RS could have beneficial effects on gut health in several ways. Research suggests that RS supplementation may increase fecal weight and levels of butyrate (a SCFA), and reduce fecal pH — features that could potentially promote the health of the colon.[1] However, these effects seem to vary depending on the type of RS used and on other factors that can influence the baseline microbiome (e.g., sex, dietary habits, health and weight status, geographical location).[2][3] RS may stimulate the growth of potentially beneficial bacteria in the gut, but again, these effects tend to vary greatly and no consistent pattern has emerged.[4]
Beyond the gut, RS supplementation might reduce fasting blood glucose levels,[5] improve insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR),[5] and reduce markers of inflammation (TNF-alpha, interleukin-6).[6][7] However, these effects are inconsistently found and tend to be small in magnitude, meaning they may not be particularly impactful.