11th February 2019|Commercial Media, News

OptiBiotix sweet fibres show mircrobiome modulating effect and the potential for human health benefits

OptiBiotix Health Plc. (OptiBiotix), a leading life sciences business focused on harnessing the power of the human microbiome to improve human health has completed a human study on its natural sweet dietary fibres (SweetBiotix®) demonstrating high sweetness, reduced bitterness and off flavours when compared to natural sweeteners like Stevia, and a positive impact on the human microbiome. This creates the potential to replace unhealthy sugars with sweet fibres which are beneficial to human health.

Flavour profiles of these natural sweet dietary fibres were determined by an expert panel of trained flavourists using sucrose as reference. The products were then tested for their ability to modify microbiome composition and activity in healthy adults. The results showed significant increases in short-chain fatty acids (SCFA’s), the molecular messengers produced by bacteria when they ferment fibre and non-digestible carbohydrates. SCFA’s are important for gut health, immunity, and affect how energy is metabolised in the body, and are one of the main ways in which the gut microbiome contributes to better health.

Stephen O’Hara, OptiBiotix CEO, said: “This study demonstrates the potential of SweetBiotix prebiotic fibres to address public health concerns over the impact of sugar on obesity through the modulation of the microbiome. Whilst our previous studies have demonstrated that these fibres have high sweetness and no aftertaste, this is the first study to our knowledge of a high intensity sweetener demonstrating a positive effect on the microbiome.”

SweetBiotix are patented, natural, low calorie alternatives to sugar. Made from natural prebiotic fibres, SweetBiotix are calorie free with a clean flavour profile. Products under development include both intense prebiotic sweeteners and bulk sugar substitutes, suitable for wide range of sugar replacement applications in food and beverages.

The results of this study are being presented at Probiota 2019, a leading annual event for the global prebiotic, probiotic and the microbiome focused food and pharma industries. The abstracts and posters will also be available on https://optibiotix.com/publications/.