Comparison of the functional properties between tapioca-resistant maltodextrin and commercial prebiotics

This study examined the prebiotic potential of tapioca-resistant maltodextrin (TRM), a novel non-viscous, soluble-resistant starch, and compared it to commercial prebiotics (inulin, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), and konjac glucomannan hydrolysate (KGMH). This is the first study to reveal the prebiotic activity of TRM compared to commercial prebiotics. The prebiotic activity score (PAS) was used to measure a prebiotic’s ability to promote probiotic growth and inhibit pathogens. Probiotic strains, including Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1, L. rhamnosus LGG, L. salivarius B37, L. paracasei 431, Bifidobacterium longum UABI-14, and B. breve M16V, along with the pathogen Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, were cultured in media supplemented with 1 inulin, FOS, KGMH, TRM, or glucose. Cultures were incubated at 37 ◦C for 72 hr, with bacterial counts and pH levels measured at baseline and after 12, 24, 48, and 72 hr. Viable cell counts after simulated gastrointestinal digestion were also assessed. Our results showed that TRM had the highest PAS for L. rhamnosus LGG at 24 and 72 hr and L. salivarius B37 at 48 hr. Bifidobacterium strains showed no significant differences in PAS between TRM and other prebiotics. TRM demonstrated high viability for L. salivarius B37 and L. paracasei 431 after digestion, suggesting its potential use as a prebiotic. © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Institute of Food Science and Technology.