According to a study published in Food Hydrocolloids, changing the physical state of psyllium, a type of natural dietary fibre found in products like cereals and yoghurts, has been found to reduce gas formation and promote healthy gut bacteria. This finding could benefit people with intolerances to fibre and irritable bowel conditions, for whom fibre can be a trigger for discomfort.
The researchers from the University of Nottingham, Quadram Institute Biosciences, and the University of East Anglia conducted in vitro fermentation experiments seeded with human stool to show the impact of different fibre structures on gas production, microbial colonization and fermentation products.
They found that psyllium fibre has long-chain sugars, called polysaccharides, which lead to the production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids that positively contribute to gut health and systemic metabolism.
The researchers suggest that targeted structures using psyllium could be designed through seed processing or selective breeding to achieve new fibre materials with clear clinical benefits in treating gastrointestinal discomfort.