Glucuronidation is one of the most important detoxification pathways in the body. It is responsible for removing many medications, environmental toxins, cancer-causing agents, excess hormones and substances found in food. Glucuronidation primarily occurs in the liver, a key organ for processing medications, hormones and bile acids.

Glucomannan is a natural, water-soluble dietary fibre extracted from the root of the Konjac plant. Konjac is an Asian root vegetable known for its starchy, tuber-like stem that grows underground. 

Glucomannan likely promotes colonic fermentation, which increases short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) concentration. This process lowers the pH and increases the acidity in the colon, thereby creating an environment where pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) and Bacteroides proliferation is limited. Beta-glucuronidase is produced from pathogenic bacteria such as E. Coli. By reducing the concentration of pathogenic bacteria in the colon, it is likely that Beta-glucuronidase is also decreased.

SCFAs also increase the diversity and abundance of commensal (helpful) bacteria, which are attributed to numerous systemic health benefits (see Butyrate). Furthermore, Konjac Glucomannan has a highly selective effect on intestinal microbiota. This prebiotic is likely to increase the number of health-promoting bacteria while reducing pathogenic bacteria species.

Konjac Glucomannan is an excellent source of soluble dietary fibre.  This means it continues to absorb fluid as it travels through the digestive tract, increasing the bulk of the stool and making stools easier to move through the colon. It is recommended to significantly increase water intake whilst using Vidality. 

Pomegranate Peel Extract is rich in tannins, complex polysaccharides and minerals. It is metabolised by the acidity of the gut and intestinal microbiota to yield metabolites Ellagic Acid, Punicalagin and Urolithins A. These metabolites can significantly inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria and increase the growth of beneficial bacteria, helping to restore balance within the gut microbiota.

Research has shown Pomegranate Peel Extract is protective towards a wide variety of inflammatory diseases. Key mechanisms of action for PPE are:

• Antioxidant properties
  The peel component of pomegranate is rich in phenolic composition (ellagitannins and punicalagin). These metabolites are known to alleviate oxidative stress and damage by mediating the upregulation of antioxidant enzyme activity.

• Anti-inflammatory activity
  PPE inhibits several inflammatory mediators by reducing uncontrolled inflammation. The ellagitannin metabolite, Urolithin A, improves gut barrier function by inhibiting inflammation and upregulating epithelial tight junction proteins. 

• Lipid metabolism
  PPE supports weight control due to tannin polyphenols (ellagic acid and punicalagin) and their metabolic derivative, Urolithin A. The metabolite inhibits key enzymes (glucosidase and lipase), triglycerides accumulation and expression of genes involved in adipogenesis (the formation of fat cells which form adipose tissue).

• Glucose metabolism
  Punicalagin, Ellagic, and Gallic Acid contained in PPE provide anti-hyperglycemic and antidiabetic effects by significantly lowering fasting blood glucose levels via multiple methods. PPE also improves comorbidity factors associated with diabetes, lipid metabolism dysregulation and elevated serum lipid levels.

Beta-glucans are the glucose polymers in the cell walls of yeast, fungi and some cereal grains. As a carbohydrate, the fermentable dietary fibre is almost completely hydrolysed by colonic bacteria within 12-24 hours after consumption.

Beta-glucans are slowly metabolised in the distal colon. This plays a critical role in reducing the secondary protein fermentation pathway of Propionate. When minimal carbohydrate remains in the colon, bacteria will synthesise undigested protein to substantially increase Propionate concentrations.

The slow metabolism of Beta-glucans plays a critical role in minimising the protein fermentation pathway of Propionate in the distal colon. When little to no carbohydrate is left, bacteria may synthesise protein sources, leading to the formation and accumulation of potentially harmful metabolite production.

Starch is a dietary type of fibre that typically makes up 25% of dietary calories. It is metabolised into glucose which the body uses to fuel all physiological functions. Some types of starch called Resistant Starch (RS) are not digested in the stomach or small intestine and pass through to the large intestine (colon), where they are fermented by specialised gut microbiota. This produces Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) such as Butyrate. 

There are five types of Resistant Starch, each with a different impact on the gut microbiome. The Vidality supplement is Type RS2, the most widely studied form of RS. It contains dense un-gelatinised starch granules that inhibit metabolism by digestive enzymes. Studies have shown RS2 can increase colonic Butyrate levels significantly.

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are plant-derived carbohydrates comprised of short fructose chains. FOS is not broken down by human digestive enzymes during gastrointestinal tract transit but is fermented by numerous bacterial species in the colon. FOS is considered a soluble dietary fibre.

Recent findings have demonstrated that FOS reduces the protein fermentation pathway of SRB and SAAs bacteria in the colon by supplying readily fermentable fibre for consumption by beneficial bacteria instead, effectively suppressing H₂S production by 90%. 

DIM is a bioactive compound derived from cruciferous vegetables, particularly the Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C) phytonutrient metabolite. This compound has been shown to inhibit Flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMO3) metabolising TMA into TMAO in the liver. This reduces circulating TMAO in the body and lowers the risk of cardiovascular conditions.

Research has also shown that DIM has various anti-cancer effects and plays an anti-angiogenic role by inhibiting tumours from growing their own blood vessels. It also helps to reduce inflammation and regulate estrogen balance.