Samyang SPECIALTY INGREDIENTS

Fiberest® Resistant Dextrin, a Prebiotic that Induces Cross-feeding Among Gut Microbiota, Gains Attention as a Gut Health Solution

Why Focus on Prebiotics?

As gut health trends expand across the North American food and beverage market, prebiotic products are experiencing rapid growth in beverages, dairy products, and bakery categories. Consumers recognize that gut health is essential for overall wellbeing and seek healthier options even in carbonated soft drinks (CSDs). With the growth of prebiotic CSD brands such as Olipop and Poppi, major corporations like Coca-Cola are also entering competition with new product launches.

Source: Mintel GNPD, July 2019-June 2024

Prebiotics are gaining popularity among health-conscious consumers for their ability to regulate gut microbiome and maintain intestinal health. Samyang Corporation's Fiberest® Resistant Dextrin is a prebiotic ingredient that resists breakdown by digestive enzymes in the small intestine and is instead fermented by microorganisms in the large intestine. Fiberest® Resistant Dextrin is already widely used as a food ingredient with various health benefits, including suppression of post-meal blood glucose elevation, improvement of blood triglyceride levels, intestinal regulation, and enhancement of bowel movements.

What is Cross-feeding?

Fiberest® Resistant Dextrin serves as nourishment for beneficial gut bacteria, promoting their growth. Our research on how Fiberest® Resistant Dextrin functions in the intestinal environment has revealed that specific microorganisms utilize Fiberest® Resistant Dextrin through cross-feeding mechanisms to influence the growth of other microorganisms. This confirms that cross-feeding is a key mechanism by which Fiberest® Resistant Dextrin regulates the gut environment.

Gut microbiota forms a complex ecosystem through interactions, including both competition and syntrophy. Among these interactions, cross-feeding refers to the metabolic process in which nutrients or byproducts produced by one microbial species are utilized by another. For example, microbes that use Fiberest® Resistant Dextrin produce amino acids, fatty acids, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) through fermentation, which other microbes then use as energy sources. This symbiotic relationship helps establish a balanced gut environment.

Figure 1. Microbial Interactions: Competition, Syntrophy, Cross-feeding
Reproduced from Seth and Taga (2014), Frontiers in Microbiology, 5:350.

Fiberest® Resistant Dextrin and Cross-feeding

Fiberest® Resistant Dextrin is a dietary fiber that reaches the colon undigested and serves as food for beneficial gut bacteria, promoting their growth. It is known that resident intestinal microbes of the genus Bacteroides mediate cross-feeding effects. Samyang's Fiberest® Resistant Dextrin has been shown to enhance the growth of these Bacteroides species. Furthermore, when Lactobacillus and A. muciniphila were co-cultured with Bacteroides species in an environment containing Fiberest® Resistant Dextrin, their growth increased compared to when cultured individually.

Figure 2. Comparison of Cell Growth in Single Culture versus Co-culture

The Effect of Cross-feeding on Gut Health

A balanced gut microbiome formed through cross-feeding is crucial for maintaining proper digestive health and immune system. When this balance is disrupted, harmful bacteria may overgrow and beneficial bacteria may decrease, potentially causing intestinal inflammation.

Fiberest® Resistant Dextrin maintains gut microbial balance through cross-feeding processes, resulting in increased production of short-chain fatty acids. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) help reduce intestinal inflammation and strengthen the intestinal barrier. Additionally, SCFAs lower the pH of the intestine, inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria. Therefore, Fiberest® Resistant Dextrin acts as an essential component in maintaining a healthy balance of gut microbiota and sustaining gut health through SCFA production.

Figure 3. Changes in Short-chain Fatty Acid (SCFA) Production After Fecal Fermentation

As awareness of the importance of gut microbiota increases, the demand for products containing prebiotics is expected to continue growing. Fiberest® Resistant Dextrin is a promising dietary fiber supplement for gut health, and with increasing interest in 'biotics' products, it will expand to a broader consumer base.

Fiberest® Resistant Dextrin plays a crucial role in promoting collaborative activities among gut microbiota. This enables cross-feeding effects, further enhancing gut health. The balance of gut microbiota is closely linked to overall health, including immunity, brain health, and psychological stability.

Our prebiotic 'Fiberest® Resistant Dextrin' will provide a powerful and effective solution for the complex interactions within the gut ecosystem and for overall health.

Source: Cheon, S. et al. (2023). FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 99(2), fiad002.