Pilot Trial Investigating the Effects of a Prebiotic Fiber Bar on the Gut-Brain-Axis of People with Parkinson’s Disease (PD)
Morganne Smith1, Olivia Todd3, Indika Edirisinghe1, Britt Burton-Freeman2
1Illinois Institute of Technology, 21Department of Food Science and Nutrition and Center for Nutrition Research, Institute for Food Safety, Illinois Institute of Technology, 3Sorridi Therapeutics
Objective:
To evaluate the effects of a prebiotic fiber blend (NeuroFiber) on microbial metabolites, gut inflammation, and clinical outcomes in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Background:
Gut dysbiosis is increasingly recognized as a hallmark of PD, contributing to gastrointestinal dysfunction and systemic inflammation. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) support gut barrier integrity and regulate inflammation. Reduced SCFA levels are associated with increased intestinal permeability and elevated fecal calprotectin concentrations, a marker of gut inflammation. Increasing SCFA production and lowering calprotectin may therefore improve gastrointestinal health in PD. Prebiotic fibers selectively stimulate SCFA-producing microbes, yet their therapeutic potential in PD remains underexplored. We developed a prebiotic fiber blend designed to enhance SCFA-producing taxa and reduce gut inflammation in individuals with PD.
Design/Methods:
Participants with PD (n=18) consumed one fiber bar daily for 4 weeks. Tolerability, gastrointestinal symptoms, and PD-related motor and non-motor features were assessed through questionnaires. Blood and fecal samples were collected at baseline and week 4 for SCFA, bile acid (BA), calprotectin, and lipid analyses (NCT07127120).
Results:
NeuroFiber was well tolerated, with no adverse events reported. Total SCFA concentrations modestly increased, while fecal calprotectin significantly decreased (p = 0.021), suggesting reduced gut inflammation. Select primary (cholic acid) and secondary (lithocholic and nor-deoxycholic) BAs declined, indicating altered microbial metabolism. Motor and non-motor symptoms improved over the 4 weeks, and 78% of participants experiencing constipation reported relief and reduced laxative use. Total and LDL cholesterol levels significantly reduced (p = 0.0063 and 0.0002, respectively).
Conclusions:
This pilot study suggests NeuroFiber has the potential to modulate microbial metabolism, reduce intestinal inflammation, and improve gastrointestinal and metabolic outcomes in individuals with PD. Larger, controlled trials are currently underway to validate these findings and assess their influence on neurodegenerative outcomes. Nevertheless, these results underscore the therapeutic potential of prebiotic fibers in targeting gut-related pathways relevant to the progression of PD.
Disclaimer: Abstracts were not reviewed by Neurology® and do not reflect the views of Neurology® editors or staff.