Acacia fiber is a soluble dietary fiber extracted from the natural resin of acacia trees. This fiber is often utilized in the pet food industry as a processing aid to improve texture and stability but there is limited information regarding its effect on canine gastrointestinal health. The current study used an in vitro fermentation system and canine fecal inoculum to mimic the colonic bacterial fermentation process and assess the fermentation characteristics of acacia fiber, inulin, pectin (positive control), and cellulose (negative control). As expected, cellulose was poorly fermented. In contrast, inulin and pectin were rapidly and extensively fermented, resulting in high short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and gas production and reduced pH. Acacia fiber was slowly fermented, producing moderate SCFA concentrations and very little gas. Fermentation of acacia fiber increased bacterial diversity and richness and promoted the proliferation of beneficial bacterial taxa such as Bacteroides, Blautia, and Faecalibacterium and limiting the growth of potential enteropathogenic bacteria such as Fusobacterium, Peptoclostridium, and Parasutterella. Overall, these results suggest that acacia fiber is a moderately fermentable fiber that may support gastrointestinal health without excessive gas production. Research on live animals is necessary to validate these potential benefits.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.