PROMITOR® Soluble Fibre and its potential role in immune health

At Tate & Lyle, we continue to build on our 160 years of experience, and through research and innovation, we're learning a lot about the various potential health benefits of PROMITOR® Soluble Fibre for consumers and how it can positively impact the future of food.

The potential health benefits of PROMITOR Soluble Fibre include* supporting calcium absorption and bone calcium retention, potentially contributing to bone health,^{1-4 s}upporting gastrointestinal health,^5-7 a good digestive tolerance,^8-10 , and maintaining healthy post-meal blood glucose levels (when used to substitute sugar or other digestible carbohydrates).^11-14

Some of the most exciting emerging data suggest that PROMITOR Soluble Fibre could have a beneficial effect on the immune system^*.2,6,15,16 To understand the link between PROMITOR Soluble Fibre and the immune system, it's good first to have an overview of what the immune system is, why it's important, and the different factors that can affect how it works.

What affects the function of the immune system? 

A lot of things can affect how the immune system works and how effectively it functions to keep us healthy. Some of these factors are completely out of our control, for instance: genetics, age, or illnesses we've already experienced and ongoing chronic illness. However, some factors are in our control, such as how much we exercise, the choices we make about vaccinations, stress levels, smoking and alcohol intake, or diet.

Dietary fibre and immune health

In order to function as they should, the cells in the immune system require nutrients that are present in the food we eat. There's a wealth of research out there into the health benefits of eating more dietary fibre,^1-5 and it's been shown to

• Help with managing caloric intake for healthy weight management (when used to substitute sugar or other digestible carbohydrates)

• Support cardiovascular health

• Temper spikes in blood sugar levels (after meals)

• Promote a healthy gut

In addition, a diet high in fibre can help to reduce the risk of certain diseases, including diabetes, some cancers and heart disease.^20-22 Despite this, the fibre intake of the global general population falls well below the recommended levels.²¹

Bridging the fibre gap to help support immune health

Consumers already understand the importance of dietary fibre. That's why they're already actively looking across various food and beverage categories for products that can easily help them increase their fibre intake. Adding PROMITOR Soluble Fibre to the products consumers enjoy is a simple way to bridge the fibre gap without increasing their calorie content (when used to substitute sugar or other digestible carbohydrates) or affecting their taste and texture.

Innovating for the future of nutrition

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers have an increased awareness of immune health, and attitudes have shifted to focus on how it can be improved.²⁶ Helping consumers to increase their fibre intake ensures products are meeting consumer needs - which is vital in today's marketplace.

As we continue to discover more about the true impact of dietary fibre on health, from prebiotic benefits to potentially supporting the immune system, we understand more about the importance of innovation in nutrition that allows consumers to easily increase their fibre intake without compromising the taste and texture of products they love.

That's what makes PROMITOR Soluble Fibre the extraordinary ingredient for everyday life, for today and the future.

Note: References provided at the bottom of this article.