A new study has found that taking a prebiotic supplement may help people with metabolic syndrome by lowering inflammation and improving mental well-being.
Metabolic syndrome refers to a group of health problems that include obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes.
People with this syndrome often experience higher levels of inflammation, which may contribute to stress, anxiety, and depression.
The research was a collaboration between the University of Reading, Myota, KU Leuven, and the University of Geneva. It involved 60 participants who were divided into two groups.
One group consumed 10 grams of a prebiotic fiber blend every day for 12 weeks, in addition to receiving healthy eating advice. The other group received only healthy eating advice for the same period, without the supplement.
After 12 weeks, the group taking the prebiotic blend showed noticeable reductions in C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation.
Along with lower CRP levels, participants also reported improvements in their mental health. In contrast, the group that only received healthy eating advice did not experience these benefits.
The prebiotic supplement used in the study consisted of a combination of fibers: fructooligosaccharides, inulin, resistant dextrin, resistant maltodextrin, partially hydrolyzed guar gum, and guar gum. Myota, a company specializing in prebiotic supplements, provided and funded the study.
Dr. Piril Hepsomali, a researcher in psychology at the University of Reading, explained the findings: “People with metabolic syndrome often have high levels of inflammation, which can negatively affect their mental health. We know that certain gut bacteria produce short chain fatty acids that help regulate inflammation.
The prebiotic blend increased beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium and Parabacteroides, which are known to break down fiber and produce these fatty acids. This increase in good bacteria and the reduction in inflammation likely contributed to the improved mood of our participants.”
The study highlights the growing understanding of the connection between gut health and mental well-being.
Although the study had a relatively small sample size—40 participants in the treatment group and 20 in the control group—the results point to the potential for dietary supplements to improve mental health by reducing inflammation in people with metabolic syndrome.
Dr. Caitlin Hall, Head of Research for Myota, shared her enthusiasm about the findings, saying, “These positive results encourage us to explore more creative ways to include prebiotics in everyday foods, making them more accessible as part of a daily diet.”
This research underscores the importance of the gut microbiome’s role in managing inflammation and suggests that targeting gut health with prebiotics could offer a new way to boost both physical and mental health in people dealing with metabolic syndrome.
Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and expand our understanding of how dietary changes can positively impact well-being.
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For more health information, please see recent studies about new way to halt excessive inflammation, and results showing foods that could cause inflammation.
The research findings can be found in the British Journal of Nutrition.
