The Wellness Report #8: Prebiotic Soda: Gut Health’s Fizzy New Obsession
Nutriburst Vitamins
July 25, 2025
The Trend Snapshot
Gut health has gone pop. Literally.
Across TikTok, YouTube, and high street wellness shops, prebiotic soda has become the latest answer to bloating, sluggish digestion, and microbiome support. US brands like Olipop and Poppi are leading the charge, with influencers praising them as “Coke, but good for you.”
And it’s working, at least commercially. Olipop recently surpassed $200 million in revenue, and the functional soda category is growing fast in the UK, where brands are vying for space in places like Planet Organic, Holland & Barrett, and Waitrose. But do these drinks actually do what they say on the tin?
The Science Behind the Bubbles
A prebiotic is a type of fibre or compound that feeds your beneficial gut bacteria—mainly species like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.
The most common prebiotics used in these sodas include:
- Inulin (often from chicory root)
- Fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
- Galactooligosaccharides (GOS)
- Apple cider vinegar (borderline: contains acetic acid, sometimes combined with fibre)
What does the science say?
Multiple human studies show that these prebiotic fibres can:
- Increase beneficial bacteria in the gut
- Reduce markers of gut inflammation
- Enhance short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, especially butyrate, which supports gut lining and brain health
But here’s the catch: Most of these effects occur at 5–10 grams per day of prebiotic fibre, sometimes more. Most prebiotic sodas contain just 2–5 grams per can, meaning you’d need to drink multiple cans a day to reach therapeutic levels. Even then, individual response varies widely.
The Downside of Fizzy Fibre
Many gut sodas use non-nutritive sweeteners like: stevia, erythritol, allulose, fruit juice concentrates.
Some are well-tolerated in small doses, but others—especially sugar alcohols like erythritol - have been linked to:
- Gastrointestinal distress (bloating, gas, diarrhoea)
- Changes in gut microbiota when consumed chronically in high doses
- Rare associations with cardiovascular risks when consumed in excess over time (based on recent epidemiological studies)
If you’re already sensitive to FODMAPs or fibre, the combination of carbonation, fibre, and sweeteners could make symptoms worse, not better.
This isn’t just a wellness trend - it’s a business model.
The UK functional beverage market is projected to reach £1.6 billion by 2027, with gut health leading the charge. “Better-for-you soda” is being positioned as a guilt-free upgrade for the Coke generation.
Why is it taking off?
- Microbiome is the new skincare: gut health is now linked to skin, mood, immunity, and energy
- Lifestyle-friendly format: drinking a soda feels easier than eating 10g of chicory root
- Influencer-powered trust loop: Gen Z trusts recommendations from TikTok more than NHS websites
Yet there’s no clear regulation around the use of terms like prebiotic or gut-friendly on soft drinks in the UK. So while the fibre may be functional, the health halo often exceeds the science.
Our Take
Let’s be clear: we’re not anti-prebiotic soda. When formulated well, they can offer a low-effort way to sneak in more fibre. But here’s what matters: They’re not a shortcut to gut health.
At Nutriburst, we take a science-first approach to gut support. That means:
- Ingredients backed by clinically effective doses
- No gut-disrupting sweeteners or additives
If a fizzy drink helps you stay consistent with fibre, great. Just make sure your routine doesn’t stop there.