Natrol toughens up probiotic delivery

Nutritional products manufacturer Natrol has introduced a new triple-shell beadlet technology, BioBeads, designed to enable the optimal delivery of active probiotics to the intestinal tract in oral supplement form.

Natrol BioBeads and its triple-shell delivery system was first presented to the market in early September at the Natural Products Expo East trade conference in Washington, DC and is now available nationwide.

Each 6 mm bead contains more than a billion beneficial live cultures - the company's own blend of four probiotics that mimics the strains found naturally in the stomach and intestinal tract. Three shell layers made from natural compounds protect the cultures until they reach the intestinal tract, where they are released for maximum effect.

"Tests show that most capsules and tablets don't allow live cultures to survive the naturally acidic, harsh digestive environment,"​ explained Natrol's vice president of marketing Peter Leighton. "But the probiotics in Natrol BioBeads are protected by an advanced triple shell that dissolves only upon reaching its destination."​

Probiotics, already a booming category throughout Europe and Asia, are rapidly gaining favor in the US for their digestive and immune system benefits. Some researchers believe that maintaining a healthy 'colony' of probiotics - the beneficial bacteria in the small intestine - is crucial for maintaining overall health, although evidence of the bacteria's effects on health is not yet conclusive.

Potential benefits of taking probiotic supplements may include the promotion of immune health, aid in digestion, support for the lactose intolerant and helping patients restore beneficial bacteria to the intestines after treatment with antibiotics, which destroy both good and bad bacteria.

In addition to an improved, superior delivery system, according to California-based Natrol another advantage of the BioBeads triple-shell technology is improved shelf-life. "Most acidophilus products require refrigeration, and still end up with only a small fraction of the probiotics they started with,"​ said Leighton. "BioBeads is a shelf-stable product guaranteed to contain at least 1 billion probiotics, 18 months after date of manufacture, without refrigeration."​

Natrol​ said the breakthrough BioBeads formula and delivery system demonstrated the company's renewed focus on innovation and new product development. "This patented technology is just one example of how we're working to help consumers maintain optimum health and well-being with convenient and effective solutions,"​ commented Elliott Balbert, founder and CEO.

BioBeads is available at Rite Aid, Albertson's, GNC, Vitamin Shoppe and other fine health retailers.