Beneo’s Orafti Inulin Chicory root fiber increases healthy bifidobacteria regardless of application, study finds

22 Sep 2023 --- Chicory root fiber can promote the growth of bifidobacteria in the human gut, irrespective of food application or matrix. This is according to a new study by the department of food and nutritional sciences at the University of Reading, UK and the German Beneo-Institute.

Speaking to Nutrition Insight, Anke Sentko, vice president of regulatory affairs and nutrition communication at Beneo, comments, “The study will give our customers confidence and trust when using Beneo’s chicory root fiber because food manufacturers as well as consumers can rely on the prebiotic effect of the final product.”

“This is an important aspect to allow for credible and reliable claims on pack. Hence, we are glad to have this study at hand to provide confidence to food developers and consumers – a factor that may be lacking for other ingredients,” she elaborates.

Benefits of bifidobacteria
The bifidobacteria facilitate a healthy gut environment that does not represent a favorable living environment for potentially dangerous pathogen bacteria, thus catalyzing overall well-being beyond digestive health. 

“Consumers are showing a high interest in improving digestive health and they know that prebiotics contribute to a healthy gut, which in turn supports their overall well-being,” says Sentko.

For this reason, the chicory root fiber, a natural source of bifidobacteria for the gut, have been shown to promote holistic well-being, positively impacting bowel functions, the immune system, optimal weight and blood sugar management.

“It has now been scientifically proven that the intended Bifidobacteria growth is independent from the food matrix that is used. These findings add to the large body of studies about the beneficial effects of chicory root fiber that already exist and are based on more than 25 years of scientific research on the proven prebiotics inulin and oligofructose,” states Sentko.

“Using Beneo’s chicory root fiber means you are serious about offering prebiotic effect because inulin and oligofructose are the only proven plant-based prebiotics that allow manufacturers to convey a credible message to consumers, no matter which product they are used in,” she further adds.

Scientific findings
The study involved 96 participants divided into four groups. Each group consumed 10 g of chicory root fiber (Beneo’s Orafti Inulin) daily, with 5 g in the morning and 5 g in the evening, using different food matrices that represent common elements in the average person’s diet.

Beneo explains that the effectiveness of many ingredients and nutrients depends on the food matrix in which they are found. These variations in effectiveness impact supplement and food product producers because they cannot credibly claim that an ingredient or nutrient provides associated benefits if it’s not delivered in the appropriate food matrix.

In contrast, the new findings suggest that supplements and food products containing chicory root fiber will provide the gut-health benefits of the ingredient regardless of other factors.

The efficacy revealed in the study has further been shown as a key purchasing factor, with 76% of 10,000 consumers in 10 countries considering it as such, according to Beneo-commissioned research.

Proven efficacy
During the study, one group of 24 participants ingested pure inulin, while the other three groups received inulin-enriched foods, each receiving shortbread, milk chocolate or a rice drink.

Stool samples were taken from all participants at the start and conclusion of the ten-day research process.

The findings stand out because several studies have previously shown that the efficacy of inulin-type fructants, comparable to chicory root fiber, do in fact, depend on food application and matrices.

At the end of the intervention period, the bacterial enumeration taken from all participants representative of all groups revealed a 94% average increase in bifidobacteria, compared with the baseline.

The research is the first to investigate the effect of chicory root fiber in different applications within a single study design, making a direct comparison possible.

Beneo points out that the study’s conclusion is, in particular, great news for product developers interested in taking advantage of the functional benefits of Beneo’s chicory root fiber.

Edited by Milana Nikolova