According to a recent clinical trial, Brightseed’s Bio Gut Core may help support gut barrier integrity

In a recent press release, Brightseed announced the results of its first human clinical trial investigating the digestive health benefits of its Bio Gut Core ingredient. The digestive health ingredient, Bio Gut Core, consists of two novel bioactives called N-trans caffeoyltyramine (NCT) and N-trans feruloyltyramine (NFT). Brightseed utilizes its Forager AI platform to discover novel plant bioactives that support human health.

The study published in the peer-reviewed journal called, Bioactive Compounds in Health and Disease, was randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled.¹ It was managed by The Functional Gut Clinic located in the United Kingdom. In the study, 29 participants, both male and female, were involved in the research initiative and met ROME IV criteria for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) and experienced elevated markers for intestinal permeability. Participants were either provided with a placebo or 120 mg per day of NCT/NFT over the course of three weeks. Researchers measured Lactulose/Mannitol (L/M) ratio which can be used to analyze intestinal permeability, other biomarkers such as lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), Zonulin, serum Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LCN2, and sCD14, as well as changes in stool frequency and consistency which were measured using the Bristol Stool Chart and the IBS Symptom Severity Scale (IBS-SSS).

The press release mentioned that key findings from the study included:

• An improvement in gut barrier integrity, indicated by a significant reduction in Lactulose/Mannitol (L/M) ratio (p=0.048)
• A significant decrease in serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), which is a marker of gut-derived endotoxemia and systemic inflammation (p=0.018)
• Significant relief from abdominal distension (p=0.044), and improvements in bloating and abdominal pain symptoms
• No reported adverse events

“These findings represent a significant advancement in the fi eld of digestive health,” said Lee Chae, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of Brightseed. “Bio Gut Core’s ability to improve gut barrier integrity and alleviate symptoms in a short timeframe highlights the unique therapeutic potential of our AI-discovered bioactives. It validates our science and opens new doors for consumers seeking clinically backed, non-pharmaceutical solutions for digestive health and gut discomfort.”

In digestive health, the gut barrier is important for nutrient absorption as well as protecting the body from compounds that may hurt it. The press release explained that a “Compromised gut barrier function—commonly referred to as 'leaky gut'—has been associated with chronic inflammation, gastrointestinal discomfort, and metabolic dysfunction.” This recent study found that supplementation with Bio Gut Core improved gut permeability.

“This is one of the few trials to demonstrate improvements in both biological markers and patient-reported outcomes for IBS-D using a dietary intervention. The dual benefit of improving both objective markers of gut permeability and subjective GI symptoms is rarely seen in short-term nutrition trials,” said Anthony Hobson, PhD, principal investigator and clinical director at The Functional Gut Clinic. “The study design and significant findings reflect the growing potential for nutrition-based strategies to complement or even replace traditional therapies.”