Using the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME), scientists from Belgium and The Netherlands report that the carrot RG-1 (cRG-1) led to increases in the production of beneficial short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetate and propionate.
“High amounts of acetate and propionate were produced due to the involvement of a specialized consortium consisting of, amongst others, strains belonging to Bacteroides dorei, Prevotella sp., and Bifidobacterium longum,” reported the scientists in Microorganisms.
“Due to its structural complexity, cRG-I corresponds to a unique polysaccharide demonstrating prebiotic properties supported by a concomitant effect on the host microbiota and immune system.”
BeniCaros
The ingredients are being developed and commercialized by Netherlands-based NutriLeads. The privately held company was founded in 2012 and is and backed by investors including Icos Capital, Goeie Grutten, DSM Venturing, Oost NL, SHIFT Invest and Thuja Capital.
The company’s lead ingredient, BeniCaros, is extracted from carrot pomace, which itself is a side stream from carrot juice production. The ingredient officially launched in the US in October.
BeniCaros is the company’s first to be based on its proprietary RG-I platform, which focuses on developing plant-based rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) polysaccharides.
As reported earlier this year by NutraIngredients-USA, RG-I may modulate immunity measures and the microbiota in vitro. Additional data from a proof-of-concept trial in humans showed that RG-I from bell pepper (bpRG-I) was well tolerated and enhanced innate immune responsiveness.