The Study
Effects of NatureKnit™, a Blend of Fruit and Vegetable Fibers Rich in Naturally Occurring Bound Polyphenols, on the Metabolic Activity and Community Composition of the Human Gut Microbiome Using the M-SHIME® Gastrointestinal Model
This study tested a fiber blend in a test-tube that mimics the human gut, using poop from just three people. It saw some changes in bacteria and chemicals, but that doesn't mean it works the same way in real people.
Analysis score
Maximum 72 for a cohort study.
Where the score came from
Scientists tested a special fiber blend from fruits and veggies against common fiber supplements in a lab model of the human colon.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 553 / 100
Quality score
Groups of people are followed over time to see who develops an outcome. Strong for identifying risk factors and associations, but cannot prove causation as firmly as RCTs.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1More good acids and diverse bacteria in the gut are linked to better digestion, less inflammation, and improved overall health.
- 2The fruit-veg fiber (NatureKnit™) made gut bacteria produce 29.2 mM more good acids, grow 170% more, and become 37% more diverse than regular fiber or no fiber.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Microorganisms
Year
2025
Authors
Marlies Govaert, C. Duysburgh, Brendan Kesler, Massimo Marzorati
Related Content
Claims (6)
Consuming colorful plant foods provides polyphenols that directly increase the activity and diversity of gut microbes.
A specific fiber blend called NatureKnit™, when tested in a lab system mimicking the human colon, produced 29.2 mM more short-chain fatty acids than inulin or psyllium between 6 and 24 hours.
In a lab model mimicking the human colon, a substance called NatureKnit™ caused a 170% increase in the total number of bacteria in the lumen after 48 hours, more than what was seen with inulin or psyllium.
In a lab model of the human colon using stool from three healthy people, NatureKnit™ increased the number of different bacterial species in the gut fluid by 37% after 48 hours compared to a control, and this increase was larger than what was seen with inulin or psyllium.
When tested in a lab model of the human colon using gut bacteria from healthy people, NatureKnit™ produced a slower and more gradual drop in acidity and rise in gas pressure over 48 hours than inulin and psyllium.
When NatureKnit™ was added to a lab model of the human colon containing fecal bacteria from healthy people, ammonium levels dropped, and inulin caused the largest drop, showing reduced activity of protein-digesting bacteria.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.