Carrot RG-I Ingredient Has Prebiotic Effects for Dogs: In Vitro Study

NutriLeads’ Benicaros, a branded rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) ingredient sourced from upcycled carrots, was found to have potential prebiotic effects in dogs, according to a new in vitro study the company conducted in collaboration with dsm-firmenich. The two suppliers partnered last year to begin exploring the ingredient’s potential in the pet health market. The findings were published in Microorganisms.

According to the study, which relied on in vitro intestinal models of a variety of dog breeds, the ingredient was able to increase levels of beneficial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and selectively stimulated Phocaeicola vulgatus, a species which is important for SCFA production in the canine gut. The effects were consistent across in vitro models from a diverse population of donor dogs, regardless of size, breed, or microbiota composition.

“This consistent production of SCFAs and the ability to balance the gut microbiota composition suggests potential health benefits with Benicaros supplementation in dogs of all sizes,” said Sue McKay, PhD, nutrition and health manager at NutriLeads. “These findings highlight Benicaros’ value as a next-generation precision prebiotic for companion animal health.”

Study Details

The study relied on fecal samples from 18 healthy dogs, including small, medium, and large breeds. Each sample was treated with Benicaros and compared to treatment with inulin, a common prebiotic fiber with a simple structure and low selectivity, and xanthan, a high-selectivity fiber.

Benicaros stood out for its ability to consistently stimulate microbial activity and SCFA production, particularly acetate and propionate, across all breeds. Additionally, it selectively and consistently increased P. vulgatus levels, which is associated with gut barrier integrity and immune function in dogs. These consistent effects reduced inter-individual differences between the microbiome samples across all dogs.

In contrast, inulin showed more variable responses across donors, while xanthan had limited fermentability and fewer measurable effects.

“As a partner in this research, we were impressed by the robust and consistent effects of Benicaros on the canine gut microbiota of a broad target population,” said Jeff Alix, global head of business development, palatability, and microbiome at dsm-firmenich. “The ability of cRG-I to selectively enrich beneficial species while reducing variability across different dog sizes is promising. These findings not only reinforce the importance of precision prebiotics in dsm-firmenich’s ambition to develop next-generation pet nutrition solutions but also exemplify our commitment to sustainability. Benicaros is upcycled from carrot pomace, a valuable side stream of vegetable processing, which directly supports our strategic objective of revalorizing production side streams into high-impact, science-backed ingredients. Through this approach, we advance both pet health and environmental stewardship.”

“Benicaros will allow pet nutrition developers to formulate with confidence, knowing they’re delivering consistent, science-backed benefits,” said Joana Carneiro-Wakefield, PhD, CEO of NutriLeads.