The agreement with Melbourne-based La Trobe University reiterates Probi’s efforts into what influences bone strength, particularly in later years and where the gut microbiome fits into bone metabolism, microarchitecture and density.
“Recent scientific evidence has consistently highlighted the important role of the gut microbiome on bone health,” explains research group leader Dr George Moschonis at La Trobe University,
“Considering these breakthrough discoveries, we are excited to contribute our strengths into further extending the current knowledge and produce additional high-quality research evidence that will shed more light on the effectiveness of probiotics in the reduction of bone loss,” adds Dr Moschonis, an Associate Professor at the university’s Department of Rehabilitation, Nutrition and Sport.
Probi’s Osteo
At the heart of the collaboration is a clinical trial looking into the effect of Probi’s Osteo in an Australian female population.
The probiotic combines Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9 (HEAL9), Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL19, and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 8700:2, and is said to support bone health.
HEAL9 was the focus of a collaboration with Perrigo formed last month looking into launching a series of probiotic concepts for digestive and immune health within the European region.
Under the agreement, Probi would assist the American Irish–pharmaceuticals firm to launch three probiotic products in supplement form intended for digestive and immune health.
The products would uses Probi's probiotic strains that include Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DSM 9843 (LP299V) and Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2 (DSM 13434).
These strains will fall under a new premier brand that expands Perrigo’s current self-care portfolio.
HEAL9 was the subject of a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study in which the Osteo blend appeared to reduce lumbar spine bone mineral density (LS-BMD) in women aged 47–69 years vs placebo.
The 2019 Probi-funded study published in The Lancet concluded that probiotic treatment using a mix of three Lactobacillus strains protected against lumbar spine bone loss in healthy postmenopausal women.
“We have excellent clinical results from our study, and now the time has come to repeat it,” says Titti Niskanen, Director R&D & Clinical Operations at Probi.
“With this collaboration we aim to continue and expand our research in the bone health area – an area where Probi has earlier completed a successful clinical trial showing significantly reduced bone loss by taking Osteo.”
Probiotics and bone health
An ageing population, coupled with a sedentary lifestyle, is bringing bone health to the forefront, where in the US and EU, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over the age of 50 are at risk of developing osteoporosis.
Diet has been constantly cited as a way to reduce this risk with fatty fishes like salmon, contain both calcium, vitamin D and omega 3, all of which have benefits for bone and joint health.
Probiotics have also been mooted as a viable alternative with a host of firms offering their strains or blends of strains as a way to tackle or reduce bone density loss as part of the natural ageing process.
Along with Probi, Sweden’s BioGaia offer Osfortis a combination of the probiotic strain Limosilactobacillus reuteri (formerly known as Lactobacillus reuteri) ATCC PTA 6475 and vitamin D.
Meanwhile UK-based Symprove offers a probiotic containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus NCIMB 30174, Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 30176, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCIMB 30175 and Lactobacillus plantarum NCIMB 30173 that have all been linked to a reduction in bone loss in previous studies.
“Bone health is a relatively new area within probiotics,” adds Tom Rönnlund, Probi’s CEO. “In alignment with Probi’s mission of being “First in Probiotics”, this collaboration proves our dedication to document our products in multiple clinical trials and our curiosity in understanding the mechanisms by which our probiotic strains can exert their beneficial effects.”
