Prebiotic fibres shape the health of our microbiota and are essential for the promotion of many healthy digestive processes, including bowel movement regularity, stool bulk and transit time. However, the implications of fibre intake go far beyond the digestive tract. Increased fibre intake helps to improve satiety, promote healthy cholesterol levels and regulate blood sugar levels. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the Canadian population fall short on their dietary fibre intake, which means that supplementation may play a valuable role.
In contrast to the significant benefit of increased fibre intake, some supplemental fibres can be poorly tolerated and actually cause many digestive disturbances. For example, high doses of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) or psyllium fibre can cause bloating, distension, flatulence and abdominal cramping when they are fermented by gut microbiota. This leads many patients and practitioners to avoid their use altogether. However, there are better options as not all prebiotic fibres lead to digestive discomfort.
FibregumTM is an example of an extremely well-tolerated prebiotic fibre that causes minimal gas and bloating when supplemented even in large doses up to 30 grams per day. FibregumTM has been extensively studied and shown to increase the growth of various lactobacillus, bifidobacteria and the anti-inflammatory microbe Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. In addition, FibregumTM has been demonstrated to significantly increase short chain fatty acid production (SCFAs; including butyrate), positively influence pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine profiles in the colon, and to support proper intestinal permeability. Unlike FOS which is quickly fermented in the ascending colon, FibregumTM is slowly and progressively fermented throughout the ascending, transverse and descending colon, leading to greater clinical outcomes and greater tolerability.
Cyto-Fibre is an all natural, certified organic, GMO free and FODMAP-friendly source of prebiotic fibre to support the health of the digestive tract. Sourced from acacia gum, FibregumTM is unflavoured and dissolves easily. This means that Cyto-Fibre can be easily incorporated into your patient treatment protocols with high compliance, efficacy and tolerability.
