Chicory Prebiotics May Have Synergistic Effects with HMOs in Toddlers’ Gut Health: Preclinical Study

Prebiotic fibers, specifically chicory-derived inulin-type fructans, may provide further support to human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in supporting a balanced gut microbiome in toddlers, a new preclinical study found. The abstract of the study by Pudenz et al. was recently published online after being presented at the 57th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.  

The study was among the first supported by Beneo to evaluate the effects of combining chicory-derived prebiotics with HMO 2′-FL, and provides early evidence that prebiotic blends can be used in infant formulas to support early-life gut health.

The study was conducted with academic partner ETH Zurich. Stool samples from toddlers were processed using the PolyFermS long-term continuous fermentation model. This technology can preserve the individual microbial community and biodiversity of each donor. It also mimics the dynamics of the large intestine, allowing donor-specific and reproducible insights into gut fermentation.

The findings showed that a combination of 2′-FL and inulin-type fructans induced changes in the gut microbiota related to both composition and metabolism, while 2′-FL alone had less prominent effects. There were also additive or synergistic effects observed, such as the production of butyrate, which was then correlated with an increase in beneficial bacteria like Faecalibacterium and other members of the Lachnospiraceae family.

The combination formula also promoted the growth of Bifidobacteria; the specific type of Bifidobacteria that grew in each model varied by donor.

Based on these findings, the authors of the study concluded that the combination of 2′-FL and chicory root prebiotics was more effective than either ingredient alone in supporting the development of a healthy gut microbiome in toddlers.

“These new insights underline the power of combining prebiotics from chicory root with the human milk oligosaccharide, 2′-FL, to more closely replicate the natural gut-supporting effects of breastmilk, a promising direction for smart solutions in toddler nutrition,” said Stephan Theis, head of nutrition science and communication at Beneo.