The BIO-CAT R&D team has published a new preclinical study focused on inulinase-mediated FODMAP digestion in the scientific journal Frontiers in Nutrition.
The data supports the potential for inulinase enzyme supplementation across physiologically relevant gastric conditions, thus setting the stage for a clinical efficacy trial.
The company has initiated a clinical trial designed to determine the safety and tolerability of high-dose microbial inulinase supplementation. The upcoming clinical trial has received approval via Health Canada, and will be managed by Nutrasource.
BIO-CAT is committed to providing the highest quality enzymes to support the health and wellbeing of its customers. The publication of this preclinical study is a testament to BIO-CAT’s commitment to research and innovation.
Consumers are increasingly in pursuit of healthier diets, including plant-based diets, Mediterranean style diets and ones high in fibre. Along with these diet changes, though, can come digestive distress from specific dietary elements called FODMAPs (fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols).
FODMAPs can include lactose, found in dairy products; galactans, found in legumes; and fructans, found in certain fruits and vegetables.
There remains an opportunity for improving digestion of fructans found in vegetables like onions and garlic
Despite decades of clinical substantiation for prebiotic effects in healthy adults, fructans, such as inulins, are the recent topic of several high-impact publications demonstrating their potential inflammatory role in the mammalian gut. There may be an opportunity to address fructan-related digestive symptoms and gut inflammation with inulinase enzyme supplementation.
Essentially, inulinase breaks down fructans, or long chains of fructose sugars linked together by a bond that human gut enzymes cannot naturally hydrolyse. Rather, the human gut uses its innate microbes, which can release inulinases to metabolise fructans.
The R&D team at BIO-CAT, an industry leader in digestive health specialising in enzyme and probiotics, hypothesised that microbial inulinase supplementation can promote dietary fructan digestion in the stomach into fructose that can be absorbed by the upper intestine, rather than fermenting in the lower intestine, leading to digestive symptoms.
Sean Garvey, PhD, Director of Enzyme Research and Development at BIO-CAT, stated: "Currently, there are consumer products available on the market promoting the digestion of lactose and galactans, however there remains an opportunity for improving digestion of fructans found in vegetables like onions and garlic."
Dr Garvey's team conducted the in-house study of inulinase utilising their validated gastric digestion simulation, adapted from the INFOGEST model.
