The significance of gut health as a key component of health and wellness for companion animals, notably dogs, continues to be increasingly recognized. The microbial constellation of the canine gut microbiome contributes in many ways to digestion, nutrient absorption, immune modulation, and the maintenance of an intact gut barrier. Well-composed microbiomes will aide in by stimulating the synthesis of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are needed for colonic health, energy metabolism, and immune modulation.
Carrot RG-I: A Promising Prebiotic for Canine Gut Health—In Vitro Insights
The significance of gut health as a key component of health and wellness for companion animals, notably dogs, continues to be increasingly recognized. The microbial constellation of the canine gut microbiome contributes in many ways to digestion, nutrient absorption, immune modulation, and the maintenance of an intact gut barrier. Well-composed microbiomes will aide in by stimulating the synthesis of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are needed for colonic health, energy metabolism, and immune modulation.
Recently, performance prebiotics have been developed to easily and selectively modify the gut microbiome to enhance appropriate gut function for dogs of varying breeds and sizes. NutriLeads’ Benicaros, a branded rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) ingredient produced from upcycled carrot pomace, is one such prebiotic. An in vitro study that is recently completed at dsm-firmenich studies demonstrated that Benicaros can consistently improve gut health in dogs from different populations. These results can be found in the journal, Microorganisms. [1]
Introduction to Benicaros and Canine Gut Health
Benicaros is a structured fiber extracted from carrot RG-I, a complex polysaccharide with prebiotic properties. RG-I provides a precision prebiotic effect, stimulating beneficial microbial populations selectively unlike simple fibers such as inulin, which provide limited selectivity. This selectivity in gut benefits is especially relevant in animal food product development because of the difficulty with consistently modulating microbiota across breed and size.
NutriLeads partnered with dsm-firmenich last year to understand the market potential of Benicaros in pet food development. The study ultimately evaluated the effects of Benicaros on gut microbiome and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production using in vitro intestinal models based on the canine digestive tract. [2]
Study Design and Methodology
The research examined fecal samples from 18 healthy dogs from small, medium, and large breeds, which were subjected to Benicaros and two additional prebiotic fibers:
- Inulin – a prebiotic fiber which is simple in structure, well-known low selectivity, and commonly used in pet food formulation.
- Xanthan – a prebiotic fiber with high selectivity, but limited fermentability.
This design gave researchers the ability to assess the resiliency and consistency of microbiota modulation across multiple donor dogs.
In Vitro Model Approach
The study used simulated intestinal fermentations systems to measure chair fecal microbial activity, SCFA production, and species-specific impacts on the gut microbiota. Each key SCFA, acetate, propionate, and butyrate, were then quantified to determine the potential health benefits of each prebiotic fiber. [3]
Key Findings
The findings indicate that Benicaros consistently outperformed inulin and xanthan with several key benefit effects:
- Increased SCFA Production
Benicaros substantially increased acetate and propionic levels, both of which are of utmost importance to colonic energy metabolism, and both are associated with immune function modulation. This occurred in dogs of all breed types, which suggests that Benicaros is, by nature, prebiotic.
- Targeted Microbial Stimulation
The RG-I fiber stimulated the more targeted growth of the bacterium species Phocaeicola vulgatus, which is associated with gut barrier integrity and SCFA production. These targeted microbial effects were absent with inulin (which caused a diverse mucobial response) or with xanthan (which had limited fermentation).
- Reduced Variability of the Microbiome
Perhaps the most obvious finding was the reduction of inter-individual differences of microbiomes harvested from different dogs. This may indicate that Benicaros can confer similar prebiotic benefits on dogs, a critical aspect for commercial canine nutrition product development. [4]
Comparative Effects of Prebiotics
The following table summarizes the observed effects of Benicaros, inulin, and xanthan on the canine gut microbiome and SCFA production:
Feature / Fiber | Benicaros (Carrot RG-I) | Inulin | Xanthan |
SCFA Production | High, consistent across breeds | Moderate, variable | Low, limited |
Key SCFAs Stimulated | Acetate, Propionate | Acetate | Minimal |
Selective Microbial Stimulation | Phocaeicola vulgatus | General microbial growth | Limited |
Microbiome Variability | Reduced, consistent effects | Variable between donors | Limited effect |
Fermentability | High | Moderate | Low |
Suitability for Precision Prebiotics | Excellent | Moderate | Limited |
Expert Opinions
“This reliable production of SCFAs and ability to balance gut microbiota composition imply health benefits for dogs of any size when Benicaros is supplemented,” says Sue McKay, PhD, Nutrition and Health Manager at NutriLeads.
“These results demonstrate its potential as a next-generation precise prebiotic to improve companion animal health.”
Jeff Alix, Global Head of Business Development, Palatability, and Microbiome at dsm-firmenich, highlighted the commercial and sustainable aspects of the study:
“We were impressed with the robust and consistent effects of Benicaros on the gut microbiota in a broadly targeted dog population. cRG-I could selectively enrich beneficial species and reduce variability associated with different sizes of dogs, which is quite promising. This study further emphasizes the relationship between precise prebiotics in next-generation pet meals product development and sustainability. Benicaros comes from carrot pomace which fits our goals together of revalorizing by-products or side streams of production into impactful fully proven science ingredients.”
“Benicaros will give the pet food formulation and innovation developers the confidence in formulation that their delivering consistency through science proven benefits,” says Joana Carneiro-Wakefield, PhD, CEO of NutriLeads. [5] [6]
Implications for Pet Nutrition
The results of the study suggest several practical benefits related to Benicaros in formulation of pet foods:
- Predictable Prebiotic Benefit
Benicaros provides predictable modulation of the gut microbiome across variable dog populations. Standard fibers, such as inulin, have less “certainty” and can likely vary in response by dog population.
- Gut Barrier Function and Immune Function
Benicaros may improve gut barrier function, and immune function, in dogs by selectively promoting the abundance of the bacteria P. vulgatus and promoting the building blocks of gut health, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
- Sustainability in Pet Food
The use of upcycled carrot pomace is consistent with the industry push towards sustainably sourced ingredients which contributes to reduction of food waste and promotes high-quality nutritional integrity to food.
- NextGen Pet Food
Benicaros is a platform for prebiotic precision to allow pet food formulators to formulate functional diets with specific intended gut health results. [7]
Conclusion
Benicaros, which is developed from carrot RG-I, exists as a precision prebiotic for canines that consistently improves beneficial gut bacterial populations and short-chain fatty acid production. Benicaros was created by NutriLeads and dsm-firmenich, and scientifically efficacious prebiotics that also upcycle carrot side streams. The research findings will pave the way for more research and commercialization efforts, allowing pet food developers including the Food Research Lab, to champion solutions for gut health and wellness globally for dogs with confidence, based on science.
Let’s create something Innovative and Delicious together
Food Research Lab strives for excellence in new Food, Beverage and Nutraceutical Product Research and Development by offering cutting edge scientific analysis and expertise.