Study advances understanding of prebiotic resistant potato starch for personalized nutrition Resistant potato starch may improve LDL cholesterol levels, but the effects are not shared by everyone, says a new study that highlights the potential of the prebiotic for use in personalized nutrition applications. For ‘responders’, the LDL cholesterol improvements were correlated with increases in levels of Parasutterella bacteria in the gut. Parasutterella is a member of phylum Proteobacteria, which are generally considered to be undesirable or even pathogenic members of the gut microbiome. “While the effect of RPS [resistant potato starch] on LDL cholesterol was modest (mean change - 0.33 mmol/L in Responders) compared to cholesterol lowering medications, RPS supplementation may help reduce LDL levels in combination with other therapies,” wrote the researchers in the journal