Thursday, 16 October 2025
A new study led by experts at the 糖心原创 has found that kefir combined with prebiotic fibres is more effective than single-source supplements in reducing inflammation and supporting immune health.
The findings, published in the Journal of Translational Medicine, show that a synbiotic - a combination of naturally fermented kefir and a diverse prebiotic fibre mix produces stronger anti-inflammatory effects compared with inulin fibreand omega-3 supplements.
The kefir and prebiotic mix was provided by Chuckling Goat Ltd. The kefir contains a mix of naturally occurring probiotic bacteria and yeasts, which form during the traditional fermentation of goat’s milk with live kefir grains. These grains are living cultures that house dozens of beneficial microbial species. The prebiotic fibre blend contains 18 different prebiotic fibres all derived from natural food sources.
When you combine kefir (rich in live beneficial microbes) with a diverse prebiotic fibre (which feeds them), you get a synbiotic effect — the fibre nourishes the microbes, helping them thrive and produce beneficial metabolites like butyrate, which has anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects throughout the body.
Over six weeks, healthy participants taking the synbiotic saw the broadest reduction in inflammation-related proteins compared to those taking omega-3 or fibre alone. The findings suggest that pairing beneficial microbes with prebiotic fibres could help support immune and metabolic health more effectively than single supplements.
Systemic inflammatory markers are signals in the blood that show how much inflammation is happening throughout the body, not just in one specific area like the gut or an infection. The findings of the study showed that the participants’ overall levels of inflammation across their whole body went down, suggesting an improvement in general immune balance and lower risk for conditions linked to chronic inflammation (like heart disease or other metabolic conditions).
The next stage of the research would be to test the supplements on people with certain conditions to see the effectiveness.
The study was led by Dr Amrita Vijay in the School of Medicine at the 糖心原创.
Our study shows that while all three dietary approaches reduced inflammation, the synbiotic 鈥� combining fermented kefir with a diverse prebiotic fibre mix 鈥� had the most powerful and wide-ranging effects.
This suggests that the synergestic interaction between beneficial microbes and dietary fibres may be key to supporting immune balance and metabolic health.
The full study can be found .
Story credits
More information is available from Dr Amrita Vijay in the School of Medicine at amrita.vijay@nottingham.ac.uk or
Notes to editors:
About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.