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Our Science

At COMET, we believe innovation is rooted in science. Through extensive research and clinical studies, we ensure our ingredients deliver proven health benefits supported by credible evidence. 

NATURE'S BEST DIETARY FIBER, PERFECTED

Arrabina is a diverse, arabinoxylan-rich prebiotic fiber with clinically proven tolerance and prebiotic health benefits. The fiber’s longer chain polysaccharide structure makes it better tolerated by the gut than oligosaccharides as it is digested later in the GI tract. The longer chain also has functionality benefits as it is not as vulnerable to degradation in low pH and high temperature cooking applications. 

Arabinoxylan is abundant in nature. In fact, it makes up about 70% of the soluble fiber naturally found in grains1. Yet, large quantities of processed whole grains are needed for a single serving size of soluble arabinoxylan fiber.

Cereal bowls comparing to Comet Fiber

~ 5 cups of wheat bran cereal2

~ 3.6 grams3

ONLY COMET solved this problem using our patented upcycling technology to unlock arabinoxylan’s potential and make it available in our line of Arrabina dietary fibers. 

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD

We value the scientific experts who guide and support research on the role that Arrabina dietary fibers can play in health and wellness. We are grateful for their counsel as we determine priorities, strategies and direction to validate the powerful nutritional value of our prebiotic ingredients. 

Dr. Edward Deehan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Food Science & Technology at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and a Nebraska Food for Health Center member. He received his PhD from the University of Alberta where he studied the role of purified dietary fibers in modulating the gut microbiome and inducing health benefits in humans. Prior to joining UNL, he also served as a Senior Scientist with AgriFiber Solutions. Edward has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications on fiber and the gut microbiome with work published in notable journals, such as Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology and Cell Host & Microbe. Edward is also a Registered Dietitian, completing his dietetic training at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital and Michigan State University. 

Bruce R. Hamaker is a Distinguished Professor of Food Science at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. He also holds the Roy L. Whistler Chair and is Director of the Whistler Center of Carbohydrate Research. He obtained his undergraduate degree in biological sciences from Indiana University; his graduate studies were in human nutrition (M.S.) and food chemistry (Ph.D.) from Purdue University, and post-doctoral study at the Instituto de Investigacion Nutricional in Lima, Peru (supervisor, George Graham, Johns Hopkins University). He has over 360 refereed publications in food science, human nutrition, biochemistry and broad-spectrum journals, as well as numerous book chapters. Bruce’s research is known in the area of food carbohydrates with emphasis on dietary fibers and the gut microbiome, and glycemia and physiological systems.

Kristin Verbeke graduated as a pharmacist from KU Leuven, Belgium. After obtaining her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, she continued her research in developing radioactively labeled compounds. She later joined the Dept. of Gastroenterology Medical Faculty of the Leuven University working with stable isotope labelled compounds and gastrointestinal functions. Her team has developed advanced analytical techniques using mass spectrometry and stable isotope or radioisotopes to study intestinal metabolism and function in humans, including transit time, intestinal permeability, carbohydrate fermentation, protein fermentation, metabolome analysis. She also studies production, kinetics and physiological effects of short chain fatty acids, particularly their role in microbiota-gut-brain communication. From 2010-2020, she held the W.K. Kellogg Co-Chair in Cereal Sciences and Nutrition. She is the past president of the Belgian Nutrition Society, vice-chair of the Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Center and co-chair of the Prebiotic task force at ILSI Europe. She serves on the editorial board of Gut Microbiome (former) and Gastrointestinal Disorders and is a Board member of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics.

Hannah Ackermann is the VP of Marketing & Nutrition Affairs at COMET. She received her B.S. in dietetics and Honors bachelor’s in journalism from Indiana University Bloomington, where she achieved accolades as an Ernie Pyle Honors Scholar with the Hutton Honors College. She completed both a dietetic internship program to obtain her license as a Registered Dietitian and her M.B.A. with high honors from Dominican University’s Brennan School of Business. Before joining COMET, Hannah worked at global market research and public relations firms, providing nutrition consulting for leading food, beverage, and food service brands. Hannah uses her expertise in nutrition to direct COMET’s clinical and pre-clinical trial strategies, educate customers on Arrabina’s health benefits, and tell its ingredient story.   

Andrew Richard is the Chief Technology Officer and Founder at COMET. Andrew received his B.E.Sc. degree in biochemical engineering from the University of Western Ontario, an M.B.A. from the Richard Ivey School of Business and Ph.D. in biochemical engineering at the University of Western Ontario. With his Ph.D. focused on bacterial fermentation and advanced biopolymers, he carried this into the field as the primary developer of COMET’s platform technology that produces prebiotic fibers and value-added products from upcycled materials. Andrew has a successful track record of developing and scaling biomass conversion processes and the production of linerboard pulp from ryegrass straw, including converting cellulose derivatives (ethanol and butanol) into transportation fuels. He is the inventor of COMET’s extensive patent portfolio comprising over 250 patents worldwide. Andrew co-leads COMET’s clinical and preclinical study programs with colleague Hannah Ackermann. 

Arrabina TOLERABILITY CLINICAL TRIAL

Results from a double-blind, randomized clinical trial confirm the superior GI tolerability of Arrabina. The clinical trial was administered by a leading third party research organization Biofortis. It consisted of 36 healthy individuals who consumed Arrabina at 7.5 grams or 15 grams per day or a placebo. 

Participants ranked eight areas for gut and bowel discomfort including gas, bloating, and nausea to compare any potential differences in GI tolerance of the three treatments. Results show that even at a high dosage of 15 grams per day, there were no statistical differences in GI distress between the participants taking Arrabina versus those taking the placebo. 

The results were published in the academic journal Developments in Current Nutrition and presented at the American Society of Nutrition conference.

READ THE PUBLICATION

No significant difference from placebo in GI symptoms after one week of daily use4

Low dose prebiotic fiber

With as little as 3.6 grams per day, Arrabina promotes the growth of beneficial bifidobacteria3

PREBIOTIC EFFECTIVE LEVEL
ARRABINA®
OTHER PREBIOTIC FIBERS
  • Grams
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Arrabina Ex-Vivo Study

Using Cryptobiotix’s ex-vivo SIFR® technology, the impact of Arrabina on metabolite production (key fermentation parameters (pH, gas, SCFA, bCFA)) and microbial composition (shallow-shotgun sequencing) of the gut microbiota of 6 different donors was assessed after 24 hours.

Arrabina P at 3/4/5/8 gram doses and Arrabina L at 2/3/5 gram doses were tested against a no-substrate control and the reference prebiotic inulin at a 5 gram dose. Results show that Arrabina L and Arrabina P significantly decreased pH, bCFA and stimulated the production of gas, acetate, propionate, butyrate (and thus, total SCFA). The effects were stronger as test doses increased, potentially resulting in a series of health benefits for the host.

Within the tested range of 2-8 g/day, both grades were highly effective in stimulating SCFA production. 

Comparing Arrabina L/Arrabina P to inulin at the same dose (5 g) showed that Arrabina P and especially Arrabina L exhibited significantly higher total SCFA production. Further, while Arrabina L and inulin more strongly stimulated butyrate, Arrabina P specifically boosted propionate.

Arrabina produces powerful SCFAs at Low Doses

Arrabina P SCFAs Production @ 3g/day*

Arrabina L SCFAs Production @ 2g/day*

*Data Show Significant Results From 6 Participants In Ex Vivo Trial Conducted Using Cryptobiotix Sifr Technology.  Key Fermentation Parameters Were Assessed At 24h After Introduction Of Test Products In Colonic Environment Of Human Adults, As Simulated With The Ex Vivo Sifr® Technology. 

Arrabina L and Arrabina P resulted in
significantly less gas production compared to inulin,
indicating better tolerability.

Arrabina Produces More Benefits with Less Gas

Total SCFA Production at 5g dose mM*

10-18%
More
SCFAs

Gas Production @ 5g dose mBar*

10-20%
Less
Gas

*Data Shows Significant Results From 6 Participants In Ex Vivo Trial Conducted Using Cryptobiotix Sifr Technology. Key Fermentation Parameters Were Assessed At 24h After Introduction Of Test Products In Colonic Environment Of Human Adults, As Simulated With The Ex Vivo Sifr® Technology. 

The results demonstrated higher microbial diversity and SCFA production
for Arrabina L and especially Arrabina P compared to inulin,
suggesting additional benefits on gut health.

More Diverse Fiber Provides More Diverse Benefits

Beneficial Bacterial Growth

Inulin @ 5g/day

Arrabina L @ 2g/day

Arrabina P @ 3g/day

  • Bifidobacteriaceae
  • Coricbacteriaceae
  • Bifidobacteriaceae
  • Anaerobutyricum hallii
  • Faecalibacterium prausnitzil
  • Lawsonibacter assachrolvticus
  • Subdoligranulumus
  • Roseburia intestinalis
  • Bifidobacteriaceae
  • Prevoltellaceae 
  • Acidaminococca
  • Bacteroides spp.
  • Phocaeicola spp
  • Parabacteroides spp.
  • Phascaolarctobacterium spp.
Interested in learning more about Arrabina’s Clinical Evidence? Get in touch!

1) Jing Wang, et al. “Cereal-derived Arabinoxylans: Structural Features and Structure–activity Correlations.” v. 96,. pp. 157-165. doi: href=”https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2019.12.016″ 10.1016/j.tifs.2019.12.016

2) https://www.postconsumerbrands.com/raisin-bran/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2016/09/RaisinBran.pdf

3) ISAPP; Windley et al. 2015, Cloetens et al. 2010, Francois et al. 2014, Maki et al. 2012, Walton et al. 2012, Damen et al. 2012, Kjølbæk et al. 2019.

  • Windey et al. 2015. Wheat bran extract alters colonic fermentation and microbial composition, but does not affect faecal water toxicity: a randomised controlled trial in healthy subjects. British Journal of Nutrition, 113, 225-238. Cloetens et al. 2010. Tolerance of arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides and their prebiotic activity in healthy subjects: a randomised, placebo-controlled crossover study. British Journal of Nutrition, 103, 703-713.
  • François IE, Lescroart O, Veraverbeke WS, Marzorati M, Possemiers S, Hamer H, Windey K, Welling GW, Delcour JA, Courtin CM, Verbeke K, Broekaert WF. Effects of wheat bran extract containing arabinoxylan oligosaccharides on gastrointestinal parameters in healthy preadolescent children. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014 May;58(5):647-53.
  • Maki KC, Gibson GR, Dickmann RS, Kendall CW, Chen CY, Costabile A, Comelli EM,McKay DL, Almeida NG, Jenkins D, Zello GA, Blumberg JB. Digestive and physiologic effects of a wheat bran extract, arabino-xylan-oligosaccharide, in breakfast cereal. Nutrition. 2012 Nov-Dec;28(11-12):1115-21. 
  • Walton GE, Lu C, Trogh I, Arnaut F, Gibson GR. A randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled cross-over study to determine the gastrointestinal effects of consumption of arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides enriched bread in healthy volunteers. Nutr J. 2012 Jun 1;11:36.
  • Windey K, François I, Broekaert W, De Preter V, Delcour JA, Louat T, Herman J, Verbeke K. High dose of prebiotics reduces fecal water cytotoxicity in healthy subjects. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2014 Nov;58(11):2206-18. doi:10.1002/mnfr.201400298. Epub 2014 Oct 17. PMID: 25164793.
  • Kjølbæk, L., Benítez-Páez, A., Pulgar, E. M., Brahe, L. K., Liebisch, G., Matysik, S., . . . Sanz, Y. (2019). Arabinoxylan oligosaccharides and polyunsaturated fatty acid effects on gut microbiota and metabolic markers in overweight individuals with signs of metabolic syndrome: A randomized cross-over trial. Clinical Nutrition. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2019.01.0

4) Oliver Chen, Traci Blonquist, Kristen Sanoshy, Kathleen Kelley, Eunice Mah, The Effect of Arabinoxylan on Gastrointestinal Tolerance in Generally Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study, >, Volume 5, Issue Supplement_2, June 2021, Page 304.

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Hannah Ackermann

Hannah has over a decade of experience working within the intersection of nutrition and business. As a Registered Dietitian and a Monash Low FODMAP Certified RD, Hannah uses her expertise in nutrition to direct COMET’s clinical trial strategy, educate customers on Arrabina’s health claims, and tell its ingredient story. Before joining COMET, Hannah worked at global market research and public relations firms, providing nutrition consulting for the leading food, beverage, and food service brands.