Future Studies

BioNeutra is involved in the following research projects:

Functionality Research Projects

Collaborative research projects are currently underway with the University of Alberta with objectives to demonstrate prebiotic and fiber properties of BioNeutra’s VitaFiber™/VitaSugar™-IMO (isomalto-oligosaccharides).

The data from the studies showed that in-vitro fermentation experiments using VitaFiber™/VitaSugar™-IMO as a source resulted into a significantly high growth of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. The quantification of
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in the fecal samples of animals fed VitaFiber™/VitaSugar™-IMO diet was the highest compared to a control diet and diet with inulin. The overall population growth of pathogens like Bacteroides and Clostridium were at the least.

A short-chain fatty-acid (SCFA), i.e., butyrate, which confers tremendous health benefits to the host, e.g., strengthening the immune system and lowering the cholesterol, was showed to be highest in the animals fed with IMO diet compared to the control diet and inulin during a study of 5-7 weeks period. The copy number of fecal rDNA in rats fed with IMO was significantly higher in case of Lactobacillus and lowered in case of Clostridium and Bacteroids.

Based upon the above findings, it has been validated (an already established fact from nine different studies) that isomalto-oligosaccharide, i.e., VitaFiber™/VitaSugar™-IMO, acts as a prebiotic and is readily consumed by Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. This prebiotic property of VitaFiber™/VitaSugar™-IMO consequently showed an indirect confirmation of the product’s dietary fiber function in-vivo.