Arabinogalactan

Arabinogalactan is a type of prebiotic fibre found in plant sources. Its name is derived from the fact that it consists of arabinose and galactose sugars linked together. Arabinogalactan provides beneficial effects for human health as a type of dietary fibre.

Here are 5 critical roles of arabinogalactan in human health:

Microbiome Health: Arabinogalactan acts as a food source for beneficial bacteria in the gut, promoting their growth and supporting a healthy gut microbiome.¹
Immune Support: Arabinogalactan exhibits immune-modulating properties, potentially enhancing immune responses and supporting overall immune function.²
Digestive Health: Arabinogalactan aids in maintaining regular bowel movements, promoting digestive regularity and gut motility.³
Antioxidant Effects: Arabinogalactan may possess antioxidant properties, helping to neutralise harmful free radicals in the body.⁴⁵
Potential Anti-inflammatory Benefits: Arabinogalactan has shown promise in reducing inflammation, potentially benefiting individuals with inflammatory conditions.⁶⁷

Which bacteria are involved in the metabolism/fermentation of arabinogalactan?

Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species are among the beneficial bacteria known to be involved in the metabolism and fermentation of arabinogalactan in the gut, breaking it down into beneficial byproducts such as short-chain fatty acids.⁸⁹¹⁰¹¹

How can you get more arabinogalactan in your diet?

Our Complete Prebiotic provides a good source of arabinogalactan. Other sources of arabinogalactan include plant-based foods such as carrots, radishes, pears, tomatoes, coconut, and some medicinal plants like echinacea and larch tree bark. ¹²

Where to find your arabinogalactan score in the Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test

You will find your arabinogalactan score in the “Prebiotics” report in your Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test results. Guidance on how to work with your arabinogalactan score will be featured in your personal action plan. Please note that this information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP or another qualified health provider if you have any questions about the impact of arabinogalactan on your health.

Synonyms: arabinogalactan polysaccharide, arabinogalactan polymer, arabinogalactan-containing polysaccharide, arabinogalactan gum, larch arabinogalactan, arabinogalactan complex

Important disclaimer

The Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Handbook is an educational resource built to translate complex science into plain English. The information provided on this page is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Always check with your GP for interactions with medications/health conditions before changing your diet or starting to take food supplements.

References

1
Chen O, Sudakaran S, Blonquist T, Mah E, Durkee S, Bellamine A. Effect of arabinogalactan on the gut microbiome: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in healthy adults. Nutrition. 2021 Oct;90:111273. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2021.111273.
2
Dion C, Chappuis E, Ripoll C. Does larch arabinogalactan enhance immune function? A review of mechanistic and clinical trials. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2016 Apr 12;13:28. doi: 10.1186/s12986-016-0086-x.
3
Robinson RR, Feirtag J, Slavin JL. Effects of dietary arabinogalactan on gastrointestinal and blood parameters in healthy human subjects. J Am Coll Nutr. 2001 Aug;20(4):279-85. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2001.10719048.
4
He TB, Huang YP, Huang Y, Wang XJ, Hu JM, Sheng J. Structural elucidation and antioxidant activity of an arabinogalactan from the leaves of Moringa oleifera. Int J Biol Macromol. 2018 Jun;112:126-133. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.01.110.
5
Ahmadi E, Rezadoost H, Alilou M, Stuppner H, Moridi Farimani M. Purification, structural characterization and antioxidant activity of a new arabinogalactan from Dorema ammoniacum gum. Int J Biol Macromol. 2022 Jan 1;194:1019-1028. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.11.163.
6
Velikova T, Tumangelova-Yuzeir K, Georgieva R, Ivanova-Todorova E, Karaivanova E, Nakov V, Nakov R, Kyurkchiev D. Lactobacilli Supplemented with Larch Arabinogalactan and Colostrum Stimulates an Immune Response towards Peripheral NK Activation and Gut Tolerance. Nutrients. 2020 Jun 7;12(6):1706. doi: 10.3390/nu12061706.
7
Udani JK. Immunomodulatory effects of ResistAid™: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multidose study. J Am Coll Nutr. 2013;32(5):331-8. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2013.839907.
8
Wang Y, LaPointe G. Arabinogalactan Utilization by Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum NCC 2705 and Bacteroides caccae ATCC 43185 in Monoculture and Coculture. Microorganisms. 2020 Oct 31;8(11):1703. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8111703.
9
Sasaki Y, Komeno M, Ishiwata A, Horigome A, Odamaki T, Xiao JZ, Tanaka K, Ito Y, Kitahara K, Ashida H, Fujita K. Mechanism of Cooperative Degradation of Gum Arabic Arabinogalactan Protein by Bifidobacterium longum Surface Enzymes. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2022 Mar 22;88(6):e0218721. doi: 10.1128/aem.02187-21.
10
Aguirre M, Bussolo de Souza C, Venema K. The Gut Microbiota from Lean and Obese Subjects Contribute Differently to the Fermentation of Arabinogalactan and Inulin. PLoS One. 2016 Jul 13;11(7):e0159236. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159236.
11
Fujita K, Sakaguchi T, Sakamoto A, Shimokawa M, Kitahara K. Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum Exo-β-1,3-Galactanase, an enzyme for the degradation of type II arabinogalactan. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2014 Aug;80(15):4577-84. doi: 10.1128/AEM.00802-14.
12
Kelly GS. Larch arabinogalactan: clinical relevance of a novel immune-enhancing polysaccharide. Altern Med Rev. 1999 Apr;4(2):96-103. PMID: 10231609.

Arabinogalactan

References

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