The Natural Prebiotic

Baobab

Baobab is a fruit tree, native to Africa, Australia and Arabia. Its fruit is the only fruit in the world that naturally dries on the branch. Nicknamed ‘the tree of life’, the baobab offers a natural source of vitamins and minerals.

What Baobab can do for you?

Baobab is packed with natural fibre and vitamin C, helping your digestion and giving your immune system a boost.

  • Aids digestion and improves absorption
  • Provides a natural source of vitamins and minerals
  • Supports the immune system
  • Supports the healthy bacteria in the gut

The Science

Baobab fruit is a nutrient-dense superfood harvested from the African “Tree of Life.” It is naturally rich in vitamin C, dietary fibre (especially pectin), and polyphenols. These components contribute to antioxidant protection, gut microbiome diversity, and blood sugar balance. Baobab’s soluble fibre slows glucose absorption and supports satiety, making it a helpful tool for appetite regulation and glycaemic control. Its high antioxidant content helps counteract oxidative stress, while vitamin C supports collagen formation and immune health. Baobab is a gentle yet powerful source of nourishment for modern digestive and immune systems.

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The Studies

"At The Naked Pharmacy, we ensure that all of our supplements are made with effective strength bioactives, so they are clinically proven to work.

We aim for each supplement to be scientifically supported by multiple randomised placebo-controlled studies. All clinical trial studies we use to support our supplements are undertaken on human patients, using the same dosage and formulation of the product. The scientific studies are published in peer review journals."

The scientific studies to support our claims are published in the following peer review journals:

Study: Adansonia digitata L. (Baobab Fruit) Effect on Postprandial Glycemia in Healthy Adults: A Randomised Controlled Trial

How the study worked:

  • 31 healthy adults took part.
  • Half drank a standard sugar solution (glucose drink).
  • The other half drank the same sugar drink plus 250 mL of baobab fruit extract.
  • Their blood sugar levels were tracked, and the antioxidant properties of the baobab were analysed.

What they found:

  • The group who drank baobab extract had:
  • Lower peak blood sugar
  • Less of a spike overall after the glucose drink

The baobab extract was rich in natural antioxidants like:

  • Phenols
  • Tannins
  • Proanthocyanins

These compounds help neutralise free radicals like nitric oxide and superoxide, which are linked to inflammation and ageing.

What it means:
Drinking baobab extract alongside sugary or high-carb foods may help blunt the rise in blood sugar, making it a potentially useful natural support for managing glucose levels. It’s also a rich source of antioxidants, which can support overall health.

Study: The Acute Effects of Baobab Fruit (Adansonia digitata) on Satiety in Healthy Adults

Researchers wanted to know if baobab fruit extract could help people feel fuller for longer, potentially helping with appetite control and weight management.

How the study worked

  • 20 healthy participants took part in a one-day trial.
  • Each person tried two smoothies (on separate occasions):
  • One with 15 g of baobab extract
  • One without baobab

Researchers measured how hungry participants felt before and after the smoothie, and how much they ate at a follow-up meal.

What they found:

  • People reported feeling less hungry after the smoothie with baobab compared to the plain smoothie.
  • However, this did not lead to eating fewer calories at the next meal.

What it means:

Baobab extract may help reduce feelings of hunger, likely due to its high fibre and polyphenol content. While it didn’t reduce calorie intake in the short term, it shows potential as a natural tool for appetite control — which could be helpful for long-term weight maintenance.

Glossary of terms:

There are a few key terms to be aware of when reviewing these studies:

Randomised Clinical Trial

A clinical trial in which the participants are assigned randomly (by chance alone) to different treatments.

Double-blind study

A study in which neither the participants nor the experimenters know who is receiving a particular treatment. This procedure is utilised to prevent bias in research results.

Double-blind studies are particularly useful for preventing bias due to demand characteristics or the placebo effect.

P-value

The probability of obtaining the observed results of a test. The lower the p-value is, the more confident we can be of a true result. For example, a p- value of 0.001 confirms a result as 99.9% accurate.

Placebo

An inactive treatment used in a clinical trial, sometimes referred to as a “sugar pill”.

A placebo-controlled trial compares a new treatment with a placebo, in order to give greater confidence that the result is only due to the test/active ingredient.