How Proof Pudding supports gut health with pectin.

Photo: Apples in an orchard, a source of pectin.

Pectin, a soluble dietary fiber found in fruits such as apples and citrus, supports gut health by promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and enhancing short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, particularly butyrate, which is essential for maintaining intestinal barrier integrity and reducing inflammation (Flint et al., 2012; Bang et al., 2018). 

In rodents, pectin supplemented in a high-fat diet promotes gut microbial diversity, prevents weight gain and adipose deposition, and has anti-inflammatory effects (Zhao et al., 2022). Additionally, pectin has been implicated in regulating blood glucose (Guo et al., 2024), and has been shown to strengthen the mucus layer and protect the intestinal epithelial barrier (Beukema et al., 2020), suggesting its potential as a functional ingredient for improving gastrointestinal health.

References:

• Flint, H., et al. (2012). The role of the gut microbiota in nutrition and health. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology.

• Bang, S., et al. (2018). The influence of in vitro pectin fermentation on the human fecal microbiome. AMB Express.

• Zhao, Y., et al. (2022). Dose-dependent effects of apple pectin on alleviating high fat-induced obesity modulated by gut microbiota and SCFAs. Food Science and Human Wellness.

• Guo, Q. et al., (2024). Pectin mediates the mechanism of host blood glucose regulation through intestinal flora. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition.

• Beukema, M., et al. (2020). The effects of different dietary fiber pectin structures on the gastrointestinal immune barrier: impact via gut microbiota and direct effects on immune cells. Nature Review Articles.