In this study, the researchers aimed to investigate the prebiotic efficacy of gum arabic when consumed by healthy individuals for up to 4 weeks and establish any dose-effect relationships. Human volunteers consumed various daily doses of gum arabic (ranging from 5 to 40 g) in water, with daily water consumption serving as the negative control and 10 g inulin as the positive control. The study assessed bacterial numbers in stool samples via real-time PCR techniques and used questionnaires to monitor potential drawbacks. They focused on beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli and non-beneficial ones like Bacteroides, Clostridium difficile, and Enterococci. The study found that compared to the negative control, gum arabic significantly increased the numbers of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli after 4 weeks of consumption, with the optimal dose being around 10 g. At this dose, gum arabic outperformed inulin in terms of promoting the growth of these beneficial bacteria. No significant drawbacks were observed during the study, leading to the conclusion that gum arabic exhibits prebiotic efficacy comparable to or better than inulin, with the optimal daily dose being 10 g.

Gum arabic is a natural substance derived from the acacia tree, containing various sugars and minerals. It is highly soluble in water and has potential applications, particularly in the food and beverage industry. The study also mentioned the potential impact of gum arabic on gut membrane function and its role in enhancing the survival of probiotics in the gut. However, the study highlighted the need for further research to understand its full range of physiological effects in humans, such as its potential impact on lowering the glycemic index.

The study's findings suggest that gum arabic could be considered a prebiotic fiber, promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria without stimulating unwanted ones. The optimal dose for these effects appears to be around 10 g per day.