safety parameters. Compared to placebo, BA-2591 significantly attenuated fasting blood glucose elevation (Δ = +1.143 mg/dL vs. +12.570 mg/dL; p < 0.001), minimized the increase in insulin resistance (HOMA-IR: Δ = +0.567 vs. +0.980; p =
0.006), and enhanced β-cell function (HOMA-β: Δ = +6.791% vs. −8.313%; p < 0.001). It also elevated immunoglobulin levels (IgM: +150.300 mg/dL; IgG: +261.500 mg/dL; p < 0.001), reduced LDL-C (p = 0.009), and decreased cathepsin D activity (p = 0.005), with no significant changes in IL-6, adiponectin, MDA, hs-CRP, or body composition.”
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17193097
Xylo-oligosaccharides alone or in synbiotic combination with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis induce bifidogenesis and modulate
markers of immune function in healthy adults: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, factorial cross-over study
“The synbiotic XOS+Bi-07 is a suitable nutritional supplement for healthy adults, leading to increased reported vitality and happiness and reduced use of analgesics, observed among the participants of the present study. Data indicate the potential benefits of both XOS and Bi-07, as a result of their bifidogenic properties, fasting HDL-elevating property and/or immunomodulatory activity.”
Bifidobacterium breve
The impact of Bifidobacterium breve BBr60 (BBr60) on metabolic and gastrointestinal health in healthy adults: A combined in vitro metabolomic and randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
“This study aimed to evaluate the physiological and psychological health impacts of Bifidobacterium breve BBr60 (BBr60) on healthy adults. Supplementation with BBr60 not only significantly alleviated neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with alcohol consumption but also showed
potential benefits in enhancing gastrointestinal and metabolic health. These findings support further research into BBr60 as a potential non-pharmacological intervention to improve both psychological and physiological health.”
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2025.07.004
Bifidobacterium Breve BBr60 Improves Obesity Via the Gut Microbiota-Short-Chain Fatty Acid-IL-27/GLP-1 Axis: Evidence from a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
“This study aims to investigate how Bifidobacterium breve BBr60 improves obesity-related metabolic disorders by modulating the gut microbiota-SCFAs axis, thereby affecting inflammatory factors and metabolic hormones. Bifidobacterium breve BBr60, by remodeling the gut microbiota-SCFAs axis, inhibits the pro-inflammatory factor IL-1β, activates the anti-inflammatory signal IL-27, and synergistically regulates the metabolic hormone network (such as GLP-1, ADPN), significantly improving obesity-related metabolic disorders.”
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-025-10885-9
Effects of Bifidobacterium breve 207-1 on regulating lifestyle behaviours and mental wellness in healthy adults based on the microbiome-gut-brain axis: a randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled trial
“study aimed to explore the efficacy of Bifidobacterium breve 207-1 on specific neurotransmitters and hormones and the ability to regulate lifestyle behaviors in healthy adults. The primary outcome of the study was changes in mental wellness, including neurotransmitters, the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrena (HPA) axis hormones, and the psychological scales. The results showed that γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) increased significantly and the HPA axis hormones were suppressed overall in the probiotic groups while 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) did not change significantly. However, there was no significant change in mood scale scores. The secondary outcome focused on the ability of 207-1 to regulate the body and lifestyle of healthy adults (e.g., sleep, diet, exercise, etc.). The PSQI scores in the probiotics groups significantly decreased, indicating improved sleep quality.”
Lacticaseibacillus casei
Effect of Lacticaseibacillus casei LC2W Supplementation on Glucose Metabolism and Gut Microbiota in Subjects at High Risk of Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial
“The study was conducted on 60 subjects with high risk of MetS, and the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity and possible pathways of L. casei LC2W were inferred from the correlation analysis with gut microbiome composition, function, and clinical phenotypic indicators. The results showed that oral administration of L. casei LC2W could exert significant benefits on weight control, glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters, and SCFA production, as well as modulate the composition of gut microbiota. The relative abundance of Lacticaseibacillus, Bifidobacterium, Dorea, and Blautia was enriched, and their interaction with other gut microbes was strengthened by oral administration of L. casei LC2W, which was beneficial in ameliorating gut inflammation, promoting glucose and lipids degradation pathways, thus alleviated MetS.”
Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG
Randomized Clinical Trial Examining the Impact of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG Probiotic Supplementation on Cognitive Functioning in Middle-aged and Older Adults
“The study examined the cognitive benefits of probiotic supplementation (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG probiotic supplementation was associated with improved cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults with cognitive impairment. Probiotic supplementation may be a novel method for protecting cognitive health in aging.”
Lactiplantibacillus plantarum
Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lp815 decreases anxiety in people with mild to moderate anxiety: a direct-to-consumer, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
“Investigated the impact of 2 doses of the strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lp815 on anxiety, sleep, mood, quality of life, cognition, heart rate variability and adverse events in adults with mild to moderate anxiety over a 6-week period. Participants receiving 5 billion CFU exhibited significantly lower anxiety (GAD-7) scores at weeks 4 and 6 compared to placebo (Kruskal-Wallis P<0.05). This result was clinically meaningful, with 68% of participants in the 5 billion CFU cohort exhibiting improvement by more than one category in their GAD-7 scores at week 6, compared to 37% in the 1 billion CFU group and 26% in the placebo group (e.g. from moderate to no anxiety) (Fisher’s exact test P=0.002 for 5 billion CFU vs Placebo).”
https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00073
Lactobacillus plantarum DR7 alleviates stress and anxiety in adults: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
“This randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled human study aimed to evaluate such properties of Lactobacillus plantarum DR7 and its accompanying mechanisms in stressed adults. The consumption of DR7 (1×109 cfu/day) for 12 weeks reduced symptoms of stress (P=0.024), anxiety (P=0.001), and total psychological scores (P=0.022) as early as 8 weeks among stressed adults compared to the placebo group as assessed by the DASS-42 questionnaire. Plasma cortisol level was reduced among DR7 subjects as compared to the placebo, accompanied by reduced plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interferon-γ and transforming growth factor-α and increased plasma anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin 10 (P<0.05). DR7 better improved cognitive and memory functions in normal adults (>30 years old), such as basic attention, emotional cognition, and associate learning (P<0.05), as compared to the placebo and young adults (<30 years old). Results indicated that DR7 fulfil the
requirement of a probiotic strain as per recommendation of FAO/WHO and could be applicable as a natural strategy to improve psychological functions, cognitive health and memory in stressed adults.”
https://doi.org/10.3920/bm2018.0135
Gaba-producing lactobacilli boost cognitive reactivity to negative mood without improving cognitive performance: A human Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Cross-Over study
“two strains Levilactobacillus brevis P30021 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P30025 were investigated for the alleviation on the cognitive performance of moderately stressed healthy adults. Probiotic treatment had no effect on subjective stress measures. The probiotic formulation showed a significant beneficial effect on depressive symptoms by reducing cognitive reactivity to sad mood (p = 0.034). Rumination significantly improved after intake of the probiotic (p = 0.006), suggesting a potential benefit in reducing the negative cognitive effects associated with depression and improving overall mental health.”
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Randomized Clinical Trial: Lactobacillus Acidophilus NCFM Affects Colonic Mucosal Opioid Receptors Expression in Human Patients with Functional Abdominal Pain
“Both intervention groups tended to have improvement in several clinical measures following probiotic interventions including in FBD symptoms severity scores (IBS-SSS), bloating severity, number of daily bowel movements (BMs), daily wellbeing, and number of days with abdominal pain”
https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.12800
A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial on Lactobacillus-containing cultured milk drink as adjuvant therapy for depression in irritable bowel syndrome
“The study’s aim was to investigate the roles of cultured milk drinks containing 109 cfu Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Lactobacillus paracasei L. CASEI-01 on depression and related variables among IBS participants with SD. lactobacillus-containing cultured milk drink showed potential anti-depressive properties among IBS participants who are at risk of developing depression. Its efficacy in ameliorating depressed symptoms was suggested by a possible regulatory mechanism of serotonin hormone involved in regulation of mood through gut microbiota symbiosis. However, the use of probiotic cultured milk drink as a sole therapy for depression symptoms is still unjustified due to various confounding factors.”
Lactobacillus gasseri
Health Benefits of Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 Tablets in Young Adults Exposed to Chronic Stress: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
“Short-term administration of Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 improves stress-associated symptoms and clinical symptoms in healthy young adults and in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, respectively.”
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11081859
Effects of Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 on Mild Menopausal Symptoms in Middle-Aged Women
“This study shows that consumption of Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 improves mild psychological symptoms that are unique to menopausal women, and improves the most common vasomotor symptoms, such as hot
flashes. These findings provide new insights into the role of CP2305 in
modulating symptoms in women.”
Levilactobacillus brevis
Oral colonization by Levilactobacillus brevis KABPTM-052 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KABPTM-051: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial (Pilot Study)
"After 6 weeks, volunteers receiving probiotic showed a significant increase of both L. brevis(p= 0.017) and L. plantarum(p= 0.004) versus placebo. This effect remained significant after adjusting for gender and gingival index at baseline. In the probiotic group, reduction in plaque index significantly correlated to higher levels of L. brevis(rho = 0.57,p= 0.022) but not of L. plantarum at study endpoint, and the number of subjects with dental plaque was reduced during intervention (7 of 17,p= 0.016). No such effects were observed in the placebo group. No adverse drug reactions were reported."
https://doi.org/10.4317/jced.57771
In Vitro, Ex Vivo, and In Vivo Evidence of Nitrate-Reducing Activity in Levilactobacillus brevis CD2: A Potential Tool for Oral and Systemic Health Applications
“Growing evidence supports the use of nitrate-reducing bacterial strains as probiotics to enhance the benefits of nitrate metabolism for both oral and systemic health. The study evaluated the oral nitrate-reducing activity in saliva samples from healthy individuals treated for four weeks with Lv. brevis CD2 lozenges. Of note, the results indicated that the probiotic group showed a significant increase in oral nitrate-reducing capacity compared to baseline and placebo after four weeks of treatment. Overall, our study suggests that Lv. brevis CD2 acts as a nitrate-reducing probiotic, providing new insights into its health benefits and complementing findings from previous studies”