Xanthan gum is a complex polysaccharide commonly used in processed foods as a stabilizer and thickening agent. Little is known about its direct interaction with the gut microbiota, which plays a central role in digestion of other dietary fibre polysaccharides. A new study led by the University of Michigan Medical School Department of Microbiology and Immunology, examines the ability of the human gut microbiome to digest xanthan gum!
Researchers sequenced 20 bacterial samples in xanthan containing media and analyzed for composition by 16S rRNA sequencing. All cultures shared an abundance of a bacterium from the family Ruminococcaceae. This bacterium breaks down the carbohydrates in xanthan gum. A different gut bacterium, Bacteroides intestinalis, feeds on the smaller carbohydrates released by the Ruminococcaceae bacterium. Bacterial consumption of xanthan gum likely leads to the production of short-chain fatty acids that play roles in intestinal health and can contribute to total caloric intake.
While xanthan gum is generally considered safe, the results suggest that its widespread consumption could be changing our microbiomes and more research would be needed to determine whether these changes are good or bad. This may be especially important for people who consume above-average amounts of xanthan gum, such as people with celiac disease and those following gluten-free diets.
For more information, read the article below!
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