Oat β-Glucan–Based Prebiotic Combinations Promote Gut Health

With growing health awareness, increasing attention is being paid to gut health. According to the China Gut Health Report 2020, approximately 87.6% of the Chinese population experienced gut health issues in 2020. Prebiotics play a critical role in maintaining and improving intestinal health. Combinations of oat β-glucan with prebiotics can provide more comprehensive health benefits for the human body ^[1].

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Oat β-Glucan–Based Prebiotic Combinations Improve Gut Health

A research team from Southeast University, in collaboration with Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology and the Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, published findings on the health benefits of oat β-glucan–based prebiotic combinations in the Journal of Nutrition.

The study showed that prebiotic formulations based on oat β-glucan promote the growth of beneficial gut microbiota. Human intervention trials further demonstrated that, compared with conventional dietary fiber, two oat β-glucan–based prebiotic combinations significantly improved bowel movements and alleviated gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating and indigestion (P < 0.05) ^[2].

Research Findings and Experimental Results

The research team conducted both in vitro fermentation studies and human trials using oat β-glucan–based prebiotic combinations.

Results from the in vitro fermentation analysis showed that the oat β-glucan prebiotic combinations significantly increased the abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (P < 0.05, Figure 1). After fermentation, the formulations promoted the growth of Faecalibacterium, Holdemanella, Blautia, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Akkermansia, with statistically significant differences observed (P < 0.05).

Figure 1. Changes in Faecalibacterium prausnitzii Following 24 h and 48 h of Fermentation under Different Formulations

Source: Adapted from Li et al., Journal of Nutrition, 2024, 46(3): 228–234

Results from the human intervention study indicated that after 28 days of intervention with oat β-glucan–based prebiotic combinations, the abundance of beneficial gut microbiota increased significantly, bowel habits improved, and the incidences of bloating, dyspepsia, and intestinal hypomotility were reduced.

After 2 weeks of intervention with Formulation 1, participants showed a significant reduction in scores for bloating, dyspepsia, and intestinal hypomotility (P < 0.05, Figure 2).

Figure 2. Digestive Health Scores of the Study Population

Source: Adapted from Li et al., Journal of Nutrition, 2024, 46(3): 228–234

Application Prospects

When scientifically formulated, oat β-glucan–based prebiotic combinations effectively promote the growth of beneficial gut microbiota and help improve bowel movements, while alleviating gut health–related issues such as bloating and dyspepsia ^[3]. These findings provide a scientific basis for rational prebiotic intake by consumers and offer new directions for food manufacturers in the development of gut health–oriented products.

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