Chicory—the coffee of our grandmothers that feeds good bacteria?

Aim of the study: Background: Pectic rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) is a dietary fiber that modulates the gut-immune axis. This study evaluates a novel variant of RG-I from chicory root (chRG-I).

Results: Systemically, chRG-I increased HLA-DR expression on myeloid dendritic cells. Clinically, chRG-I was well tolerated and slightly improved stool consistency compared with placebo. In an intestinal barrier challenge model, chRG-I fermentates (a pool of metabolites including SCFAs and fragments of chRG-I) protected barrier integrity and shifted the cytokine profile away from a predominantly pro-inflammatory response, as shown by increased IL4 and IL22 and reduced IL9, IL17A, and IL21. Conclusion: Supplementation with a low dose of chRG-I is well tolerated, beneficially modulates the gut microbiome—which can protect the intestinal barrier—and subtly enhances systemic immune readiness. This suggests that chRG-I may be beneficial as a functional food ingredient.

Aim of the study: Functional constipation is a common disorder of the gut-brain interaction, characterized by infrequent bowel movements and hard stools, which substantially affects patients' quality of life. Supplementation with prebiotics targeting the gut microbiome is a promising non-pharmacological alternative to current treatments.

Results: After inulin intake, we observed greater changes in stool frequency, abdominal symptoms, and especially social and emotional well-being related to quality of life, compared with placebo. In addition, the relative abundance of putative butyrate-producing Anaerostipes spp. and Coprococcus 1 spp. was higher. Further investigation, however, pointed to a carry-over effect: half of the participants who received inulin in the first period had the greatest improvements in all outcomes while taking inulin. Moreover, these same participants had higher baseline relative abundances of butyrate-producing Faecalibacterium spp. and Roseburia spp., and lower baseline relative abundances of Bifidobacterium spp. Their microbiota, in turn, responded more strongly to inulin intake, with a greater increase in the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium spp. and Anaerostipes spp.

Aim of the study: Aim: The cell matrix of plant foods has received little attention in prebiotic fiber research. We aimed to understand how the plant cell matrix in dried chicory root affects its breakdown in the human gut, to explain its reported beneficial effects on gut and metabolic health.

Results: in donors where these species were present. Dried chicory root cubes produced similar total SCFAs but higher final butyrate levels than chicory root powder or isolated inulin, while producing less gas. No consistent effects of fermentation supernatants on the maintenance of gut barrier integrity were detected, but effects varied by donor. Conclusion: The intact plant cell matrix of dried chicory root affected its breakdown kinetics in the colon and the microbiota, supporting its beneficial effect in vivo.

Aim of the study: The ability of dietary fibers, nondigestible oligosaccharides (NDOs), and prebiotics to modify the gut microbiota and markedly influence the host's health has attracted growing interest.

Results: Fructans only occasionally reduced the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes or stimulated other groups. Sequencing studies of various resistant starches, polydextrose, and beta-glucan showed broader effects, enhancing more and different types of gut microbial species, often including Ruminococcaceae phylotypes. The magnitude of the response and individual responses to a specific fiber or NDO varied substantially. This may be due to many factors, such as the initial presence and relative abundance of a microbial type, diet, host genetics, and intervention parameters such as duration and fiber dose. The field would clearly benefit from a more systematic approach to defining the impact of prebiotics and fibers on the gut microbiome, identifying biomarkers that link gut microbes to health, and addressing how an individual's microbiota responds to prebiotics and dietary fibers.

Aim of the study: The objectives of this work are to examine the prebiotic effects of chicory (Cichorium intybus) and its possible role in appetite control. We compared nine chicory genotypes to determine whether variations in metabolite content in roasted roots would change the release of satiety hormones and the composition of the gut microbiota.

Results: A 16S rRNA gene-based metagenetic analysis of fecal microbiota was performed. In vitro gastrointestinal digestions were carried out to study the effect of chicory intestinal digests on gut hormone regulation in enteroendocrine cells. Chicory was found to modulate the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and gut bacterial groups such as Alloprevotella, Blautia, Alistipes, and Oscillibacter. In vitro, chicory was also shown to significantly increase the satiety hormones CCK and GLP-1.

Aim of the study: Inulin-type fructans (ITF) are fermentable dietary fibers (DF) that can have beneficial metabolic health effects through changes in the gut microbiota. Many papers suggest that foods naturally rich in DF may be more relevant than purified DF in terms of health effects. We compared the prebiotic effect of a natural source of inulin (scorzonera) with native inulin extracted from chicory root in a model of obesity.

Results: Both sources of inulin reduced food intake without significantly changing body weight gain or adiposity compared with HF. Purified inulin and freeze-dried scorzonera had different effects on gut physiology and microbiota. Both inulin and scorzonera shifted the overall gut microbial composition compared with the HF group, reduced members of Desulfovibrionaceae, and increased bifidobacteria levels. Some effects were specific to the Sco group, such as increased Akkermansia and decreased Bacteroides, and were correlated with biological outcomes. Inu improved hepatic steatosis, whereas scorzonera boosted intestinal immunity markers and antimicrobial peptide expression, and increased intestinal crypt depth. Differences exist between natural edible sources and isolated sources of ITF. Both sources of inulin shifted the gut microbiota, but affected intestinal and lipid homeostasis differently.

Aim of the study: Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence rises with age and is driven by factors such as diet. Inulin, a soluble fiber found in plants such as Jerusalem artichoke and chicory, may affect CRC risk by modulating the gut microbiota and improving metabolic profiles.

Results: Standardized meta-analyses were performed for eligible studies. Results indicate that inulin supplementation significantly reduced the number of aberrant crypt foci in rats (SMD = -3.805, 95% CI, -7.348 to -0.262, p < 0.001), increased cecal weight (SMD = 6.723, 95% CI, 3.395-10.051, p = 0.000), increased colonic lactobacillus counts (SMD = 1.307, 95% CI, 0.644-1.970, p = 0.000), decreased coliform bacteria (SMD = -1.659, 95% CI, -2.147 to -1.171, p = 0.000), and raised colonic levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including acetate (SMD = 3.50, 95% CI, 1.111-5.890, p < 0.001), propionate (SMD = 3.081, 95% CI, 1.416-4.746, p < 0.001), and butyrate (SMD = 4.471, 95% CI, 2.464-6.478, p < 0.001). This systematic review demonstrates the chemopreventive effects of inulin against CRC in animal models by increasing beneficial gut bacteria (e.g., lactobacillus) and boosting SCFAs.

Aim of the study: The content and composition of prebiotic plant fiber in the diet are important for promoting gut-related health. This study investigated the effects of including chicory forage and roots in the diet on the intestinal environment of pigs.

Results: The colonic bacterial community was dominated by butyrate-producing bacteria and Prevotella. The increased relative abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria in the colon was positively correlated with the molar proportion of acetic acid and was also linked to the chicory forage diets (CF80 and CF160). Diets containing chicory roots (CR80 and CFR) were associated with a higher abundance of Megasphaera elsdenii in the colon. Fermentation products and pH in digesta varied with diet type and were correlated with changes in the microbiota, showing that chicory affects the intestinal environment of pigs.

Aim of the study: Prebiotics contribute significantly to livestock physiology by promoting a healthy balance. Chicory leaves have been studied as a natural prebiotic and contain various phytochemicals that act as nutraceutical agents. However, the in vivo effectiveness of ethanolic leaf extract remains under-researched.

Results: One-way analysis of variance showed that CLE affected the study parameters in a dose-dependent manner: the greatest improvements were seen in the highest-dose group (G3), followed by the medium (G2) and low (G1) dose groups, compared with the control group. All blood parameters improved (p ≤ 0.05), while E. coli levels decreased and Lactobacillus populations increased (p ≤ 0.05) in the ileum and cecum. Histological examination showed increased villus length and crypt depth, along with reduced villus width (p ˂ 0.05). Administering CLE to rabbits acts as a microbiota-modulating agent that supports gut health and structure while maintaining the blood profile. It can therefore be used as a natural tonic for livestock to promote bio-functional benefits and may be a potential alternative to synthetic prebiotics.

Aim of the study: The human gastrointestinal tract is home to trillions of microbes that work together with the brain to regulate its balance and function. This relationship offers promise for innovative dietary interventions that support cognitive and motivational processes or counter their decline in disease.

Results: As we expected, eating chicory taproots promoted the growth of selected microbial species and increased SCFA concentrations. To verify the functional role of these changes, we used a comprehensive set of behavioral tests and found that chicory taproots countered the cognitive and motivational effects of chronic corticosterone exposure. These behavioral changes were associated with altered gene expression and its epigenetic regulators in brain regions relevant to cognition and motivation. These results highlight the role of prebiotics in preserving higher-order brain functions and offer insight into their therapeutic potential.