Probiotics, prebiotics & postbiotics

Scientists in global project to create world's largest human microbiome database

12-Nov-2019 By Nikki Hancocks

Scientists from around the world are joining forces for the “Million Microbiome of Humans Project” (MMHP) in an aim to build the world’s largest database of the human microbiome.

Prebiotics group concurs with $5.5 billion figure on global market

11-Nov-2019 By Hank Schultz

Growing consumer awareness along with demand in animal nutrition is driving the overall growth of prebiotics, which a trade group says will account for $5.5 billion in sales in 2019. Better messaging can help maintain that momentum, the group says.

Editor's Spotlight: Startup Focus

The gut health guinea pigs: Tenacious twins on the road with a microbiome mission

11-Nov-2019 By Nikki Hancocks

Two radio star identical twins have combined their presenting talent with their passion for gut health and co-founded a business devoted to taking the mystery out of the gut microbiome with public education on a large, evidence based and entertaining...

Probiota Asia 2019

Probiotic from Penang: Malaysian cow’s milk bacteria strain exerts benefits for brain, URT, and liver

11-Nov-2019 By Tingmin Koe

A probiotic strain isolated from cow’s milk in Penang, Malaysia, has been shown to deliver benefits related to brain, respiratory, and gut health.

Comet Bio achieves milestone with self-affirmed GRAS status for prebiotic fiber

07-Nov-2019 By Danielle Masterson

The prebiotic Arabinoxylan Plant Fiber Extract trademarked as Arrabina, is officially considered safe.

Probiota Asia 2019

More validation, standardisation, and mechanism of action studies needed to address gaps in probiotics research

07-Nov-2019 By Guan Yu Lim

There is a need for more validated, standardised, randomised control trials (RCT) studying the mechanism of action in probiotics research.

Editor's Spotlight

Personalized nutrition honing in on cost/benefit analysis for endpoints, data collection, expert says

06-Nov-2019 By Hank Schultz

Personalized nutrition is closing in on actionable endpoints that will help companies cost effectively help consumers take control of their personal health, an expert says.

Comet Bio teams up with farmers to develop ingredients with use crop leftovers

06-Nov-2019 By Danielle Masterson

The manufacturer is founded on upcycling crop leftovers to develop healthy, sustainable, and natural ingredients for use in supplements, foods, and beverages.

Probiotics industry welcomes Bill Gates’ support of probiotics, microbiome research

06-Nov-2019 By Stephen Daniells

Recent comments by Bill Gates supporting probiotics and ways to modulate the microbiome to help tackle malnutrition are hugely significant, says the executive director of the International Probiotics Association (IPA).

Probiota Asia 2019

‘Most important currency’: Local probiotic clinical studies key in driving BioGaia’s APAC growth

06-Nov-2019 By Tingmin Koe

Clinical trials involving local population is “one of the most important currencies” for carving out a reputation amongst APAC’s healthcare practitioners, says Swedish probiotic firm BioGaia.

Probi-backed trial identifies probiotic blend’s link to reduced bone loss in women

05-Nov-2019 By Will Chu

A Probi-funded study highlights the link between the use of probiotics and reduced bone loss in post-menopausal women.

30 things we learned at the 2019 IPA DC Workshop

04-Nov-2019 By Stephen Daniells

A booming global market with double digit growth rates, establishing an adequate intake for dietary microbes, and why the impending taxonomic changes to the genus Lactobacillus are like Y2K: These were just some of the topics covered during the fourth...

Study: Childhood obesity risk factors occur before birth

04-Nov-2019 By Danielle Masterson

New research suggests the mother's gut bacteria and its interactions with immune cells and metabolic organs, including fat tissue, play a key role in childhood obesity.

Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes acquires Bifodan A/S

04-Nov-2019 By Danielle Masterson

Effective with the acquisition, Bifodan is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deerland.

Company offers personalized probiotics based on DNA microbiome testing

31-Oct-2019 By Hank Schultz

A new company is claiming to offer ‘precision’ probiotics to consumers based on DNA testing of their individual microbiomes.

New preliminary research finds that poor sleep may have negative effect on gut health

31-Oct-2019 By Danielle Masterson

Lack of sleep can affect not just energy levels, but the gut too. A new study looks to explore the relationship between sleep and the gut microbiome.

ALANUR survey highlights dietary supplement use in Chile and Peru

31-Oct-2019 By Stephen Daniells

Almost 50% of urban Chileans used supplements during the previous three months, while the numbers are not far behind for Peruvians in three of the main urban centers at 42%, according to surveys from ALANUR.

Blackmores’ full year growth dragged down by sluggish China performance and rising costs

31-Oct-2019 By Tingmin Koe

A lacklustre China performance and rising operating costs have dragged down Blackmores’ full year net profit by 24% to $53m.

Probiota Asia 2019

Entering China’s booming probiotics market: The six big challenges to overcome

29-Oct-2019 By Tingmin Koe

Firms which are planning to enter China’s probiotic market should take note of six key challenges surrounding the types of ingredients available for use, consumers’ understanding, and approved health claims.

NIU’s Global Round-up: Probiotics research booming in Asia, efficient & sustainable calanus harvesting, and more

28-Oct-2019 By Stephen Daniells

What's happened this week around the Nutra-Verse? Stay on top of things with our weekly round-up of key news from across the globe.

China-based Harbin may buy out struggling GNC

24-Oct-2019 By Danielle Masterson

Earlier this year, the vitamin retailer sought international expansion after striking a strategic partnership deal with China-based Harbin Pharmaceutical Group. Now it appears Harbin (also known as Hayao) may buy the Pittsburgh-based health and wellness...

Beneo reveals plans to increase functional fiber prices

23-Oct-2019 By Danielle Masterson

Beneo announced plans to implement a global price increase next year averaging 5% for its inulin and oligofructose for food and feed applications.

BASF joins the HMO club with 2’-FL launch

23-Oct-2019 By Stephen Daniells

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are the “hot new thing” said an expert recently, as BASF announced the US launch of its 2’-FL (2’-fucosyllactose) ingredient, which is branded Prebilac.

Probiota Asia 2019

Probiotic research booming in Asia with China and Iran leading the charge

23-Oct-2019 By Tingmin Koe

A growing number of clinical studies focusing on probiotics is seen in Asia, with China and Iran seeing exponential increase in recent years, according to an International Probiotics Association-backed review.

From the Editor's Desk

Probiotics under fire: ‘When a doctor treats himself, he has a fool for a patient’

18-Oct-2019 By Stephen Daniells

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal has caused consternation among stakeholders in the probiotics space. Why? Well, for an article written by an MD and cancer researcher it’s as unscientific as it is potentially damaging.

GNC rolls out personalized vitamin pack subscription service

17-Oct-2019 By Stephen Daniells

Called GNC4U, the new monthly subscription service from GNC is based on recommendations gleamed from individual health needs, lifestyle goals, and DNA analysis.

Taiyo finds creative way to support prebiotic Sunfiber’s ‘regulating’ effects

17-Oct-2019 By Hank Schultz

Prebiotic ingredient manufacturer Taiyo has added to the evidence behind its Sunfiber ingredient with a study showing normalized stools among subjects with a tendency toward diarrhea.

From the editor's desk

Matching performance to promises holds key to personalized nutrition success

16-Oct-2019 By Hank Schultz

The personalized nutrition revolution holds huge potential for the dietary supplement industry. But matching promises to performance will be the key to keeping that goose alive until it can deliver the golden eggs.

Personalized nutrition: Who’s driving M&A activity in the category?

15-Oct-2019 By Stephen Daniells

We’re already seeing consolidation in the personalized nutrition space, with Nestlé Health Science and DSM just two of the multinationals putting their money into the category.

Insights from Lumina Intelligence

Sports Nutrition – key trends for 2020

14-Oct-2019 By Shane Starling

The mainstreaming of sports nutrition backed by the ever-rising importance of online reviews and ratings and social media validation, are key findings from a 6-pack of sports nutrition sub-sector reports published by Lumina Intelligence.

Trump exec orders will affect guidances from FDA and FTC, expert says

11-Oct-2019 By Hank Schultz

New Trump Administration executive orders on guidance documents from regulatory agencies likely will affect the dietary supplement industry, an attorney says.

Labeling, colonization, adequate intakes, & taxonomy to be discussed at IPA’s DC Workshop

10-Oct-2019 By Stephen Daniells

The International Probiotics Association will host its fourth IPA DC Workshop with insights from a range of experts and stakeholders, including the FDA/ CFSAN, FTC, and Health Canada. The event is held in conjunction with the US Pharmacopeia.

Monkey gut study shines light on ecology’s role in human microbiome

09-Oct-2019 By Danielle Masterson

A new study has found the human gut more closely resembles that of baboons than it does our closest relatives, the apes.

Bill Gates: ‘Probiotics key to solving malnutrition’

08-Oct-2019 By Will Chu

Probiotics could be key in addressing malnutrition, according to Bill Gates, who calls the nutritional imbalances affecting around 200 million children under five ‘the greatest health inequity in the world.’

Editor's Spotlight: Startup Focus

Personal trainer turns his hand to fermented foods after catching the bug for gut-health

07-Oct-2019 By Nikki Hancocks

A personal trainer has founded a fermented food and drink brand after he undertook a radical 30-day elimination diet which ignited a passion for nutrition and gut health.

Study: Gut health most influenced by teams of bacteria

07-Oct-2019 By Nikki Hancocks

Gut microbial species work in teams to perform different functions, suggesting that cultivating certain groups of bacteria is more important than single species, according to an international team of researchers.

Critically ill lose microbial gut diversity as pathogens dominate, study finds

04-Oct-2019 By Will Chu

Long-term hospital patients receiving intensive care lose gut microbial diversity as researchers observe how potentially harmful microbes overwhelm the healthy gut microbiota.

SupplySide West Education: The sessions our editors will be keeping an eye on…

03-Oct-2019 By Stephen Daniells

With barely two weeks left before the industry makes it annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas for SupplySide West, we look ahead to the events educational workshop program.

Givaudan invests in personalisation with launch of skin microbiome analyser

03-Oct-2019 By Will Chu

Givaudan is exploring the idea of personalised nutricosmetic products with its microbiome analysis system designed to tailor products to consumer’s bacterial skin communities.

Giants collaborate: DuPont reveals how BY-HEALTH link-up will fuel probiotics innovation - interview

01-Oct-2019 By Guan Yu Lim, Tingmin Koe

DuPont Nutrition and Chinese supplement giant BY-HEALTH will collaborate to develop probiotics with new functions, including anti-ageing, oral and skin health.

Dietary supplement use more popular than ever: CRN study

30-Sep-2019 By Danielle Masterson

The widespread use of dietary supplements among adults of all ages is on the rise.

Physicians receive inadequate nutrition education, study calls for policy changes

27-Sep-2019 By Danielle Masterson

Poor diet is the leading risk factor for early death worldwide. Yet nutrition is insufficiently incorporated into medical education, according to a new report from the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC).

Microbiome profiling: Study uncovers ‘comprehensive’ list of organisms that make a healthy gut

27-Sep-2019 By Nathan Gray

There are 157 organisms that form the 'baseline biome' of a healthy human gut, according to new research published in PLoS One.

Female athletic consumers: An untapped opportunity in sports nutrition

27-Sep-2019 By Stephen Daniells

The dietary supplements industry is missing the opportunity of developing a brand focused on female athletic consumers that is supported by science and speaks with the voice that female athletes want to hear, say experts.

Gut bacteria could influence muscle growth and function: Mouse data

27-Sep-2019 By Nathan Gray

Altering the makeup of our gut microbiome could have an impact on muscle growth and function, say researchers who hope the new findings will have promise for age-related muscle loss.

Probiotics newcomer: Australia’s Activated Nutrients seeks to build reputation for precision products on back of bumper pharmacy deal

25-Sep-2019 By Tingmin Koe

Australia’s Activated Nutrients is working with international probiotic giants to satisfy what it sees as the current market gap in precision probiotics.

Webinar: White Spaces and Influencers: Winning in a crowded sports nutrition marketplace

23-Sep-2019 By Stephen Daniells

There is still time to register for this week's NutraIngredients-USA Sports Nutrition Webinar, which will feature experts from BodyBuilding.com, Nutrabolt, Vitargo, and Lumina Intelligence.

Expert reaction: Could probiotics be an exciting answer to childhood obesity?

23-Sep-2019 By Nikki Hancocks

A study which suggests probiotics may enhance weight loss in obese children has been scrutinised by experts who say despite its limitations the results are 'exciting'.

From the Editor's Desk

A.I. and its promise for ingredient innovation

13-Sep-2019 By Stephen Daniells

Talk with product formulators and one of the big frustrations is that there are not many novel ingredients coming onto the market. Could AI crack open this bottle neck?

Probiotics could help save billions in health care costs associated with flu-like infections

13-Sep-2019 By Stephen Daniells

The potential of probiotic supplements to reduce the incidence and duration of flu-like respiratory tract infections in the US could translate into over $1 billion of costs savings, according to a new economic modeling study.