Prebiotic Benefits from Polysaccharides

GENT, BelgiumTwo plant polysaccharide supplements (Ambrotose® complex and Advanced Ambrotose, from Mannatech) demonstrated several prebiotic actions in a human intestinal microbial model, according to research results published in the May 15 issue of the International Journal of Food Microbiology (2010; 139(3):168-176). The supplements, which combine arabinogalactans and aloe polysaccharides, exhibited good selective fermentability throughout the entire colon, positive and selective bifidogenic effects and also demonstrated the possibility of enhancing species belonging to bacteroidetes (a phylum recently associated with body weight management), according to the researchersscientists from Ghent University, probiotic research firm ProGest and Mannatech.

The study was designed to investigate the effects of powder on the structure, composition and metabolism of the human GI tract using state-of-the-art human GI tract simulations and sophisticated microbiological analyses. Researchers reported the microbial analyses showed both a bifidogenic and a lactobacillogenic effect during treatment with the dietary supplements. They also found a statistically significant increase of bifidobacteria in all of the colon compartments and a substantial increase of the bacteroidesprevotella group concentration in the simulated proximal colon.

The work done by Dr. [Massimo] Marzorati and his team suggests that Ambrotose products support GI health throughout the entire colon; most prebiotics are thought to only exert such effects in the first portion of the colon, said Robert A. Sinnott, Ph.D., CEO and chief scientific officer of Mannatech, who was involved in the research.