For the Biome makes leap from skin to immune health
The new collection includes Immune Therapy, Stress Therapy, and Gut Therapy that synergistically nourish the gut microbiome, nervous system, gut-lung axis, and gut-brain axis.
The formulations are the culmination of immune research and over four decades of experience from Co-Founder Paul Schulick. As the company’s formulator, Schulick launched For The Biome after parting ways with New Chapter, a company he founded in 1982 which was later acquired by Procter & Gamble in 2012.
“We identify For The Biome as a wellness company and although we launched with skincare, my intention has always been to expand into ingestibles. We like to say that ‘you have to treat as a whole to heal as a whole’ — so it’s only natural that we offer products designed for internal and topical use. The choice to move into immunity was simply nature calling. It was an opportunity to make a contribution, which is what I am here to do,” said Schulick.
Biomarkers
The master herbalist explained that the products target specific biomarkers to bring an exhausted or overactive immune system back to balance.
“We looked at a panel of cytokines, both pro and anti-inflammatory, and a window of immediate effects and response to the exposure of the products. We wanted to see the acute effects and what was moving the needle,” said Schulick. “Examples of the biomarkers include IL-1B, IL-Ra., IL-2, CD69, CD25, and G-CSF, which help modulate inflammation, signal an immune response, and support renewal. We also looked at the CAP-e antioxidative capacity for the product, or its ability to get into the cells and protect them from the inside out.”
Backed by science
Schulick said the Immune Therapy and Stress Therapy are both backed by clinical studies and the probiotic strains in Gut Therapy are backed by several clinical studies as well, adding, “We invest heavily to conduct ongoing research and will share this with our customers as it breaks.”
In-vitro testing suggests that Immune Therapy balances immunomodulating markers within 2 hours as it coats the mouth and gut microbiome with a protective liquid infusion.
Stress Therapy is a restorative infusion that delivers stress relief by soothing the immune system, nervous system, and supporting the gut microbiome.
The company said Gut Therapy is a first-to-the-world fermentate featuring clinically studied prebiotics, postbiotics, para-probiotics, and live probiotics that support a resilient gut microbiome and its connection to immune, respiratory, and emotional health.
Strain selection
“We select the most healing and restorative prebiotic, whole-food, and certified organic botanicals for the digestive system (eg., flax, chaga, aloe, and moringa) and then utilize the power of fermentation to further amplify their benefits. This is no ordinary fermentation process. It is a dual-stage process using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and two of the most researched probiotic strains from Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria genera, GG and BR03. These strains produce many important immunologically active peptides also known as postbiotics.”
Schulick added that Gut Therapy then completes the formulation with a therapeutically validated, live dose of Lactobacillus plantarum DR7, a probiotic with multiple positive effects on immunity (NK cell upregulation, respiratory protection), stress response (cortisol, serotonin) and cognition (enhanced learning and social emotional reasoning).
Ingredient selection
“When formulating these products, I referenced groundbreaking research that focused on advancements in immune support around the world. This research, coupled with my passion for herbalism, guided me as I chose plants, mushrooms, and probiotics renowned for their ability to support a ‘wiser’ immune response.”
Schulick told NutraIngredients-USA that his goal was to source the best possible forms of these components and introduce some of them for the first time to North America. “One of the most remarkable is the herb Cistus incanus, popular in the Mediterranean, and known for its remarkable restorative and protective abilities. It’s featured in Immune Therapy because of its notable ability to signal immune response and recovery. What’s more is that, while this ingredient is phenomenal on its own, it’s even more effective when paired with symbiotic nutrients. We saw increased activity of Cistus incanus when we paired it with vitamin C-rich black currant leaves and rose hips, and birch-grown chaga with betulinic acid. All three of our formulas deliver these kinds of extraordinary synergies.”
Challenges
Schulick said identifying the ingredients is the easier part. “Getting the level of efficacy and quality that meets our standards” is another story.
“For the most part, this has always been the case, COVID or not. Certainly, this period of time during COVID has made that more difficult and we’ve had to search around the world two or three times, sometimes, to find what we needed. We then independently test and confirm for levels of active compounds to deliver what we are seeking.”
