Livaux® gold kiwifruit powder consumption at 600 mg per day for 28 days increases Faecalibacterium prausnitzii numbers and decreases bloating and hydrogenotrophic species numbers in healthy individuals, consistent with slow fermentation: A randomized controlled trial

Kiwifruit is renowned for its benefits to laxation. Livaux® is a gold kiwifruit powder retaining whole fruit benefits, including high-methoxy pectin content. Livaux was previously shown to provide laxation support and increased faecal F. prausnitzii . F. prausnitzii is known to use high-methoxy pectin as substrate. We aimed to determine the changes to laxation and faecal F. prausnitzii numbers from 600 mg of Livaux. We used a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled parallel-arm study with 85 participants conducted across four North American sites, comparing 28 days of 600 mg Livaux consumption vs cellulose placebo. The study was powered for the primary outcome Complete Spontaneous Bowel Movements (CSBM). Participants visited at screening, baseline and endpoint. Anthropometric measures, hematology, clinical chemistry and hematology and fecal samples for microbiome assessment were collected at baseline and endpoint. Clinical outcomes (CSBM, Bristol Stool Form Score (BSFS), spontaneous bowel movements (SBM) and participant-assessed constipation symptoms and quality of life), food diaries and adverse events were recorded daily throughout the study. Analysis of the intent-to-treat population assessed differences from baseline to endpoint using ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey's T-test, an assessment of change from baseline to days 7, 14, 21 and 28 using repeated measures ANCOVA. Livaux supplemented participants showed significantly increased fecal F. prausnitzii relative abundance, whilst placebo did not. Participants also showed significantly improved CSBM, SBM, BSFS and constipation symptom and quality of life scores over baseline. Livaux supplementation improved laxation and increased F. prausnitzii at the low dose of 600 mg. This study was registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03462199 . • Gold kiwifruit fibre may provide natural laxation and microbiome modulation benefits. •We ran a 28-day randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded parallel safety study. •Livaux at 600 mg/day improved bowel habits, symptoms and quality of life vs baseline. •Gut microbiomes increased Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and decreased hydrogenotrophs. •These data are consistent with Livaux improving but slowing gut fermentation.