Carrot-derived prebiotic enhances gut microbiome function according to study

A recent study examined the effects of carrot-derived rhamnogalacturonan-I (cRG-I) on human gut microbiome function, specifically, on the production of indole-3-propionic acid (IPA). Benicaros, developed by NutriLeads, a developer and supplier of prebiotic fibers, was the product used in the experiment. The study, “Carrot-Derived Rhamnogalacturonan-I Consistently Increases the Microbial Production of Health-Promoting Indole-3-Propionic Acid Ex Vivo,” was published in Metabolites in December 2024. NutriLeads funded the study.

Researchers examined samples from 24 adult donors and found that IPA production was promoted by fermentation of cRG-I consistently across of the donors, correlating with the consistent increase in Bifidobacterium longum.

Other results highlighted in the study include:

• cRG-I consistently promoted IPA production across all participants at a dose equivalent to 1.5 g/d
• Increased IPA production was also observed at a dose equivalent to 0.3 g/d

“This study demonstrates that cRG-I (Benicaros) promotes tryptophan conversion into IPA via gut microbiome modulation, thus conferring benefits via amino acid derived metabolites,” stated Annick Mercenier, PhD, first author of the study, in a January 7, 2025, news release. “It broadens our knowledge beyond benefits previously reported for short chain fatty acids (SCFA) that result from carbohydrate fermentation.”

The study noted the health benefits of IPA in protecting the gut and other organs against disease, as well as the correlation between increases in IPA levels and Bifidobacterium longum levels.

“The promotion of IPA by Benicaros through gut microbiome modulation is remarkably consistent,” stated Dr. Pieter Van den Abbeele, co-author. “We identified Bifidobacterium longum as a key intermediary in this process, a finding corroborated by published animal and human clinical studies. This underscores the predictive potential of our ex vivo SIFR® technology and how it helps to decipher the complexities of the gut microbiome.” Ex vivo SIFR^® technology was used to study the metabolite production in the gut microbiome.

As noted in the study, the gut microbiome is important to overall health. “Benicaros consistently modulates the gut microbiome, delivering reliable results regardless of individual differences in gut microbiome composition,” stated Joana Carneiro-Wakefield, PhD, the CEO of NutriLeads. “We are very excited about these new results, as they suggest that Benicaros could offer health benefits beyond gut and immune health, potentially supporting the gut-brain connection as well.”

In a previous study, Benicaros was successfully fermented regardless of the different microbial composition. Additionally, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, Benicaros was shown to support immune health, reducing severity of symptoms in subjects exposed to the common cold virus.

References

1. Mercenier AM.; Vu LD.; Poppe J.; Albers R.; McKay S.; Van den Abbeele P. Carrot-Derived Rhamnogalacturonan-I Consistently Increases the Microbial Production of Health-Promoting Indole-3-Propionic Acid Ex Vivo. Metabolites. 2024; DOI: 10.3390/metabo14120722 (accessed 2025-01-10).
2. NutriLeads. New Study Reveals Potential for Additional Health Benefits of Precision Prebiotic Benicaros. https://nutrileads.com/news_events/news/new-study-reveals-potential-for-additional-health-benefits-of-precision-prebiotic-benicaros/ (accessed 2025-01-10).