The research, funded by NutriLeads and performed by ProDigest, concluded cRG-I supplementation significantly increased levels of beneficial short-chain fatty acids and selectively stimulated Phocaeicola vulgatus—a keystone SCFA-producing species found in the canine gut.
Published in Microorganisms, the report noted the beneficial effects across a diverse population of dogs, regardless of size, breed, or baseline microbiota composition.
“This consistent production of SCFAs and the ability to balance the gut microbiota composition, suggests potential health benefits with Benicaros supplementation in dogs of all sizes,” said Sue McKay, Ph.D., hutrition and health manager at NutriLeads. “These findings highlight Benicaros’ value as a next-generation precision prebiotic for companion animal health.”
Microbiome sequencing was funded by dsm-firmenich.
“As a partner in this research, we were impressed by the robust and consistent effects of Benicaros on the canine gut microbiota of a broad target population,” said Jeff Alix, global head of business development, palatability & microbiome at dsm-firmenich. “The ability of cRG-I to selectively enrich beneficial species while reducing variability across different dog sizes is promising. These findings not only reinforce the importance of precision prebiotics in dsm-firmenich’s ambition to develop next-generation pet nutrition solutions but also exemplify our commitment to sustainability.”
Consistent benefits across breeds
Previous studies in dogs have demonstrated that supplementation with a range of prebiotics, including mannooligosaccharides (MOSs), galactooligosaccharide (GOSs), β-glucans, and prebiotic blends (FOS + MOS + GOS + β-glucan; β-glucan + MOS), did not result in significant differences in fecal SCFA production.
However, one study investigating the effects of daily GOS supplementation in healthy dogs reported a significant increase in fecal acetate and propionate concentrations compared with baseline levels.
Carrot RG-I (cRG-I) is a complex and polydisperse pectin-derived polysaccharide fiber obtained by the enzymatic treatment of carrot pomace. The structure of cRG-I is composed of four main monosaccharides, arabinose, rhamnose, galactose, and galacturonic acid, and over 17 distinct saccharide linkages.
Using in vitro models of the human intestinal tract, cRG-I has demonstrated prebiotic properties at a very low dose, with an increase in SCFA production over time, the stimulation of health-associated bacterial species, and improvement in the gut epithelial barrier integrity.
“After observing consistent effects across multiple enterotypes in humans, we were interested in investigating the effects of low-dose cRG-I on the gut microbiome of dogs and learning how the results in dogs of different sizes would compare,” the current study stated. “Specifically, we wanted to evaluate whether low-dose cRG-I modulates the composition and metabolic function of the dog gut microbiome and how the fermentation of cRG-I compares to that of inulin at the same low dose. We also wanted to understand whether the effect of low-dose cRG-I was also consistent across dog sizes and whether there is a responder/non-responder effect of xanthan in dogs, as observed in humans.”
In vitro study
The in vitro study evaluated changes in gut microbiota composition and metabolic activity from 18 healthy dogs representing multiple breeds with small (5–10 kg), medium (10–27 kg), and large (27–45 kg) size categories.
Each fecal sample was treated with Benicaros and compared to treatment with inulin (a commonly used prebiotic with a simple molecular structure and low selectivity) or xanthan (a high-selectivity fiber).
Resulting data indicated Benicaros consistently stimulated microbial activity and SCFA production—particularly acetate and propionate—across dog breeds.
The supplement appeared to selectively and consistently increase levels of P. vulgatus, a keystone gut microbe, associated with benefits related to gut barrier integrity and immune function in all dog sizes, mirroring earlier findings in humans.
In contrast, inulin showed more variable responses across donors, while xanthan had limited fermentability and fewer measurable effects.
The authors suggested the separation in metabolite production between supplements and control, was likely due to the increasing fiber selectivity and structural complexity, as described in previous research.
“The study demonstrated that overall, dog size was the greatest predictor of functional response. In particular, the small dog population had a distinct microbial community composition compared with the medium-sized and large dog populations. For example, smaller dogs had a lower abundance of Collinsella intestinalis than larger dogs," the study concluded.
Source: Microorganisms
https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13081825
“Effects of cRG-I Prebiotic Treatment on Gut Microbiota Composition and Metabolic Activity in Dogs In Vitro”
Authors: McKay, S.; Churchill, H.; Hayward, M.R.; Klein, B.A.; Van Meulebroek, L.; Ghyselinck, J.; Marzorati, M.
