The Science behind Bimuno

What is Bimuno?

Bimuno® is a prebiotic supplement containing galactooligosaccharides (GOS). GOS is derived from lactose, a natural component of cow's milk, the GOS in Bimuno is enzymatically derived from lactose.

The efficacy and safety of Bimuno is supported by over 90 scientific publications, including over 20 clinical trials.

Bimuno is selectively fermented by bifidobacteria in the colon, growing beneficial bacteria naturally found in the gut. It is scientifically proven to increase levels of bifidobacteria in just 7 days*.

Bifidobacteria is a genus which has been shown to be beneficial to health through several mechanisms including:

• provision of nutrients and metabolites (such as vitamins, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) through the breakdown of non-digestible dietary carbohydrates)
• protection of the host against pathogens by competitive exclusion
• cross-feeding other health-promoting bacteria and decreasing the gut pH, making it more difficult for pathogenic bacteria to grow in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract
• involvement in production of neurotransmitters important for brain function
• protection and maintenance of the gut barrier
• playing a role in development and modulation of the immune system

In addition, in infants, specific species of bifidobacteria are important for metabolising human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in breast milk, which have a role in promoting their health and protecting against pathogenic bacteria.

The importance of the gut microbiome

The gut microbiome is associated with many aspects of health including digestion, immunity and brain function. Whilst there is no blueprint for an ideal gut microbiome, it’s accepted that diversity between bacterial species is the goal.

Generally, we do not know the composition of our gut microbiome, so a dietary based approach is recommended to maintain diversity. As good and bad bacteria compete for space in the gut microbiome, encouraging the growth of good bacteria will preferentially change the ratio between them.

Unlike probiotics, prebiotics are heat and acid stable and travel through the digestive system intact until they reach the large intestine where they are fermented. The GOS in Bimuno is the preferred substrate for bifidobacteria and lactobacillis, which are two types of beneficial species of gut bacteria.

The role of prebiotics in the fibre gap

According to a study conducted on behalf of Public Health England, less than 10% of adults achieve their daily fibre target intake (which includes 5g of prebiotic fibre)¹. In the UK, the average fibre consumption of adults is 18-20g per day which is considerably short of the recommended intake of 30g per day¹.

Some prebiotics, which can be found both naturally in fruit and vegetables and in supplement form, contain fibre which can contribute to the recommended daily intake. A dose of Bimuno DAILY for example, contains 2g of prebiotic fibre, which helps to achieve the target 5g per day.

Although a food-first approach is recommended, support through a supplement such as Bimuno, can offer an easy way to bridge the fibre gap for those who struggle to achieve the recommended amount through diet alone.

Factors such as stress, ageing, poor diet, international travel and antibiotic use can impact the diversity and balance of the gut microbiome.