Tara gum and probiotic mix for gut barrier in people
What it found
In healthy people, a mix of tara gum and a probiotic increased gut exopolysaccharides and lowered measures of intestinal permeability.
The trial was small and lasted 30 days with a 2-week follow-up.
What they found
Studies in people
Exopolysaccharides in faeces
The active group had a significant increase in faecal exopolysaccharide concentration compared with placebo, from 0.169 mg/g to 0.633 mg/g after 30 days.
Placebo group
No significant differences were recorded in the placebo group after 30 days or at the end of the follow-up.
How it was done
The authors wanted to see if a gelling complex of tara gum and Streptococcus thermophilus ST10 could improve the gut's physiological barrier, since gums may form gels that spread over the inner intestinal surface.
Twenty-five healthy subjects aged 21 to 57 were randomised into two groups: 13 took a formulation with 250 mg tara gum and 1 billion viable cells of S. thermophilus ST10 daily for 30 days, and 12 took a placebo. Faecal exopolysaccharides and intestinal permeability were measured at the start, after 30 days, and after a 2-week follow-up.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a small pilot trial in healthy people, so the results may not apply to people with impaired gut permeability or to larger groups.
- The study lasted only 30 days with a 2-week follow-up, so it cannot show what happens over longer periods.
The paper
- Title
- Assessment of the capability of a gelling complex made of tara gum and the exopolysaccharides produced by the microorganism Streptococcus thermophilus ST10 to prospectively restore the gut physiological barrier: a pilot study
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Del Piano M, Balzarini M, Carmagnola S, et al (2014). Assessment of the capability of a gelling complex made of tara gum and the exopolysaccharides produced by the microorganism Streptococcus thermophilus ST10 to prospectively restore the gut physiological barrier: a pilot study. Journal of clinical gastroenterology. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000000254PubMed 25291130DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error