Probiotics, prebiotics & postbiotics

NutraIngredients-USA Digestive Health Forum: One week to go!

18-Sep-2014

Leading minds from the world of digestive health will join NutraIngredients-USA’s Stephen Daniells for an hour-long discussion of the sector, from science and claim substantiation, to market sizing and key consumer demographics.

Ullman on Bayer-FTC issue: ‘Be as careful with your implied claims & testimonials as you are with the express claims’

17-Sep-2014 By Stephen Daniells

The US Federal Trade Commission’s motion against Bayer for claims made for its probiotic dietary supplement, Phillips’ Colon Health “warrants close monitoring” because of the potential wide-ranging implications, according to a prominent attorney.

L. paracasei may alter intestinal microbiota in healthy people: Study

17-Sep-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Probiotic strain Lactobacillus paracasei could alter the intestinal microbial in healthy populations, but this depends strictly on the ‘ecosystem’ of the individual, according to research. 

Bayer ‘extremely disappointed & strongly disagrees’ with FTC/DoJ allegations against Phillips’ Colon Health claims

12-Sep-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Healthcare giant Bayer has said it will defend itself ‘vigorously’ against the US Federal Trade Commission decision to bring a motion against the company for claims made for its probiotic dietary supplement, Phillips’ Colon Health.

Science grows for BLIS M18’s oral health benefits

10-Sep-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

A daily lozenge containing Streptococcus salivarius M18, branded as BLIS M18, for 28 days results in detectable levels of the probiotic in the mouth seven days later, says a new study from Western University (Ontario) and BLIS Technologies Ltd (New Zealand).

Probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei shows oral health benefits: Study

02-Sep-2014 By Stephen Daniells

The bacterial strain Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 may protect against caries by reducing oral levels of Streptococcus mutans, the main bacteria associated with tooth decay, suggest data from a study with rats.

‘Novel’ synbiotic is well tolerated and linked to increases in beneficial gut species

29-Aug-2014 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and prebiotic cellobiose may boost populations of bacteria in the gut associated with improved host health, says a new study from Denmark and Finland.

Russia removes dietary supplements from import ban list

21-Aug-2014 By Kacey Culliney

Russia has amended its ‘total embargo’ on western food imports to exclude dietary supplements, vitamin and mineral mixes, protein concentrates and dietary fibers.

Z Trim Holdings unveils BioFiber Gum for supplement encapsulation, food additive applications

20-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

Z Trim Holdings, an Illinois-based producer of functional ingredients derived from corn fiber and other grain byproducts, has launched its BioFiber Gum (BFG) for food, supplement and industrial applications. BFG is said to have both a suite of attractive...

Chr. Hansen wins landmark probiotics health claim in South Korea

18-Aug-2014 By Anne Bruce

Bioscience company Chr. Hansen’s Urex product has become the first probiotic to win an approved health claim in South Korea.

Twinlab can 'look to the future' now that recapitalization is complete

14-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

The restructuring of Twinlab is complete, as the entity Twinlab Consolidation Corporation has concluded its first deal, the acquisition of Twinlab Corporation itself.

Does sporting activity improve gut function?

13-Aug-2014 By Anne Bruce

Improved diversity of the intestinal microbiota in sports people could be due to gut barrier function, experts have suggested.

Functional food giving supplements a run for their money: Packaged Facts

12-Aug-2014 By Maggie Hennessy

After taking a hit due to recent negative press and a consumer shift toward more use of functional food and beverages, the US nutritional supplements market will see growth return to just over 6% per year through 2018, when sales will reach $16.4 billion,...

Is strain-specificity of prebiotics a limitation or opportunity?

11-Aug-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Strain-specificity of prebiotics is not a limiting factor but rather an opportunity to develop the ‘next generation’ of synbiotic formulations, says Winclove Probiotics in response to unflattering results of a study on synbiotics. 

Nutraceutical International bounces back from poor Q2 to notch 9.5% net sales increase

04-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

Nutraceutical International Corporation returned to its record of strong financial performance fueled by acquisitions with the release of its third quarter 2014 results.  The company notched a 9.5% year-over-year net sales increase.  This comes after...

GM probiotics reduce insulin resistance and body fat: Mouse data

31-Jul-2014 By Lynda Searby

Mice lost weight and had significantly lower insulin resistance and body fat after taking genetically modified bacteria that produce the lipid compound NAPE in the gut, researchers from Vanderbilt University have found.

Irish firm moves on omega-3, omega-6 encapsulation

29-Jul-2014 By Anne Bruce

Irish encapsulation specialist AnaBio has lodged a patent for encapsulation of long-chain fatty acids for use in infant formula and elsewhere.

Is Danone feeling the need for Mead?

28-Jul-2014 By Shane STARLING

 Danone shares rose today as rumours strengthened the French dairy giant would sell its medical and paediatric nutrition business (Nutricia), but is the firm streamlining its activities around its core foods businesses or just shifting infant-medical...

Probiotics can improve blood pressure: 9-study review

25-Jul-2014 By Anne Bruce

Long-term probiotics consumption may control blood pressure, says a research review in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension.

Special edition: Cognitive Health

Evidence of gut/brain connection piles up, but actual products are a ways off, researcher says

24-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

The gut is teeming with bacteria, good and bad, and these organisms and their cousins living elsewhere on and in the body outnumber the body’s own cells by an order of magnitude.  It is only recently that the notion has come to the fore that these microorganisms...

science short

Probiotics linked to liver fat reduction in rat study

23-Jul-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Probiotic consumption for thirty days was associated with a reduction of fat accumulation in the liver of obese rats, say Spanish researchers.

Synbiotic gut health benefits limited, say researchers

18-Jul-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Potential gut health benefits of synbiotics may be limited since only specific combinations enhance probiotic survival and growth, say researchers.

Soluble corn fiber may boost calcium absorption for teens

17-Jul-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily intake of soluble corn fiber may enhance the absorption of calcium for adolescents, says a new study from Purdue University with implications for bone health.

Japanese dairy backs bifidobacteria

16-Jul-2014 By Anne Bruce

Scientists have called new discoveries from leading Japanese dairy product company Morinaga Milk Industry on popular probiotic genus bifidobacteria, “an interesting first step”.

New Pediococcus acidilactici probiotic's origin in nature confers its high stability, supplier says

15-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

A probiotic isolated from switchgrass is one of the newest competitors in the robustness claims sweepstakes. Developed by biotech firm Imagilin Technology and marketed by New Jersey-based A&B Ingredients, the new ingredient is based on a proprietary...

Vitamin Shoppe's move to put all labels into public database increases transparency, CRN chief says

11-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

The Vitamin Shoppe announced this week that it plans to have all  of the labels on products sold in its stores to be submitted to the National Institutes of Health Dietary Supplement Label Database. The move was welcomed by Steve Mister, president and...

New study deepens substantiation for Epicor’s gut and immune health benefits

10-Jul-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

The potential gut and immune health benefits of EpiCor, the yeast fermentate from Embria, may be linked to an ability to modulate both the total bacterial composition in the gut, and which specific species stick to the intestinal wall, according to a...

Could probiotics boost performance and increase power for athletes?

03-Jul-2014 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of a probiotic with a slow digested protein may increase athletic performance in healthy resistance-trained individuals, suggest results from a pilot study.

Probiotics may help elite athletes fight infections: Rugby study

24-Jun-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Daily probiotic supplements may reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal and upper respiratory tract infections for professional rugby players, says a new study from New Zealand. 

Exercise and high protein diet may increase gut microbiota diversity: Research

18-Jun-2014 By Nicola Cottam

Exercise and ‘extreme' high protein diet could have beneficial impact on gut microbiota diversity, according to research published in the British Medical Journal. 

Prebiotic fibers may improve metabolic factors in obese individuals: Study

16-Jun-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of inulin-type fructans prebiotics may boost levels of beneficial Bifidobacteria species in the gut of obese people, and reduce metabolic risk factors, says a new study from the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium.

ISAPP consensus: Gut, yes. Immunity, no (for now)

Time to recognise ‘core benefits of certain probiotics’: ISAPP

11-Jun-2014 By Shane STARLING

The evidence has grown so strong for the best-documented probiotic strains that a generic digestive health claim should exist, according to a consensus statement from leading international researchers published this week in Nature Reviews: Gastroenterology...

Dispatches from the IPA World Congress in Athens, Greece

Psychobiotics can feed gut-brain health axis: 'It’s really an exciting frontier,' says professor

05-Jun-2014 By Shane STARLING

Evidence is building that links the gut microbiome and brain function and ‘psychobiotics’ are at the heart of that, says a leading Irish researcher working in the field for more than five years.

DuPont hopes win on Swiss probiotic claim will help unlock EFSA process

03-Jun-2014 By Hank Schultz and Shane Starling

DuPont has won official approval for probiotic-based gut health claims based on its strains in Switzerland after working with a local retailer.  The company hopes the latest victory will help unlock the process of approving probiotic health claims for...

Review links ulcerous stomach bacteria with obesity

02-Jun-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The gradual decrease of the ulcer-causing stomach bacteria Helicobacter pylori could be linked to the global obesity endemic, according to an international research review. 

DuPont wins rare European probiotic gut health claims

02-Jun-2014 By Shane STARLING

DuPont-Danisco has won official approval for probiotic-based gut health claims based on its strains in Switzerland after working with a local retailer.

Patent protection, robust ingredient helps Ganeden push probiotics into coffees, teas

30-May-2014 By Hank Schultz

The robust nature of its ingredient, along with a hefty helping of IP proctection, has helped Ganeden Biotech push probiotics into teas and coffees, realms rarely thought of as a good fit for probiotics.

‘A basis for the future selection of probiotics’: Study shows how gut bacteria communicate with host to regulate weight

28-May-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Bacteria in the gut may regulate weight gain and serum cholesterol levels by producing proteins that modify bile acids in the intestine, says a new study with implications for probiotics.

NIU's Cognitive Health Forum: 'The key is to not have ingredients that stimulate other areas of the body that are not needed for performance'

27-May-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Cognitive health formulations must be driven by mechanisms of action, and with cognition being a lifelong issue with many aspects to consider the possibilities are impressive and continually developing, according to experts at the NutraIngredients-USA...

NutraIngredients-USA Cognitive Health Forum: Today!

22-May-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Experts from Abbott Nutrition, Standard Process, Nawgan, and Euromonitor will join NutraIngredients-USA for a discussion of the cognitive health sector, from science and claim substantiation, to market sizing and key consumer demographics.

Global probiotics business is booming, while Europe focuses on blends and 'piggybacking'

19-May-2014 By Nathan Gray

Strong growth in the Americas and Asia is helping the probiotics industry to strong success, while the European market recovers from regulatory challenges by focusing on blends and 'piggybacking claims', say probiotics business experts.

No signs of slowdown for global probiotic market, says BCC

14-May-2014 By Maggie Hennessy

The global market of probiotic ingredients, supplements, and foods is expected to reach nearly $27.1 billion in 2013 and climb at a compound annual growth rate of 6.2% over the next five years to reach $36.7 billion in 2018, according to Wellesley, MA-...

‘Cost savings and quality of life improvements’: Meta-analysis supports probiotics for common cold

08-May-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Consuming probiotics may decrease the duration of common upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) by up to a day, compared to placebo, according to findings published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

Prebiotic fiber plus probiotics shows immune-boosting effects in healthy adults

07-May-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements of xylo-oligosaccharide prebiotic fibers with probiotics may modulate immune function in healthy adults, says new study.

Synbiotics show promise for cutting inflammatory biomarkers in obese kids

06-May-2014

Daily supplements containing seven probiotic bacterial strains and a prebiotic fiber may reduce markers of inflammation in obese children, says a new study.

Ganeden secures patent protection for ultra-stable Bacillus coagulans probiotics in coffee, tea, cereal

05-May-2014 By Elaine WATSON

Ganeden Biotech - the Ohio-based company behind ultra-resilient probiotic BC30 (Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086) - has announced the issuance of a US patent covering the use of all Bacillus coagulans strains (including BC30) in coffee, tea and cereal. 

Probiotics may reduce children’s throat infection rate

02-May-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Children with a history of recurrent streptococcal and viral throat infections could benefit from oral probiotics, according to Italian research.

science short

Gastro health and immunity: Chr Hansen reviews 300 papers on probiotic strain

28-Apr-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Danish probiotic leader Chr Hansen has gathered mounting probiotic science under one roof in a review of 300 Bifidobacterium-focused papers.

Exclusive documentary preview: MicroWarriors Special edition

MicroWarriors: Exploring probiotic power (and the powers that be)

25-Apr-2014 By Shane STARLING

NutraIngredients went to LA recently to question two leading probiotic academics about probiotics and the microbiome and which we present exclusively here. The interviews form part of a new documentary to be narrated by Leonard Nimoy, better known as...

L’Oréal-Nestlé scientists: Probiotics may improve sensitive skin from within

25-Apr-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements containing the probiotic strain Lactobacillus paracasei NCC 2461 (ST11) may reduce skin sensitivity, according to results of a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study.