Nearly 11 percent of Australians are affected by irritable bowel syndrome, a common condition where a specialized fiber supplement may offer new relief.
Researchers at Edith Cowan University have developed a dietary supplement called ur gut®, which combines resistant starch and psyllium husk powder. The formulation aims to support beneficial gut bacteria without aggravating common digestive symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a common gastrointestinal disorder that affects how the intestines function. Its exact cause remains unknown, although factors such as stress, infection, medication, poor sleep, hormonal fluctuations, and lifestyle choices can potentially trigger or aggravate symptoms.
“For years we’ve known that a diet low in Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monesaccharides and Polyols (FODMAPs) can relieve symptoms, but they can also reduce beneficial gut bacteria and negatively impact fiber intake over time,” said Dr. Tina Yan, lead author of the study at the university’s Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute.
“We wanted to find a way to build better gut health while following a low-FODMAP diet,” Yan said.
The research paper is titled “Dietary fibre blend improves gut health in patients with irritable bowel syndrome following a low FODMAP diet: a randomised, double-blind control trial” and was authored by Ran Yan, Amanda Devine, Johnny Lo, Evania Marlow, Ian C. Dunican, Kanita Kunaratnam, Lesley Andrew, and Claus T. Christophersen.
“Traditionally, fermentable fibers can be difficult for people with IBS because they can increase gas production and discomfort,” Yan said. “What’s exciting about this study is that participants maintained stable symptoms while showing meaningful improvements in their gut microbiota as well as in their gut-related anxiety.”
Professor Amanda Devine, co-creator of ur gut®, noted the speed of the physiological response observed during the research.
“Changes of this magnitude are rarely seen with such a short intervention,” Devine said. “The study demonstrated that our targeted dietary fiber blend positively reshaped the gut microbiome in people with IBS following a low-FODMAP diet, supporting beneficial bacteria linked to gut and mental health. This was great to see.”
Claus Christophersen, co-creator of the supplement, emphasized the shift in therapeutic strategy.
“For many people with IBS, success has traditionally meant simply avoiding certain foods,” Christophersen said. “Our findings suggest we may also be able to actively rebuild gut health and the microbiome while not making IBS symptoms worse. That’s an important step forward.”
Alongside the ur gut® supplement, which is already available to buy, the research team has created a cookbook featuring recipes designed to help people incorporate the product into a healthy diet.