Many people enjoy summer treats like ice cream, but what they may not realize is that some processed foods contain refined dietary fibers, such as guar gum, that could harm their gut health.
Researchers from Penn State have found that consuming ultra-processed diets with guar gum may increase the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
This finding comes from a study published in Gut Microbes.
Guar gum is a fiber found naturally in cluster beans, but it is often processed and used as a thickener in foods like ice cream, processed cheeses, baked goods, salad dressings, and beverages.
While natural dietary fibers are generally considered beneficial for health, the impact of processed versions, like guar gum powder, on gut health is less understood.
Vishal Singh, an assistant professor of nutritional physiology and microbiome at Penn State, led the study to investigate how guar gum affects the gut microbiome and increases the likelihood of IBD.
Singh explained, “We know that natural dietary fibers are good for our health, but we don’t fully understand how processed fibers, like guar gum, impact our gut health in the long term.”
In the study, researchers conducted an experiment with mice, feeding one group a processed diet containing 7.5% guar gum and 2.5% cellulose (a natural plant fiber). The control group was given a diet with 10% cellulose. After four weeks, both groups were exposed to a substance that induces inflammation, mimicking conditions like colitis.
The results showed that the mice fed a diet with guar gum developed severe IBD and significant colon inflammation compared to the control group.
The study also found that the gut microbiome in the guar gum group was altered, with increased levels of specific bacteria called Actinobacteriota.
After antibiotic treatment, the mice recovered, indicating that the gut microbiome’s interaction with guar gum plays a key role in the development of IBD.
Lead author Devendra Paudel, who recently completed his doctorate, noted that consuming processed foods with guar gum could significantly raise the risk of developing IBD. This study aligns with previous research on other processed fibers, like inulin, and their negative effects on gut health.
Although the study used higher doses of guar gum than humans typically consume and was conducted on mice, the findings raise important questions about the safety of refined fibers.
Singh emphasized that as fiber supplements and processed fibers become more popular, more research is needed to fully understand their long-term effects on gut health. The researchers plan to continue studying other types of refined fibers and their impact on digestive health.
Source: Pennsylvania State.
