Chicory root fibers selectively increase bifidobacteria independent of food matrix

A recently published studyⁱ conducted by researchers from The Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences University of Reading (UK), in collaboration with the BENEO-Institute, demonstrates that prebiotic chicory root fibers support the selective growth of Bifidobacteria in the human gut, no matter which food application and food matrix they are used in. This is good news for producers wanting to bring the bifidogenic effect and gut health benefits of prebiotic chicory root fiber to a wide variety of consumer food products.

Encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacteria is important as it supports human health via positive effects on the gut environment. It also creates less favorable living conditions for potential pathogen bacteria and has benefits beyond digestive health for overall well-being. The bioavailability and therefore, efficacy, of some ingredients and nutrients has been found to be impacted by the food matrix they are in. As a result, certain benefits cannot be credibly claimed by producers, as the ingredient’s function may differ depending on the application or matrix it is used in. However, the study shows that when incorporating prebiotic chicory root fiber into food application, this is not the case. This is a key factor for producers to consider given that three in four consumers who buy prebiotics state product efficacy as a key purchasing factor (76%)ⁱⁱ.

Though several studies of inulin-type fructans in various food applications and matrices already exist, this is the first time that the effects of chicory root fiber in different food applications have been included within one study design, enabling their direct comparison. This study was designed as a prospective, parallel-group, randomized trial. The participants were split into four groups – with 24 participants in each. The foods reflected a wide range of matrices, such as baked, semi-solid and liquid, and were consumed as part of the populations’ habitual diet. While the first group received pure inulin (for comparison purposes), the other participants were given inulin-enriched foods in the format of shortbread, milk chocolate, or a rice drink, depending on which group they belonged to. All groups consumed a total of 10g of chicory root fiber (BENEO’s Oraft Inulin) per day (5g in the morning and 5g in the evening), and stool samples were taken at the beginning and at the end of the ten day intervention.

At the end of the intervention period, the four groups’ results were analyzed and in all cases, the bacterial enumeration demonstrated a significant increase in Bifidobacteria on day ten. In fact, an average 92% increase of Bifidobacteria was seen across all four groups compared to the baseline, and no significant differences were detected between any of the intervention groups on day ten. Irrespective of the food application and matrix, the prebiotic chicory root fibers were shown to support the selective growth of Bifidobacteria and the results were consistent across two different study methods used within the research. Thanks to these findings, product developers can have even more science-based trust in the functional benefits of BENEO’s chicory root fibers.

Anke Sentko, vice president Regulatory Affairs & Nutrition Communication at BENEO comments, “Thanks to this study, product developers can ‘tick off’ one key question from their check list: does the functional ingredient deliver the desired benefit when used in the final application? And the answer for chicory root fibre enrichment clearly is ‘yes’. It has now been scientifically proven that the intended Bifidobacteria growth is independent from the food matrix that is used. These findings add to the large body of studies about the beneficial effects of chicory root fibers that already exist and are based on more than 25 years of scientific research on the proven prebiotics inulin and oligofructose.”

BENEO’s chicory root fibers, Orafti Inulin and Oligofructose, are the only proven plant-based prebiotics, comply with the ISAPP (International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics) definition of prebioticsⁱⁱⁱ and are backed up by the highest level of scientific evidence established in more than 25 years of scientific research. The prebiotic effect of chicory root fibers has been shown to support a number of health aspects in numerous human intervention studies, including improved bowel function, the inner defense system, weight and blood sugar management.

ⁱ Jackson PPJ, Wijeyesekera A, Theis S, Van Harsselaar J, Rastall RA (2023) Effects of food matrix on the prebiotic efficacy of inulin-type fructans: a randomized trial. Beneficial microbes. Published 29 August 2023: https://brill.com/view/journals/bm/aop/article-10.1163-18762891-20220120/article-10.1163-18762891-20220120.xml

ⁱⁱ FMCG Gurus, Prebiotics survey, Q2 2022. A total of 10,000 consumers were surveyed across 10 countries (1,000 per country), here: filtered by consumers who purchase prebiotics, N = 1,260.

ⁱⁱⁱ Gibson GR, Hutkins R, Sanders ME et al. (2017) Expert consensus document: The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of prebiotics. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 14(8): 491–502.