NUTRIOSE^®: A Prebiotic Fiber Backed by Science

In recent years, the scientific understanding of gut health has evolved considerably. Researchers now recognize that the gut microbiota, the trillions of microorganisms living in our digestive tract, play a key role not only in digestive comfort but also in metabolic health, immune function, and the gut-brain axis. As a result, interest in prebiotics has grown rapidly.¹

According to the 2017 consensus from the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP), a prebiotic is defined as "a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit." This definition emphasizes two essential requirements: the ingredient must be selectively used by beneficial microorganisms in the gut, and this microbial utilization must be associated with a measurable health benefit.²

In 2024, the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) published a checklist to help assess whether a substance meets the scientific criteria for classification as a prebiotic.³

From Soluble Fiber to Proven Prebiotic

NUTRIOSE^® is a soluble fiber belonging to the resistant dextrin family. Derived from wheat or corn, it is characterized by a highly branched structure containing atypical glycosidic linkages that resist digestion in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Approximately 75% of NUTRIOSE^® reaches the colon intact, where it is slowly and prolongedly fermented by the gut microbiota, resulting in high digestive tolerance.⁴

Over nearly three decades of research, including more than 26 clinical and numerous preclinical studies, NUTRIOSE^® has accumulated substantial evidence supporting its prebiotic properties. This body of evidence extends beyond simple fermentation and demonstrates a relationship between microbiota modulation and health outcomes.

One of the key criteria of a prebiotic is selective utilization by specific microorganisms. Six different human clinical studies have shown that daily consumption of NUTRIOSE^® consistently modulates the gut microbiota, particularly increasing the abundance of bacteria belonging to the Bacteroides and Parabacteroides genera, with doses from 8 to 20 g/day.^5–9 More recently, advanced sequencing technologies identified Parabacteroides distasonis as one of the main bacterial responders to NUTRIOSE^® supplementation. ^6,7,10,11

This finding is particularly interesting because Parabacteroides species have attracted growing scientific attention for their association with metabolic health.¹² Experimental studies have reported beneficial effects of P. distasonis on glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, body weight regulation, and gut homeostasis.¹³  While the role of individual bacterial species in human health continues to be investigated, these observations support the relevance of the microbial changes induced by NUTRIOSE^®.

The impact of a prebiotic is not limited to changes in microbiota composition. What matters most is what the microbiota does with the substrate.

When NUTRIOSE^® is fermented in the colon, gut bacteria produce a range of metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are recognized as important mediators of host health. Ex vivo fermentation studies have shown that NUTRIOSE^® promotes robust SCFA production, particularly propionate, a metabolite involved in metabolic regulation and host-microbe communication.^6,10,14,15

These metabolites contribute to several physiological processes, including energy metabolism, gut barrier function, immune regulation, and gut-brain signaling. Emerging evidence also suggests that some of the metabolic benefits associated with NUTRIOSE^® may involve intestinal gluconeogenesis, a mechanism linking microbial fermentation in the colon with improved metabolic homeostasis.¹⁶

A defining feature of a true prebiotic is the demonstration of a health benefit in parallel with microbiota modulation.

Clinical studies investigating NUTRIOSE^® have reported improvements in several health-related endpoints. Research has shown beneficial effects on postprandial glycemic response, insulin sensitivity^17–21, satiety, and energy intake^17,21–24. In one clinical study, microbiota changes, including increases in Parabacteroides⁹, were observed alongside improvements in blood glucose regulation and satiety markers¹⁷, providing a direct illustration of the prebiotic concept in action.

Taken together, these findings support the classification of NUTRIOSE^® as a prebiotic according to current scientific consensus.

The growing body of evidence supporting NUTRIOSE^® has been recognized and shared within the international scientific community. At the annual meeting of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP), Roquette presented a scientific poster illustrating how NUTRIOSE^®, a resistant dextrin, fulfills the current scientific ISAPP definition of a prebiotic. Roquette also contributed to scientific discussions through an expert presentation on emerging prebiotic mechanisms of action, including the potential contribution of intestinal gluconeogenesis to microbiota-mediated health benefits. This scientific engagement is further reflected by the appointment of Dr. Clémentine Thabuis as the industrial representative on the ISAPP Industry Advisory Committee Representatives, underscoring Roquette's leadership and long-term commitment to advancing prebiotic and microbiome research.

^References:

^{(1)          Gibson, G. R.; Roberfroid, M. B. Dietary Modulation of the Human Colonic Microbiota: Introducing the Concept of Prebiotics. J. Nutr. 1995, 125 (6), 1401–1412. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/125.6.1401}

^{(2)          Gibson, G. R.; Hutkins, R.; Sanders, M. E.; Prescott, S. L.; Reimer, R. A.; Salminen, S. J.; Scott, K.; Stanton, C.; Swanson, K. S.; Cani, P. D.; Verbeke, K.; Reid, G. Expert Consensus Document: The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) Consensus Statement on the Definition and Scope of Prebiotics. Nat. Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2017, 14 (8), 491–502. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2017.75}

^{(3)          Hutkins, R.; Walter, J.; Gibson, G. R.; Bedu-Ferrari, C.; Scott, K.; Tancredi, D. J.; Wijeyesekera, A.; Sanders, M. E. Classifying Compounds as Prebiotics - Scientific Perspectives and Recommendations. Nat. Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2025, 22 (1), 54–70. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-024-00981-6}

^{(4)          Pasman, W.; Wils, D.; Saniez, M.-H.; Kardinaal, A. Long-Term Gastrointestinal Tolerance of NUTRIOSE FB in Healthy Men. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 2006, 60 (8), 1024–1034. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602418}

^{(5)          Lefranc-Millot, C.; Guérin-Deremaux, L.; Wils, D.; Neut, C.; Miller, L.; Saniez-Degrave, M. Impact of a Resistant Dextrin on Intestinal Ecology: How Altering the Digestive Ecosystem with NUTRIOSE®, a Soluble Fibre with Prebiotic Properties, May Be Beneficial for Health. J. Int. Med. Res. 2012, 40 (1), 211–224. https://doi.org/10.1177/147323001204000122}

^{(6)          Barber, C.; Sabater, C.; Ávila-Gálvez, M. Á.; Vallejo, F.; Bendezu, R. A.; Guérin-Deremaux, L.; Guarner, F.; Espín, J. C.; Margolles, A.; Azpiroz, F. Effect of Resistant Dextrin on Intestinal Gas Homeostasis and Microbiota. Nutrients 2022, 14 (21), 4611. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14214611}

^{(7)          Thirion, F.; Da Silva, K.; Plaza Oñate, F.; Alvarez, A.-S.; Thabuis, C.; Pons, N.; Berland, M.; Le Chatelier, E.; Galleron, N.; Levenez, F.; Vergara, C.; Chevallier, H.; Guérin-Deremaux, L.; Doré, J.; Ehrlich, S. D. Diet Supplementation with NUTRIOSE, a Resistant Dextrin, Increases the Abundance of Parabacteroides Distasonis in the Human Gut. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 2022, 66 (11), 2101091. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.202101091}

^{(8)          Perreau, C.; Tomassi, D.; Capronnier, O.; Carton, T.; Thabuis, C.; Guérin-Deremaux, L. Resistant Dextrin Promotes Beneficial Fecal Bacteria in High and Low Fiber Diet Populations: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Controlled Pilot Study. Front. Nutr. 2026, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2026.1810842}

^{(9)          Guérin-Deremaux L; HOBDEN MR; ZHANG C; NEUT C; THABUIS C; VAZHAPPILLY R; GIBSON GR; KENNEDY OB. NUTRIOSE® Soluble Fiber Selectively Modulates Gut Microbiota Composition in Healthy Volunteers., 2019.}

^{(10)        Van den Abbeele, P.; Deyaert, S.; Thabuis, C.; Perreau, C.; Bajic, D.; Wintergerst, E.; Joossens, M.; Firrman, J.; Walsh, D.; Baudot, A. Bridging Preclinical and Clinical Gut Microbiota Research Using the Ex Vivo SIFR® Technology. Front. Microbiol. 2023, 14, 1131662. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1131662}

^{(11)        Perreau, C.; Thabuis, C.; Verstrepen, L.; Ghyselinck, J.; Marzorati, M. Ex Vivo Colonic Fermentation of NUTRIOSE® Exerts Immuno-Modulatory Properties and Strong Anti-Inflammatory Effects. Nutrients 2023, 15 (19), 4229. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15194229}

^{(12)        Wu, H.; Chen, X.; Zhang, S.; Li, J. Gut Microbiota, the Potential Biological Medicine for Prevention, Intervention and Drug Sensitization to Fight Diseases. Nutrients 2022, 14 (20), 4220. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14204220}

^{(13)        Liu, J.; Qiu, H.; Zhao, J.; Shao, N.; Chen, C.; He, Z.; Zhao, X.; Zhao, J.; Zhou, Y.; Xu, L. Parabacteroides as a Promising Target for Disease Intervention: Current Stage and Pending Issues. Npj Biofilms Microbiomes 2025, 11 (1), 137. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-025-00772-0}

^{(14)        Perreau, C.; Thabuis, C.; Verstrepen, L.; Ghyselinck, J.; Marzorati, M. Ex Vivo Colonic Fermentation of NUTRIOSE® Exerts Immuno-Modulatory Properties and Strong Anti-Inflammatory Effects. Nutrients 2023, 15 (19), 4229. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15194229}

^{(15)        Hobden, M. R.; Martin-Morales, A.; Guérin-Deremaux, L.; Wils, D.; Costabile, A.; Walton, G. E.; Rowland, I.; Kennedy, O. B.; Gibson, G. R. In Vitro Fermentation of NUTRIOSE® FB06, a Wheat Dextrin Soluble Fibre, in a Continuous Culture Human Colonic Model System. PLOS ONE 2013, 8 (10), e77128. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0077128}

^{(16)        Vily-Petit, J.; Soty, M.; Silva, M.; Micoud, M.; Bron, C.; Guérin-Deremaux, L.; Mithieux, G. Improvement of Energy Metabolism Associated with NUTRIOSE® Soluble Fiber, a Dietary Ingredient Exhibiting Prebiotic Properties, Requires Intestinal Gluconeogenesis. Food Res. Int. 2023, 167, 112723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2023.112723}

^{(17)        Hobden, M. R.; Commane, D. M.; Guérin-Deremaux, L.; Wils, D.; Thabuis, C.; Martin-Morales, A.; Wolfram, S.; Dìaz, A.; Collins, S.; Morais, I.; Rowland, I. R.; Gibson, G. R.; Kennedy, O. B. Impact of Dietary Supplementation with Resistant Dextrin (NUTRIOSE®) on Satiety, Glycaemia, and Related Endpoints, in Healthy Adults. Eur. J. Nutr. 2021, 60 (8), 4635–4643. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-021-02618-9}

^{(18)        Aliasgharzadeh, A.; Dehghan, P.; Gargari, B. P.; Asghari-Jafarabadi, M. Resistant Dextrin, as a Prebiotic, Improves Insulin Resistance and Inflammation in Women with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial. Br. J. Nutr. 2015, 113 (2), 321–330. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114514003675}

^{(19)        Lefranc-Millot, C. NUTRIOSE ® 06: A Useful Soluble Dietary Fibre for Added Nutritional Value. Nutr. Bull. 2008, 33 (3), 234–239. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-3010.2008.00711.x}

^{(20)        Li, S.; Guérin-Deremaux, L.; Pochat, M.; Wils, D.; Reifer, C.; Miller, L. E. NUTRIOSE Dietary Fiber Supplementation Improves Insulin Resistance and Determinants of Metabolic Syndrome in Overweight Men: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 2010, 35 (6), 773–782. https://doi.org/10.1139/H10-074}

^{(21)        Ang, J.; See, E.; Perreau, C.; Thabuis, C.; Guérin, L.; Henry, C. J.; Bi, X. NUTRIOSE® Soluble Fibre Supplementation as an Effective Dietary Strategy to Improve Glycaemic Response. Eur. J. Nutr. 2025.}

^{(22)        Guérin-Deremaux, L.; Li, S.; Pochat, M.; Wils, D.; Mubasher, M.; Reifer, C.; Miller, L. E. Effects of NUTRIOSE ® Dietary Fiber Supplementation on Body Weight, Body Composition, Energy Intake, and Hunger in Overweight Men. Int. J. Food Sci. Nutr. 2011, 62 (6), 628–635. https://doi.org/10.3109/09637486.2011.569492}

^{(23)        Guérin-Deremaux, L.; Pochat, M.; Reifer, C.; Wils, D.; Cho, S.; Miller, L. E. Dose-Response Impact of a Soluble Fiber, NUTRIOSE®, on Energy Intake, Body Weight and Body Fat in Humans. Glob. Epidemic Obes. 2013, 1 (1), 2. https://doi.org/10.7243/2052-5966-1-2}

^{(24)        Guérin-Deremaux, L.; Pochat, M.; Reifer, C.; Wils, D.; Cho, S.; Miller, L. E. The Soluble Fiber NUTRIOSE Induces a Dose-Dependent Beneficial Impact on Satiety over Time in Humans. Nutr. Res. 2011, 31 (9), 665–672. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2011.09.004}