Evidence of benefit of Promitor (Tate & Lyle) for Nutritional Health

Two new research studies provide evidence that certain higher-fibre diets can in fact be well-tolerated, and that fibre may play an important role in supporting a healthy gut as well as promoting calcium absorption. In a crossover study, 23 adolescents 12-15 years old were given controlled diets over two, three-week sessions separated by a one-week washout period. The diets were identical with the exception that the test diet included daily consumption of a product that had 12 grams of Promitor (soluble corn fibre), from Tate & Lyle. Researchers found that consuming the test diet with soluble corn fibre helped increase several strains of beneficial bacteria in the gut. In addition, researchers found that consumption of the fibre changed the gut environment which appeared to have enabled greater calcium absorption.

In a second randomized controlled crossover study of 20 healthy adults, subjects were given Promitor administered as a single bolus dose and in multiple doses spread throughout the day. Up to a 40g single dose of soluble corn fibre and a 65g daily total were well-tolerated among subjects�amounts exceeding the daily recommendations for fibre, and far exceeding average actual daily intake. Results were presented at the 14th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology. "This study in adolescents shows an increase in specific beneficial bacteria � namely, bifidiobacteria, parabacterioidetes, and alistipes," said Cindy H. Nakatsu, Professor of Agronomy at Purdue University. "This is important because these data begin to provide evidence for the mechanism by which soluble corn fibre helps increase the observed calcium absorption and, adolescents everywhere could benefit from more fibre and calcium in their diets."