Gut-Brain axis: Study links Beneo’s prebiotic dietary fiber to mood improvement

31 Oct 2023 --- International researchers determined that intake of the prebiotic dietary fiber oligofructose and a combination of the fiber with the human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) 2’fucosyllactose may improve mood in healthy adults with mild to moderate feelings of anxiety and depression. The consumption of the prebiotic fiber — Beneo’s Orafti produced from chicory root — promoted an increase in Bifidobacteria in the gut. 

“The study shows ‘the gut-brain axis at work,’ and its results are great news for companies such as Beneo, providing scientifically proven prebiotics that have been shown to deliver effective results to meet the growing market need for dietary-based mood improvement,” Dr. Stephan Theis, co-author of the study and head of nutrition science at Beneo, tells Nutrition Insight. 

“This study, and other research from around the world, is increasingly demonstrating Bifidobacteria’s positive influence on the gut environment and beyond: the whole body can be reached, and positive impacts are being seen on the immune system, systemic inflammation processes and the nervous system.”  

He underscores that the study indicates people’s quality of life can be easily improved. “Simply by enriching a person’s daily diet with 8 to 10 g of prebiotics (oligofructose or a combination of oligofructose with the HMO 2’ fucosyllactose), their mood is improved. This makes health support via food choices or supplementation straightforward, even for those with busy schedules.”  

Study outcomes 
Theis explains that the study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, was a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial carried out over five weeks, consisting of a one-week run-in and four-week intervention.  

The study indicates that enriching a person’s daily diet with 8 to 10 g of prebiotics, with or without HMO, improves their mood.The study’s 92 healthy participants had mild to moderate levels of anxiety and depression. They were split into four groups, with the first group consuming 8 g of oligofructose plus 2 g of maltodextrin daily. The second group took 8 g of oligofructose plus 2 g of 2’fucosyllactose daily, while group three consumed 2 g of 2’fucosyllactose plus 8 g of maltodextrin per day. The control group took 10 g of maltodextrin daily.

At the end of the intervention period, participants who consumed the prebiotic oligofructose, with or without the HMO, experienced a significant increase in beneficial gut bacteria compared to the control group, including Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Roseburia and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. 

This group also outperformed the control group in improving several mood state parameters. 

“The participants represent the working population and the stress they experience, which influences their overall well-being,” highlights Theis. “Therefore, improving the stress-induced mood state in this population is a great thing to achieve.”

Gut-brain axis research 
Research continues to build a better understanding of the gut-brain axis — the bidirectional communication system between the two areas. 

According to Beneo, two out of three consumers globally see the role their gut has on their mood, as their digestive health affects their mental well-being and stress levels. 

The company further details that a diet approach that positively influences microbiota using gut-friendly food can help decrease public health costs and support healthy living. Theis adds that the latest study confirms Beneo’s science-based approach to connect nutrition and health.

“Beneo has invested in prebiotic research for more than 25 years now, and over that time, more and more has been learned about the gut-brain axis,” he continues. 

“For many years, it has been understood that the gut is the basis of our immune system. However, as research has progressed, more has been learned about the gut’s nervous system and its role as our second brain. This expanding knowledge has huge potential for the support of health and for addressing some diseases using dietary therapy.” 

Beneo’s oligofructose is a prebiotic fiber developed from chicory root, which can support gut microbiota (Image credit: Beneo).Prebiotic chicory root 
An earlier study published by the same research team concluded that the positive effect of chicory root fiber on Bifidobacteria in the gut is irrespective of food application or matrix. 

Theis notes that most research on prebiotics is based on chicory root fibers. 

“Chicory root fibers are proven prebiotics. They comply with the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics’ (ISAPP) definition and are derived from the plant by a gentle hot water extraction method. The fibers promote the selective increase of beneficial gut bacteria, particularly Bifidobacteria, which are important from infancy onwards.”  

While fortifying foods with prebiotic fibers is increasing globally and helps consumers increase their fiber intake, manufacturers face formulation challenges regarding which ingredients to use. 

By Jolanda van Hal