Unveiling the Microbiome-Mediated Potential of a Carob-Based Formulation (Csat®): Human Fecal Fermentation, SCFA Production, and Potential Connections with Satiety Pathways
An in vitro fermentation study examined how Csat® (a standardized carob-based fiber blend), galactomannan (GM), and carob pulp extract (CPE) affect gut bacteria and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production using human fecal microbiota from a healthy donor. Samples were fermented for 24 and 48 hours under anaerobic conditions. Researchers analyzed microbial composition using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, predicted functional activity using computational modeling, and directly measured SCFAs (acetate, propionate, and butyrate).
Csat® produced the strongest overall effect. At 24 hours, it significantly increased acetate (71.5 vs 51.8 mM), propionate (52.8 vs 33.7 mM), and butyrate (48.6 vs 34.3 mM) compared with control. By 48 hours, Csat® maintained the highest levels of all three SCFAs (acetate 88.9 mM, propionate 64.2 mM, butyrate 57.2 mM). GM mainly stimulated early growth of fiber-degrading bacteria such as Bacteroides uniformis, while CPE caused a broader but shorter-lived increase in both degraders and butyrate-producing bacteria like Blautia and Anaerostipes. Csat® combined these effects and sustained higher SCFA production over time. Supplemented groups also showed lower branched-chain fatty acids, suggesting a shift away from protein fermentation toward carbohydrate fermentation.
Predicted functional data supported these findings: GM increased genes linked to fiber breakdown early on, while Csat® showed stronger signals for sugar transport and continued fermentation later. Correlation analyses suggested active cross-feeding between primary fiber degraders and butyrate-producing bacteria.
These results support the idea that Csat® promotes fiber-based fermentation and increases SCFA production. Because SCFAs can stimulate satiety hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY), the findings provide a plausible mechanism linking Csat® to appetite and metabolic effects seen in prior animal studies.
However, this was an in vitro study using a single donor sample, and functional activity was predicted rather than directly measured. Future research should test these effects in human clinical trials and measure hormonal and metabolic outcomes directly.
Overall, the study shows that a standardized carob-based formulation can reshape human gut microbiota in vitro and significantly increase SCFA production, supporting its potential role in metabolic and appetite regulation.
