BeniCaros may offer precise and consistent stimulation of the gut microbiome, according to recent study

An ex-vivo study¹ published in the journal Nutrients found that supplementation with an upcycled soluble carrot fiber, called BeniCaros, from NutriLeads BV (Wageningen, The Netherlands) modulates the gut microbiome in a consistent and beneficial manner. In the study, researchers compared the prebiotic effects of 0.3 and 1.5 grams of BeniCaros, 1.5 grams of inulin, and 1.5 grams of xanthan on stool samples from 24 healthy adults, using a high throughput ex-vivo SIFR technology from Cryptobiotix SA. The technology is a validated gut digestion and fermentation simulator that generates predictive insights for clinical findings.

The study found that BeniCaros “lowered interpersonal compositional differences due to the selective stimulation of taxa that were consistently present among human adults, including OTUs [Operational Taxonomic Units] related to Bacteroides dorei/vulgatus and Bifidobacterium longum (suspected keystone species), Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bifidobacterium adolescentis and butyrate-producing taxa such as Blautia sp., Anaerobutyricum hallii, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii.”

This is in contrast with the other treatments which increased interpersonal compositional differences. Additionally, all the test compounds significantly enhanced acetate, propionate, butyrate, and gas production, but BeniCaros resulted in significantly higher acetate (+40%), propionate (+22%), and a lower gas production (–44%) compared to inulin. Based on these results, the researchers concluded that, “owing to its remarkable homogenization effect on microbial composition and metabolite production, [BeniCaros] could lead to more predictable outcomes compared to substrates that are less specific or overly specific.”

“It is remarkable that a small serving of only 300 milligrams of BeniCaros can display such consistent prebiotic effects despite the fact that composition of gut microbiota is unique to every individual,” said Annick Mercenier, PhD, NutriLeads co-founder, senior director of R&D, and the study’s co-author, in a press release. “Variability in the gut microbial communities in individuals renders it challenging to demonstrate efficacy of functional ingredients. The high consistency effect of BeniCaros on microbial composition and metabolite production could support more predictable health benefits.”

“The goldilocks principle applies to BeniCaros,” added Ruud Albers, PhD, NutriLeads co-founder, chief scientific officer, and study co-author. “Its structure is not so simple that it can be fermented by multiple bacterial strains in the gut, nor is it so complex that it can only be used by few microbial communities. [BeniCaros’] specificity is just right.”

Reference

1. Van den Abbeele, P.; Deyaert, S.; Alders, R.; Baudot, A.; Mercenier, A. Carrot RG-I Reduces Interindividual Differences between 24 Adults through Consistent Effects on Gut Microbiota Composition and Function Ex Vivo. Nutrients. 2023, 15 (9): 2090. DOI: 10.3390/nu15092090