Prebiotic sodas could comprise much less fiber and extra sugar

Prebiotic sodas have turn out to be extra fashionable in recent times, with a wave of latest merchandise promising intestine well being advantages and low-calorie enjoyment. In keeping with a brand new evaluation, nevertheless, many of those drinks comprise comparatively little prebiotic fiber content material and extra sugar than advertising claims would possibly suggest.

Many merchandise embrace vitamin and useful claims which will overstate their dietary high quality. For instance, some labels declare ‘no added sugar,’ but the product should comprise round 10 grams of whole sugars from sources like juice. This raises issues that such claims could create a ‘well being halo,’ main customers to consider the product is more healthy than its total dietary profile suggests.”

Carlos R. Soto Díaz, MPH, PhD candidate, College of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Soto Díaz will current the findings at NUTRITION 2026, the flagship annual assembly of the American Society for Vitamin, held July 25–28 in Nationwide Harbor, Maryland, simply outdoors Washington, D.C. Soto Díaz performed the analysis with Lindsey Smith Taillie, PhD, a professor on the College of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Prebiotic sodas symbolize one of many quickest rising beverage segments within the U.S. market, with estimated gross sales of $777 million in 2025. Utilizing knowledge from the Mintel World New Merchandise Database, researchers analyzed 108 prebiotic sodas launched within the U.S. between 2021-2025. These have been outlined as carbonated drinks that comprise fiber and use the time period “prebiotic” within the product identify, bundle claims or ingredient lists. They in contrast prebiotic sodas’ dietary contents to common sodas, weight-reduction plan sodas, fruit drinks and flavored glowing waters launched throughout the identical time interval.

On common, prebiotic sodas contained about 35 energy, 5 grams of sugar and 5 grams of fiber per 12-ounce can. When it comes to energy and sugar, they ranked decrease than common sodas and fruit drinks however larger than weight-reduction plan sodas and flavored glowing waters. As well as, practically two-thirds of prebiotic sodas contained non-nutritive sweeteners akin to stevia. By comparability, over 90% of weight-reduction plan sodas contained non-nutritive sweeteners, whereas lower than 28% of fruit drinks, 16% of flavored glowing waters and 12% of normal sodas contained them.

Prebiotic sodas persistently contained extra fiber than different drinks, starting from about 2 to 9 grams of fiber per can. Within the U.S. market, the time period “prebiotic” shouldn’t be tied to a certain quantity of fiber, so researchers cautioned that buyers mustn’t assume a product incorporates a significant quantity just because it’s labeled as prebiotic, and sodas shouldn’t be relied upon as a main supply of dietary fiber.

“I might encourage customers to not be swayed by advertising claims and to fastidiously evaluation the Vitamin Information label,” stated Soto Díaz. “Whereas sure forms of prebiotic fibers have been proven to help intestine well being, the extent to which the quantities present in these drinks present significant advantages remains to be unclear. Any potential advantages ought to be thought-about alongside the product’s total dietary profile, together with energy, sugars and non-nutritive sweeteners.”

When contemplating the healthfulness of prebiotic sodas, the researchers say it is very important take into account what they’re changing. For individuals who frequently devour sugary drinks, switching to prebiotic sodas might assist to scale back total calorie and sugar consumption. However, switching to prebiotic sodas won’t be as useful for individuals who usually select low- or no-calorie drinks.