Arabinoxylans and AXOS fiber stimulate the gut microbiome and impact its metabolic answer, supporting gut health. They also promote a stronger immune response, protecting against oxidative stress and chronic diseases.

Metabolic investigations using the SHIME unit demonstrated that all formulations induced significant changes in SCFA (acetate, propionate and butyrate) production by the colon microbiota. However, hydrolyzed and fermented AXOS showed the strongest prebiotic effect.

What is AXOS FIBER?

AXOS FIBER (Arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides) is a second generation prebiotic, developed by Carbiotix that significantly enhances gut microbiota health. It is made from a natural source, corn bran, using a proprietary chemical and enzymatic process.

AXOS is able to support more robust growth of probiotic bacteria, which in turn stimulates the production of key Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA) such as butyrate, propionate and acetate. The SCFAs serve as food for the colon microbiota and contribute to a healthy gut ecosystem, which in turn supports overall well-being and reduces chronic diseases.

In a recent metagenomics study in a 4-SHIME(r) model, we combined microbiome and metabolic investigations to explore the impact of AXOS on the intestinal microbial population in a long-term feeding experiment. The analysis focused on the metabolite profile of acetate, propionate and butyrate (SCFAs that originate from bacterial fermentation of dietary fibers).

Results showed that after two weeks of feeding with different formulations, all tested products caused a significant increase of acetate, propionate andbutyrate in the colon. However, the highest increase was seen in the group fed with hydrolyzed and fermented rye bran containing AXOS.

Northwest Communications, a leading ISP in rural Wisconsin is making new network investments using AXOS and the Calix E7-2 Intelligent Modular System to improve subscriber service while increasing operational efficiency. The E7-2 allows the ISP to remotely detect, verify and analyze broadband traffic to resolve subscriber issues without costly truck rolls. This will enable the ISP to grow its revenue while improving subscriber experience and overall network performance.

What are the Benefits of AXOS FIBER?

The fermentation of arabinoxylans and AXOS promotes bifidobacteria growth in the colon, which increases SCFA production that supports the gut mucus barrier, helping to regulate bowel movements and prevent constipation. It also promotes a healthy gut microbiota profile, which in turn can improve digestion and support overall digestive health. In addition, arabinoxylans and AXOS can act as a prebiotic to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.

Previous studies have shown that the consumption of breads enriched with in situ produced AXOS promoted bifidobacteria proliferation in the colon and increased SCFA production16,17. In addition, a study ran by Bedford and Apajalahti suggested that highly digestible AXOS might be able to “kick-start” the hydrolysis and fermentation pathways of the gut microbiota toward more recalcitrant dietary fiber sources such as cellulose.

This is the first study that explored the middle-term dynamic changes induced by intake of fermented or hydrolyzed AXOS-containing cereal flour-based formulations in distal colon tracts. These changes were evaluated through PCA, which revealed regrouping of parameters significantly modified by AXOS treatment. The projection of the first two PCs on the score plot reveals that all AXOS treatments impacted the gut microbiota in a similar way, with the exception of MRB which led to an increase of Lactobacillaceae family relative abundance.

In contrast, the fungi community was modulated differently, with an increase of Candida and Issatchenkia species following the intake of all AXOS-containing formulations. This is likely due to the presence of fungi that can take advantage of lactate produced by other microorganisms during the fermentation of AXOS in the GI tract.

In addition, PCA analysis also revealed that the bacterial communities of mice fed with HF diet were affected by AXOS in a different manner than those of mice fed with non-fermented or non-hydrolyzed AXOS-containing cereal grain flours. This is probably related to the fact that the initial composition of ingested AXOS-containing formulations was influenced by the fermentation and hydrolyzation processes performed on wheat, oat or rye bran, which differed in their lactic acid bacteria contents. The reshaping of bacterial communities following AXOS intake could be a useful tool to identify functional ingredients that can enhance the diversity of the gut microbiota and support glucose homeostasis.

How Does AXOS FIBER Work?

AXOS is a second-generation prebiotic developed by Carbiotix that works with probiotic gut microbes to stimulate production of key short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), metabolites essential for maintaining overall well-being. Early in-vitro studies with AXOS demonstrated that it outperforms first generation prebiotics in terms of bifidogenic effect, SCFA production and fermentation time.

The AXOS technology utilizes a proprietary enzymatic process to deliver an ingredient with the same prebiotic functionality of traditional soluble fibers without any of the associated health risks, such as bloating and increased blood cholesterol. It is non-allergenic and suitable for a wide range of applications, including cereals, beverages, nutritional supplements and medical foods.

An in vivo study conducted through the microbial ecosystem simulator SHIME showed that feeding with different formulations containing arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides (AXOS) – oat bran, rye bran and wheat bran – led to a modification of the gut microbiome composition and to an increase in the synthesis of SCFA metabolites by colon microbiota. The AXOS composition and initial gut microbiome composition influenced the metabolic answer of the colonic ecosystem to the AXOS intake: in particular, the oat bran AXOS showed the strongest modulatory effects on the community, while the hydrolyzed and fermented AXOS from rye and wheat bran resulted in less significant changes.

In order to understand the underlying mechanisms of these findings, we performed a metagenomic evaluation and compared the profiles of bacterial genomes before and during the intake of the AXOS-containing formulations. In addition, the concentrations of acetate, propionate and butyrate in colon lumen samples were measured to assess the metabolic responses of the gut ecosystem.

The microbial genomic data indicated that AXOS-induced changes in the gut microbiota can be partially mitigated by a two weeks wash out period following the end of the AXOS intake. In this way, the gut microbiome returned to a composition closer to its original condition indicating that the changes induced by the AXOS intake were not permanent and may be mediated by the specific AXOS composition. This suggests that a careful selection of the AXOS source and its processing method is required to obtain the desired prebiotic effects.

What are the Side Effects of AXOS FIBER?

AXOS is a prebiotic fiber that promotes the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. The fermentation of AXOS fiber also produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are known to provide energy to the cells lining the colon and improve bowel function. Additionally, AXOS fiber has been shown to promote mucus production in the colon, which helps protect against inflammation and bacterial infections.

The results of a recent study using the SHIME(r) model showed that sustained consumption of different hydrolyzed and fermented AXOS formulations from wheat, rye bran and maize led to a wide variety of structural and metabolic effects in the proximal colon ecosystem. These effects were most pronounced for the AXOS derived from rye bran. This result was based on the ability of the microbiota to solubilize and ferment this type of AXOS.

In the bacterial microbiome, the abundance of Lactobacillaceae increased significantly after all feeding periods, with the AXOS from wheat and rye bran producing the highest changes. In contrast, the Bacteroidaceae taxon declined following all AXOS supplementation. Additionally, the fungal community also changed with an increase in Candida and a decrease in Issatchenkia. However, after a two-week wash out period the microbiota returned to its original state.

In addition to the positive impact on the bacterial population, the AXOS-treated mice also had a reduction in weight, improved intestinal integrity and a normalized blood glucose level. The researchers believe that the effect was mediated by a combination of factors, including the promotion of the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, as well as the production of SCFAs and other metabolites, which are known to have anti-inflammatory and metabolic effects. The study also found that the AXOS-treated mice had a reduced proinflammatory response, as evidenced by a decreased secretion of interleukin-17 and a lower inflammatory cytokine IL-6. Lastly, the AXOS-treated mice also displayed an improvement in insulin sensitivity and had lower blood triglycerides. These findings suggest that AXOS can be used to reduce fat mass and improve glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes. This could lead to a reduction in cardiovascular disease risk and help prevent obesity.