Arabinan

Arabinan is a type of prebiotic fibre found in plant cell walls. Arabinan is particularly abundant in fruits, vegetables, and grains. Its name derives from the fact that it’s composed of arabinose sugars linked together, providing a valuable dietary source of fibre.¹Cartmell A, McKee LS, Peña MJ, Larsbrink J, Brumer H, Kaneko S, Ichinose H, Lewis RJ, Viksø-Nielsen A, Gilbert HJ, Marles-Wright J. The structure and function of an arabinan-specific alpha-1,2-arabinofuranosidase identified from screening the activities of bacterial GH43 glycoside hydrolases. J Biol Chem. 2011 Apr 29;286(17):15483-95. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.215962.

What are the health benefits of arabinan?

1. Gut Health: As a prebiotic, arabinan is a food source for beneficial gut bacteria, promoting their growth and supporting a healthy gut microbiome.
2. Digestive Health: Arabinan helps maintain regular bowel movements, preventing constipation, and supporting overall digestive wellbeing.
3. Blood Sugar Control: Arabinan has potential benefits in managing blood sugar levels by slowing down the absorption of glucose after meals.
4. Heart Health: Arabinan contributes to heart health by helping to reduce cholesterol levels.
5. Immune Support: Emerging science shows that arabinan may support a balanced immune response and overall immune function.

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

Bacteria such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and certain species of Bacteroides are involved in the fermentation of arabinan. These bacteria break arabinan down into beneficial byproducts like short-chain fatty acids that help balance your gut microbiome.²Komeno M, Hayamizu H, Fujita K, Ashida H. Two Novel α-l-Arabinofuranosidases from Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum Belonging to Glycoside Hydrolase Family 43 Cooperatively Degrade Arabinan. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2019 Mar 6;85(6):e02582-18. doi: 10.1128/AEM.02582-18.³Arzamasov AA, van Sinderen D, Rodionov DA. Comparative Genomics Reveals the Regulatory Complexity of Bifidobacterial Arabinose and Arabino-Oligosaccharide Utilization. Front Microbiol. 2018 Apr 24;9:776. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00776.⁴Li Q, Gänzle MG. Characterization of two extracellular arabinanases in Lactobacillus crispatus. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2020 Dec;104(23):10091-10103. doi: 10.1007/s00253-020-10979-0.⁵Pontonio E, Mahony J, Di Cagno R, O’Connell Motherway M, Lugli GA, O’Callaghan A, De Angelis M, Ventura M, Gobbetti M, van Sinderen D. Cloning, expression and characterization of a β-D-xylosidase from Lactobacillus rossiae DSM 15814(T). Microb Cell Fact. 2016 May 3;15:72. doi: 10.1186/s12934-016-0473-z.

How can you get more arabinan in your diet?

Our Complete Prebiotic provides a good source of arabinan. Adding a scoop of Complete Prebiotic to your gut health smoothie will contribute to your intake of arabinan. Other specific sources include a range of plant-based foods such as beetroot, apples, pears, peaches, apricots, citrus fruits, carrots, peas, beans, lentils, and whole grains such as rye, barley, oats, and corn.⁶Wefers D, Tyl CE, Bunzel M. Novel arabinan and galactan oligosaccharides from dicotyledonou plants. Front Chem. 2014 Nov 10;2:100. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2014.00100.⁷Yi An and others, Dietary fiber in plant cell walls—the healthy carbohydrates, Food Quality an Safety. 2022:6, fyab037, doi: 10.1093/fqsafe/fyab037

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

You will find your arabinan score in the “Prebiotics” report in your Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test results. Guidance on how to work with your arabinan 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 arabinan on your health.

Synonyms: arabinan polysaccharide, arabinan polymer, arabinan-containing polysaccharide, sugar beet polysaccharide, sugar beet pulp polysaccharides

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
  Cartmell A, McKee LS, Peña MJ, Larsbrink J, Brumer H, Kaneko S, Ichinose H, Lewis RJ, Viksø-Nielsen A, Gilbert HJ, Marles-Wright J. The structure and function of an arabinan-specific alpha-1,2-arabinofuranosidase identified from screening the activities of bacterial GH43 glycoside hydrolases. J Biol Chem. 2011 Apr 29;286(17):15483-95. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.215962.
• 2
  Komeno M, Hayamizu H, Fujita K, Ashida H. Two Novel α-l-Arabinofuranosidases from Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum Belonging to Glycoside Hydrolase Family 43 Cooperatively Degrade Arabinan. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2019 Mar 6;85(6):e02582-18. doi: 10.1128/AEM.02582-18.
• 3
  Arzamasov AA, van Sinderen D, Rodionov DA. Comparative Genomics Reveals the Regulatory Complexity of Bifidobacterial Arabinose and Arabino-Oligosaccharide Utilization. Front Microbiol. 2018 Apr 24;9:776. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00776.
• 4
  Li Q, Gänzle MG. Characterization of two extracellular arabinanases in Lactobacillus crispatus. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2020 Dec;104(23):10091-10103. doi: 10.1007/s00253-020-10979-0.
• 5
  Pontonio E, Mahony J, Di Cagno R, O’Connell Motherway M, Lugli GA, O’Callaghan A, De Angelis M, Ventura M, Gobbetti M, van Sinderen D. Cloning, expression and characterization of a β-D-xylosidase from Lactobacillus rossiae DSM 15814(T). Microb Cell Fact. 2016 May 3;15:72. doi: 10.1186/s12934-016-0473-z.
• 6
  Wefers D, Tyl CE, Bunzel M. Novel arabinan and galactan oligosaccharides from dicotyledonou plants. Front Chem. 2014 Nov 10;2:100. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2014.00100.
• 7
  Yi An and others, Dietary fiber in plant cell walls—the healthy carbohydrates, Food Quality an Safety. 2022:6, fyab037, doi: 10.1093/fqsafe/fyab037

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