Top 3 ways MicrobiomeX® supports your immune system

Last updated: October 18th, 2024

March 25th, 2022

Understanding the connection between gut microbiota and the immune system is expanding rapidly, along with the demand for science-backed products that support immunity. MicrobiomeX® is a nutraceutical ingredient derived from citrus flavonoids that enhances immune function by promoting a balanced gut microbiota. It works by stimulating butyrate production, increasing SIgA antibody levels, and reducing intestinal inflammation.

Microbiomex supports immunity

The connection between gut microbiota and immune system

Every day, the body encounters various pathogens that could potentially cause illness. The immune system, along with the gut microbiota, works to protect against these invaders.

The microbiome is a community of bacteria residing in the gut, with beneficial bacteria lining the gut wall. By adhering to the gut lining, these good bacteria create a barrier that prevents harmful pathogens from attaching to the gut mucosa, effectively blocking them from “sticking” and causing harm [1].

Moreover, these bacteria produce important molecules such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) that are involved in improving immune function and lowering gut inflammation.

What is MicrobiomeX®?

MicrobiomeX® is a citrus flavonoid-based ingredient designed to enhance immune function and strengthen gut defenses. Developed by BioActor in collaboration with Maastricht University and Wageningen University, its health benefits have been validated through clinical, ex-vivo, and in-vitro studies.

Clinical research across diverse populations has shown that MicrobiomeX® directly supports gut health and immunity by being metabolized by the gut microbiota and positively influencing its composition—a process known as the Flavobiotic® effect. This ingredient is standardized to contain two key citrus flavonoids, hesperidin (>85%) and naringin (>5%), with immune-boosting effects demonstrated at doses ranging from 250 mg to 500 mg in a dose-dependent manner.

Three ways MicrobiomeX® supports your immune system

If you are considering including MicrobiomeX® in your formulation, you should know this:

1. MicrobiomeX® positively changes the microbiota composition helping stimulate the production of butyrate.

When health-promoting bacteria are present in the gut, they help protect your gut wall from pathogens and bad microorganisms. MicrobiomeX® has been shown to help the growth of beneficial microbiota in the gut, for example strains that belong to the phylum Firmicutes.

Not only helps MicrobiomeX® with maintaining a protective layer against bad microorganisms, but it also promotes butyrate-producing strains such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Clostridium leptum and Roseburia. This results in higher levels of butyrate [2].

This is beneficial, mainly because butyrate inhibits nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). Dysregulation of NF-κB is often seen in inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. This means, that by increasing butyrate levels in the gut and consequently inhibiting NF-κB MicrobiomeX® helps lower inflammation in the gut [3].

 

2. MicrobiomeX® increases Secretory Immunoglobulin A

After four weeks of daily 500 mg MicrobiomeX®, fecal Secretory Immunoglobulin A (SIgA) significantly increased in healthy elderly.

Why is this good news?

IgA is the antibody that is the most produced by the body and it is primarily found in the gastrointestinal system, where it plays a big role in keeping your intestinal microbiota in check. IgA directly binds to pathogens such as bad bacteria and viruses and neutralizes them.

Neutralization of pathogens stops them from colonizing the mucosal layer of the gut wall and infiltrating the cells of the gut to cause illness. This protection mechanism is known as ‘immune exclusion’ and makes SIgA a key factor in your immune system.

SigA activation and gut function

3. MicrobiomeX® lowers gut inflammation

MicrobiomeX® intake is shown to lower calprotectin levels, an indicator of chronic inflammation.

Typically, older people and people with irritable bowel syndrome or leaky gut syndrome have chronically increased levels of calprotectin [4].

Gut inflammation leads to a lesser functioning gut barrier, which makes it easier for pathogens to infiltrate your body. MicrobiomeX® has been shown to decrease fecal calprotectin, indicating it lowers gut inflammation and thus, your gut health benefits from this product.

Moreover, MicrobiomeX® was shown to be able to lower NF-κB levels in a co-culture study with Caco-2 cells line and macrophages. NF-κB is a proinflammatory transcription factor involved in the production of inflammatory chemokine such as TNF-a, which accordingly was shown decreased in the same study.

The bottom line

There are several ways your gut helps to fight against pathogens that cause disease. It is good to boost your immune system and the citrus flavonoids in MicrobiomeX® offer a way to support your immune system naturally.