A groundbreaking study led by researchers at the University of Vienna has illuminated the diverse and profound effects of inulin, a widely used prebiotic, on the human gut microbiome.
Published in Nature Communications, this study has far-reaching implications for personalized dietary supplements and understanding gut health.
Prebiotics like inulin have gained prominence in the food and supplement industry in recent years. Prebiotics are non-digestible food components that support the growth of beneficial gut microorganisms.
Inulin, naturally present in foods like bananas, wheat, onions, and garlic, enters the large intestine, where gut bacteria break it down and ferment it.
The human gut harbors around 100 trillion microbes, making unraveling the precise effects of supplements like inulin is challenging.
While research has hinted at health benefits like anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, understanding these effects has proven complex.
The CeMESS study utilized fluorescence-labeled nanoparticles to track inulin’s interaction with gut bacteria. Surprisingly, when these inulin-grafted nanoparticles were introduced to human stool samples, more than previously believed, a wide array of gut bacteria demonstrated the ability to bind to inulin.
Contrary to previous assumptions that prebiotics selectively benefit only specific microorganisms, this study uncovered that the capability to bind to inulin is widespread among gut bacteria.
The researchers employed advanced techniques to identify cells actively producing proteins and found that various bacteria responded actively to inulin, even species not previously associated with this capacity.
David Berry, the lead researcher, noted, “Our study is a trailblazer for the future of microbiome-based medicine: with our method, dietary supplements can be personalized, precisely designed, and scientifically substantiated in the future.”
Alessandra Riva, another study leader, highlighted significant differences in the microbial communities responding to inulin when comparing stool samples from different individuals.
This underscores the importance of considering individual variations in dietary recommendations and microbiome-based interventions.
The CeMESS study enhances comprehension of prebiotic metabolism in the human digestive system and provides a framework for future research and the development of microbiome-based therapies.
This research opens new doors to harnessing the potential of prebiotics for gut health and personalized nutrition.
If you care about gut health, please read studies about Scientists find a surprising link between gut health and eye disease risk and findings of Gut troubles could signal future Parkinson’s disease.
For more health information, please see recent studies that blueberries strongly benefit people with metabolic syndrome, and results showing eggs in a plant-based diet may benefit people with type 2 diabetes.
The research findings can be found in Nature Communications.
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