M&S X Zoe Gut Shot

The Research

Kefir (milk)

Kefir is a fermented dairy drink which has several potential health benefits including improving the diversity of gut microbiota and lactose tolerance. However, it’s unclear what dose of kefir is needed to achieve these benefits.

randomised controlled trial (RCT) in 45 people with irritable bowel disease (IBD) showed that kefir at a dose of 400ml per day for 4 weeks may help to improve symptoms of bloating and overall feeling good scores of which were significantly improved in this study (p<0.05). The kefir drinkers also found improvements in their gut microbiome composition (1).

However, the dose of kefir in this product is only 150ml and is therefore lower than used in this RCT, so may not be as effective.

Probiotics

None of the bacterial strains in M&S ZOE gut shot have been identified and therefore cannot be considered probiotics. To identify a probiotic, there should be a third part to the microbe’s name e.g. Lactobaccilus rhamnosus HN001.

Other ingredients

Mixed fruit puree (apple, strawberry, banana, blackcurrant, blueberry) have no known health benefits.

M&S ZOE Gut Shot contains 3.3g of fibre mostly from baobab pulp and chicory root. Baobab pulp and chicory root have independently found to improve blood glucose levels when consumed alongside meals, but at much higher doses than used in this product.

A study that was conducted in 9 healthy female participants found that consumption of baobab fruit pulp at a dose of 18.5g and 37g could significantly reduce post-prandial blood glucose levels following white bread consumption.

Chicory fibre: Two double-blind trials with 40-42 healthy adults showed that chicory-derived inulin (12.9g) and oligofructose (5.3g) reduced blood glucose and insulin levels, with inulin showing a significant effect. However, the gut shot’s fibre content is lower than in these trials but the sugar-to-fiber ratio may still produce similar results.

Ginger juice: A crossover study in 123 healthy volunteers found that 20ml of fresh ginger juice for 7 days improved gut microbiome diversity, reduced pro-inflammatory bacteria, and increased beneficial anti-inflammatory bacteria. However, the exact amount of ginger juice in this product is unclear.