Probiotics, prebiotics & postbiotics

Review finds promising, if preliminary, data backing mood support effects for probiotics, prebiotics and omega-3s

11-Jul-2018 By Hank Schultz

A recent review of studies on interventions with probiotics, prebiotics and omega-3s shows that there is promising data backing these ingredients’ effects on ameliorating anxiety, stress and depression. But much more research is needed to identify pathways,...

Prebiotic fibers show gut and immune health benefits for children: RCT

10-Jul-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementing the diet of three- to six-year-olds with chicory root fiber may improve their gut microbiota composition and strengthen their immune defenses, says a new study.

News in Brief

Morinaga self-affirms GRAS status for LAC-Shield immune ingredient

09-Jul-2018

Japan's Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd. has attained self-affirmed GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status in the US for its LAC-Shield immunogenic ingredient.

Gut bacteria changes may provide strong evidence for early-stage liver disease

05-Jul-2018 By Will Chu

Chemical by-products produced by gut bacteria could form the basis of a test to detect the early stages of liver disease, according to a European-based study published in Nature.

Probiotic and prebiotic combo may reduce obesity-related symptoms, rat study suggests

02-Jul-2018 By Adi Menayang

Researchers in Thailand suggest that long-term consumption of a probiotic and prebiotic combo may improve obesity-related metabolic symptoms like insulin resistance, based on their study on rats.

China now one of 'most important players' in global probiotics market as sales top $8bn: IPA

02-Jul-2018 By Gary Scattergood

China has cemented its status as one of the world’s most important global players, according to industry body the International Probiotics Association (IPA), with data revealing that nearly half of all APAC sales come from the country.

Probiotics players must negotiate patchwork of regulations in Latin America, expert says

29-Jun-2018 By Hank Schultz

Regulation of probiotics presents a patchwork quilt across Latin America. Expert David Pineda Ereño gave us a glimpse during the recent Probiota Americas event.

ADM expands probiotics reach with $243 million aquisition of UK manufacturer

29-Jun-2018 By Hank Schultz

Agricultural commodities giant Archer Daniels Midland Co. has expanded its reach into the microbiome space with the acquisition of UK-based manufacturer Probiotics International Ltd. in a cash deal worth $243.5 million (£185 million).

Microbiome study on PTSD sufferers adds to baseline data for gut-brain connection

28-Jun-2018 By Hank Schultz

Research in the connection between the microbiome and cognitive issues continues to expand, with research done in South Africa on subjects suffering post traumatic stress disorder.

Probiotic dietary supplements could slow down bone loss in elderly: Study

27-Jun-2018 By Will Chu

The use of probiotics in maintaining good bone health is an intriguing possibility for the future after researchers point to their use in elderly women, which resulted in a 50% reduction in age-related bone loss.

Spore-forming probiotic linked to better bowel health in healthy adults

26-Jun-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplementation with the probiotic strain Bacillus subtilis C-3102 may improve stool frequency and consistency in healthy people, says a new study.

Prebiotics shown to armor rats against stress by altering brain structure

25-Jun-2018 By Hank Schultz

Research presented at the recent Probiota Americas meeting showed that adding prebiotics to the diet to promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria actually altered the structure of rats' brains in a model testing stress response.

Study: Probiotic supplementation may improve postpartum depression symptoms

25-Jun-2018 By Adi Menayang

Supplementation of a probiotic strain was linked to improved postpartum depression symptoms, according to research by Dr. Rebecca Slykerman, a senior research fellow of the Department of Psychological Medicine in the University of Auckland.

Centenarian microbiota and metabolites: Japanese experts using findings to develop new products

25-Jun-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Researchers from Japan are using the findings of studies on centenarians in the country to try and produce new products that will replicate the beneficial aspects of their microbiota.

uBiome director of research: 'The best way to answer questions about really complex ecosystems is to collect as much data as possible'

22-Jun-2018 By Adi Menayang

The best way to answer questions about complex ecosystems is to collect as much data as possible—and that’s what uBiome wants to do to improve the understanding of the human microbiome.

After success in supplements, HSO eyes drinkable yogurt potential for women’s health probiotics

22-Jun-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Austria’s HSO Health Care is looking to take its Astarte strains for women’s health into the dairy aisle, with its Dairyfem drinkable yogurt showcased at the recent Probiota Americas event.

General Mills leads $12 million investment into GoodBelly

21-Jun-2018 By Hank Schultz

General Mills has led a funding round that poured $12 million into Boulder,CO-based functional food firm NextFoods and its GoodBelly brand via its venture investing arm 301 Inc.

NutraIngredients-USA Awards 2018: And the finalists are…

21-Jun-2018 By Stephen Daniells

NutraIngredients-USA is pleased to announce the finalists for the inaugural edition of the NutraIngredients-USA Awards ... the winners will be announced at our awards evening in Chicago on July 16th.

IPA manufacturing guidelines to drive probiotic companies towards 'optimal practices'

20-Jun-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Soon-to-be released guidelines for contract manufacturing organizations and quality standards from the International Probiotics Association will drive the industry to optimal practice, says IPA's vice president.

DuPont’s Microbiome Venture membership swells to three with INRA confirmed

20-Jun-2018 By Will Chu

DuPont Nutrition & Health continue to add to its Microbiome Venture ranks with the French National Institute for Agricultural Research’s (INRA) metagenomics expertise now on board as a member.

Special Edition: Pregnancy & Development

EU-approved, lower cost, evidence-backed: Do HMOs signify a new era of infant nutrition?

19-Jun-2018 By Will Chu

Has industry investment into the development of human milk oligosaccharides, or HMOs, produced an ingredient capable of bridging the gap between formula and human breast milk?

Probiota Americas 2018 in Miami

Pilot study sheds light on probiotics’ potential as novel therapy for depression symptoms

18-Jun-2018 By Adi Menayang

Building on previous studies on the gut-brain axis, PhD candidate Caroline Wallace postulates that probiotics consumption may modulate depression symptoms.

Multi-strain probiotic shows potential to help manage IBS: RCT

08-Jun-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Daily consumption of the multi-strain probiotic product Bio-Kult may improve symptoms in people with diarrhea-predominant IBS, according to data from a double-blind trial of 400 adults.

Personalised prebiotic start-up Carbiotix shows early promise in modulating gut bacteria

08-Jun-2018 By Nathan Gray

Early indications from its first six months of service suggest the company’s personalised gut testing and postal prebiotic service achieved almost 100% effectiveness in improving gut health, says Carbiotix.

Dietary fibers boost beneficial bacteria levels, but what about diversity?

06-Jun-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Consuming dietary fibers does lead to higher levels of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp., but does not affect the diversity of bacteria in the gut, says a meta-analysis of 64 studies.

Researchers to use CRISPR gene-editing to develop microbiome supplements for malnourished kids

04-Jun-2018 By Stephen Daniells

A collaboration between MilliporeSigma and Washington University in St. Louis seeks to explore the differences between gut microbiomes of healthy and malnourished children, and then restore any imbalances using optimized supplements.

Microbiome ‘breakthrough’ could drive development of personalised plans to fight fat

04-Jun-2018 By Nathan Gray

The make-up of bacteria in our guts – and the metabolites they produce – have a dramatic impact on the way fat is processed and distributed, say UK researchers who believe altering our microbiome could be a way to help fight obesity ‘within a decade’.

Study shows prebiotics, lactoferrin make rats calmer

04-Jun-2018 By Hank Schultz

In a study that advances the state of evidence for the gut-brain connection, scientists in Colorado have shown that prebiotics and other fractions derived from human milk can reduce anxiety in juvenile rats and induce other changes in the brain.

Does the gut-brain axis hold the secret to longevity? New study sheds more light

01-Jun-2018 By Adi Menayang

Fruit flies consuming a combination of a probiotic and Ayurvedic herbal ingredient lived 26 days longer than those that didn’t, researchers from McGill University reported.

Probiotics developer finds functional candidates in athletes' microbiomes

29-May-2018 By Hank Schultz

Jonathan Schieman, PhD has chartered a research course and founded a research company based on the search for good bacteria that want to be great.

In vitro study finds probiotic potential of Lactobacillus isolated from fermented vegetable

29-May-2018 By Adi Menayang

Researchers in India looked at a strain of bacteria isolated from a fermented leafy grean dish and found that it has anti-inflammatory benefits, in a petri dish at least.

Probiotics show promising impact on hayfever symptoms: Winclove-backed pilot study

29-May-2018 By Gary Scattergood

New research from a pilot study in Australia – funded by Winclove and Nutrimune – has shown that probiotics may improve the quality of life of hayfever patients.

ANVISA grants DuPont health claim for probiotic

24-May-2018 By Stephen Daniells

The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) has approved a health claim for DuPont Nutrition & Health’s Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 probiotic strain for gastrointestinal health.

‘The market opportunity is significant’: DuPont gets GRAS for HMO for infants

23-May-2018 By Stephen Daniells

DuPont Nutrition & Health has received a ‘No Objection’ letter for its Care4U 2´-fucosyllactose (2’-FL), a human milk oligosaccharide (HMO), aimed at narrowing the nutritional gap between breast milk and formula.

Start-up Thryve offers personalized probiotic subscriptions to customers based on their health goals and microbiome

17-May-2018 By Adi Menayang

A new probiotic-based personalized nutrition company, Thryve, has hit the market. We spoke with founder and CEO Richard Lin about how he started the company and what void he wanted to fill in the thriving probiotics category.

Israeli gut microbiome specialist sets sights on China for anti-diabetes personalised nutrition

17-May-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Personalised nutrition firm DayTwo has made China its first APAC target for its services, due in part to the country's high incidence of diabetes.

Combination of dieting and probiotics may hasten weight loss: Taiwan mouse study

15-May-2018 By Cheryl Tay

A healthy diet complemented by probiotic treatment could accelerate weight loss and fight obesity, according to Taiwanese researchers.

DSM and Prenexus Health market sugar cane-derived prebiotic developed to selectively feed ‘friendly’ microbes

14-May-2018 By Adi Menayang

What makes a prebiotic a ‘prebiotic’? According to Dr. Brad Saville, chief science officer at Prenexus Health, it’s the fact that they can ‘selectively feed’ beneficial bacteria.

Topical microbiome transplant could be key to alleviating eczema, say researchers

10-May-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

An effective way of treating atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema, could be to apply specific bacteria to the affected areas of the skin, a human clinical trial showed.

NEWS IN BRIEF

DSM benefits from temporary vitamin price effect while raising 2018 outlook

09-May-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

DSM reported above market volume and sales gains for Q1 2018 with strong performance in its underlying nutrition business, which grew 5% in volume compared to the same period last year driven by strong sales in its i-Health and vitamin pre-mix businesses....

Microbiome and big data: How uBiome is helping companies create 'microbiome-aware' products

09-May-2018 By Adi Menayang

uBiome is using big data on the microbiome to help food, cosmetic, and pharma companies make ‘microbiome-aware’ products, said the company’s director of research and development, Dr. Sara Bird.

DuPont files patent on bacteria blend for blood type-tailored probiotics

09-May-2018 By Kacey Culliney

DuPont Nutrition Biosciences has developed a bacteria-metabolites blend for tailored probiotic treatment and prevention of gastrointestinal disorders amongst consumers in the ABO blood group.

Personalization and the microbiome in precision medicine: Probiota Americas 2018 program revealed

07-May-2018 By Stephen Daniells

From the microbiome in precision medicine to personalized probiotics for sports nutrition, and from next-gen analytical advances to how online customer engagement is driving the market, Probiota Americas will again bridge the science and business of the...

Probiotics proved better than placebo at reducing cold symptoms, clinical trial suggests

07-May-2018 By Adi Menayang

Chinese researchers linked probiotic supplementation to fewer incidence of flu-like symptoms in new study, building the science backing probiotics’ benefits to the upper respiratory tract.

Clorox Q3: Execs say they’re ‘bullish’ about new Nutranext business as analysts question acquisition

03-May-2018 By Adi Menayang

CPG giant The Clorox Company has been growing its footprint in the dietary supplement space through acquisitions. During its recent earnings call, the company’s execs fielded questions concerning the logic behind its most recent purchase.

From strain to solution: UAS Labs opens new fermentation facility, expands its capabilities

03-May-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Wisconsin-based UAS Laboratories LLC has opened its new fermentation facility, located in Madison. This expansion is the result of a $60 million investment made to support their continuous growth and ongoing leadership position in the probiotic marketplace.

Microbiome firm A-Mansia raise €13m to develop bug-based supplement

03-May-2018 By Will Chu

Microbiome firm A-Mansia have revealed details of a recent €13m first round of venture capital financing that will fund development of a nutritional supplement based on a gut bacterium.

Demographic shifts building bigger market for Active Nutrition end of sports product lines, expert says

02-May-2018 By Hank Schultz

The Active Nutrition end of the sports nutrition market is growing fast, fueled by large scale demographic changes, according to an expert.

News In Brief

GPA adds members, makes key hire

01-May-2018 By Hank Schultz

The Global Prebiotic Association (GPA) has announced the addition of four new members and has added staff.

One month to go! Submit your entries for the NutraIngredients-USA Awards!

30-Apr-2018 By Stephen Daniells

The deadline for entries for the inaugural NutraIngredients-USA Awards is fast approaching, so make sure you submit your entries to be in with a chance of being recognized.