Probiotics, prebiotics & postbiotics

Yakult’s synbiotic drink improves bowel movement and alters short-term gut microbiota in elderly Korean women

12-Nov-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Consumption of Yakult’s synbiotic drink MPR03 daily for three weeks could improve bowel movement and alter the intestinal microbial composition in elderly Korean women.

DuPont review outlines ergogenic potential of probiotics in sports

10-Nov-2020 By Will Chu

A DuPont review has reinforced the link between the gut microbiome and sporting performance as the firm’s researchers identify probiotics’ role in training support, performance, and post-exercise recovery.

Growth Asia 2020

Allergies, immunity, and digestive health fuelling infant nutrition R&D – Growth Asia 2020 expert panel

10-Nov-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Tackling allergies, improving digestion and aiding immunity are the key pillars for infant nutrition product innovation, says a group of expert panellists from major brand names such as Biostime, Morinaga, and Nuchev.

Kerry acquires Canadian probiotic company

09-Nov-2020 By Jim Cornall

Kerry has announced it has reached an agreement to acquire the Canadian company, Bio-K Plus International.

As infant gut develops, microbial strains form individualized patterns of stability: Study

05-Nov-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Two researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham have spent the last three years using the microbiome ‘fingerprint’ technique -- a method that harnesses the power of genomic tools and supercomputers to identify individual strains within a...

Kerry expands probiotic portfolio with Bio-K+ International acquisition

05-Nov-2020 By Stephen Daniells

Ireland’s Kerry Group has acquired the Quebec family biotechnology company Bio-K+ International Inc., allowing the Bio-K+ brand to expand globally through Kerry.

Gut microbes may provide some protection against radiation-based treatments: Study

04-Nov-2020 By Will Chu

Scientists in the US think certain gut bacteria may offer protection against damage done by radiation used in cancer treatment as the study also notes improved recovery of blood cell production.

COVID-19 changes preferences? China consumers less interested in overseas supplement brands, while trust in TCM rises

04-Nov-2020 By Tingmin Koe

China consumers are placing more trust in traditional Chinese medicines (TCM), with a declining interest in overseas supplement brands and functional foods with health claims, said a consumer survey funded by the High-Value Nutrition National Science...

Cargill Health Technologies: ‘The microbiome space is going to change the way the world feeds itself’

02-Nov-2020 By Stephen Daniells

Partnerships and collaboration are going to drive the rapid advances needed in the microbiome space to better feed animals and humans, says the President of Cargill Health Technologies.

Spanish agency approves use of term 'probiotic' on food and supplements

02-Nov-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) has announced the term “probiotic” should be accepted on food and food supplement labels sold in the country, in accordance with the Mutual Recognition Principle.

NutraCast Podcast: Evolve Biosystems on infant probiotics

30-Oct-2020 By Danielle Masterson

The process of prenatal development of the infant microbiome is significant. In order to correct immunological and physiological development, timing and the selecting the right strain play a major role.

Why kombucha is one to watch in the low/no alcohol market

30-Oct-2020 By Emma Thackray, Booch & Brew

Kombucha offers drinkers more complexity than your average alcohol-free alternative, writes Emma Thackray, co-founder of Booch & Brew, in this guest article.

CRISPR is going to reshape the future of probiotic genomes: Expert

29-Oct-2020 By Stephen Daniells

We are just on the cusp of realizing the opportunities offered by CRISPR technology to open up a new generation of probiotic ingredients, says one of the leading scientists in this field.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Biofortis and ProDigest unite to strengthen gut research service range

29-Oct-2020 By Will Chu

ProDigest and Biofortis are to enter into an agreement to strengthen and enlarge their service offerings that currently includes microbiome research and probiotic and botanical extract efficacy.

Akkermansia levels linked to lower obesity risk: American Gut Project data

28-Oct-2020 By Stephen Daniells

High relative abundance of bacteria in the genus Akkermansia may be associated with a lower risk of obesity, according to a new analysis of data from 10,534 participants in the American Gut Project.

MyBiotics granted €2m funding to develop personalised probiotics initiative

27-Oct-2020 By Will Chu

Microbiome therapeutics firm MyBiotics Pharma have received €2m ($2.3m) in funding by the European Union (EU) to develop technology capable of delivering personalised probiotics to tackle gut-related diseases.

ADM expands probiotics production ‘five-fold’ with new Spanish facility

26-Oct-2020 By Will Chu

US ingredient giants ADM are to expand its microbiome-related production activities five-fold with the creation of a European facility that is expected to be in operation in 2022.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Probi buys stake in Vital Nutrients as part of collaboration

26-Oct-2020 By Will Chu

Probi is to invest €5m ($6m) in Vital Nutrients Holdings, acquiring shares as part of a newly formed partnership that makes the Swedish probiotic firm its second largest shareholder.

Indena and Onegevity partner up in personalised botanical-based nutrition pact

23-Oct-2020 By Will Chu

In a new personalised nutrition pact, Italian botanicals firm Indena are to use Onegevity’s capabilities in gut microbiome testing to identify botanical ingredients that best produce person-specific benefits.

Lallemand’s psychobiotic combination may boost BDNF levels: Study

21-Oct-2020 By Stephen Daniells

A specific combination of two probiotic strains may boost levels of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) and improve depressive symptoms in people with depressions, says a new study.

Non-viable Lactobacillus johnsonii strain may offer weight management potential

20-Oct-2020 By Stephen Daniells

Data from a mouse study indicated that consumption of the non-viable bacterial strain may affect genes linked to fat accumulation and offer potential weight management benefits.

Improved strain-specific use of HMOs identified in DuPont-backed study

20-Oct-2020 By Will Chu

Probiotic strain specificity is crucial if the benefits of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) such as 2′-fucosyllactose are to be passed on to the infant, according to a DuPont-sponsored study.

‘Fascinating’: Probiotics may offer 'clinically significant' benefits for some autistic children

19-Oct-2020 By Stephen Daniells

A specific combination of eight probiotic strains may positively impact behavioral profiles in some children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), says a new study from Italy.

Protein versus probiotics: How extreme intake limits the effects of beneficial bacteria in bodybuilders – 60-day trial

19-Oct-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Extremely high intake of protein and low carbohydrate consumption will negate the effectiveness of probiotics supplementation in bodybuilders, new research from South Korea has found.

Global probiotics market grows 8%, says IPA’s Paraskevakos

13-Oct-2020 By Stephen Daniells

As consumers seek out immune-support products, probiotics are one of the categories to have experienced sales growth in 2020. The science to substantiate the claims has been key, said George Paraskevakos, Executive Director of the International Probiotics...

NutraCast Podcast: Dr. Chris D’Adamo on the role probiotics in COVID-19

09-Oct-2020 By Danielle Masterson

About 70% of the immune system is housed in the gut, so it’s no wonder probiotic bacteria have been shown to have a number of beneficial immune and health effects. With a pandemic playing out before us and immune-supporting ingredients at the forefront,...

First study of its kind explores potential of probiotic + prebiotic to ease constipation in kids with cerebral palsy

07-Oct-2020 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of a probiotic plus a prebiotic may easy constipation measures in children with cerebral palsy (CP), a group that suffers from a high prevalence of constipation, says a new study from Mexico.

Prebiotics improve glucose homeostasis: Study

06-Oct-2020 By Danielle Masterson

The gut-brain axis plays a key role in the regulation of sugar in the blood. However, those with diabetes experience significantly higher sugar levels because the condition causes the regulation process to malfunction.

news in brief

Danone to sell stake in Yakult

06-Oct-2020 By Jim Cornall

French-headquartered dairy giant Danone said today that in accordance with its focus on capital allocation discipline and balance sheet strength, the company is selling its 6.61% stake in the Japanese company Yakult Honsha Co. Ltd.

Study asks, ‘Could faecal transplants slow down age-related cognitive decline?’

06-Oct-2020 By Will Chu

Faecal Microbial Transplants (FMT) could preserve or even improve cognitive function say European researchers as they point to microbe-based approaches as a way of improving quality of life in the elderly.

C-section’s toll on gut bacteria prompt scientists to restore infant microbes

05-Oct-2020 By Danielle Masterson

The events surrounding a baby’s entrance into the world could have profound implications on the rest of their lives, new research published in the journal Gastroenterology suggests.

Trending terms: ‘Gut Flora’ out of fashion as shoppers learn strain names

05-Oct-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

Consumers are no longer reverting to simplistic phrases like ‘gut flora’ but are instead researching the specific bacterial strains associated with their target health concerns, according to a new trends analysis tool from Lumina Intelligence.

New data on postbiotic LactoSporin shows anti-acne and anti-aging benefits

01-Oct-2020 By Deanna Utroske

Sabinsa makes specialty ingredients for the food, pharma, and beauty industries. In early 2019, the company launched LactoSporin into the realm of microbiome skin care. Now this year, the company has published data pointing too additional skin care benefits.

LNC Therapeutics becomes YSOPIA Bioscience to reflect biotherapeutic direction

01-Oct-2020 By Will Chu

French biotech firm LNC Therapeutics is to change its name to YSOPIA Bioscience in a move designed to reflect a change in research direction towards drugs that harness the gut microbiome’s potential.

Back in time? Symbiome targets ‘ancestral microbiome’ with proprietary postbiotic skin care range

30-Sep-2020 By Shane Starling

Direct-to-consumer skin care brand Symbiome will debut a product range formulated with postbiotics sourced from plants from the Brazilian Amazon, aimed at restoring and rebuilding resilience in the modern microbiome.

Kyowa brings ‘novel option’ to immune health market with Immuse Paraprobiotic

29-Sep-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Ingredient manufacturer Kyowa Hakko and parent company Kirin Holdings unveiled its novel dietary supplement ingredient Immuse to deliver what they call a new approach for broad range immune support.

Gut simulation expands health benefits of HMOs in adults

28-Sep-2020 By Stephen Daniells

The potential health effects of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) for adults may extend beyond just promoting the growth of beneficial Bifidobacteria to also impacting immune function and the gut barrier, says a new study.

Study highlights potential of targeted fiber use for gut health benefits

25-Sep-2020 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementation with arabinoxylan fiber may modulate both the composition of the gut microbiota and the output of health-relevant short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), with effects seen within one week, says a new study.

Researchers investigate gut microbiome and COVID-19 connection

25-Sep-2020 By Danielle Masterson

The recent webinar "The Human Microbiome and COVID-19: Investigating a Potential Connection" offered an exclusive look into a pioneering clinical investigation that wrapped up in August. The research is being led by Dr. Martin J. Blaser, Henry...

Study: Habitual low fibre consumption in IBD exacerbates dysbiosis

25-Sep-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

Most patients with IBD, particularly males, habitually consume inadequate amounts of dietary fibre which may have negative effects on the gut microbiome and contribute to dysbiosis, a cross‐sectional study has concluded.

Recall round-up: CBD oil, infant formula & salmon oil + vit D3 supplement

25-Sep-2020 By Will Chu

After the Summer recess, NutraIngredients returns for its monthly recall round-up, where September brings news of food alerts involving CBD oils, children’s food supplements and fish oil-based capsules.

Chr. Hansen adds Jennewein HMO expertise to microbial platform in €310m deal

24-Sep-2020 By Will Chu

Chr. Hansen is to acquire Jennewein Biotechnologie for €310m in a deal designed to merge the bioscience firm’s probiotic interests with the gains Jennewein have made in the Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) market.

Biosearch Life awarded first organic probiotic certification

23-Sep-2020 By Will Chu

Biosearch Life is to receive an organic certification for its Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 LC40, a probiotic strain that exhibits a protective role against respiratory infections in infants.

DuPont and P&G to tackle metabolic health in new probiotic-focused deal

22-Sep-2020 By Will Chu

DuPont’s Human Microbiome Venture is to partner up with Procter & Gamble (P&G) in a new research agreement that looks into how probiotics can be used to address metabolic health conditions.

Researchers develop prebiotic fibre analysis tool for future microbiome studies

21-Sep-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

Researchers have developed a database and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) allowing for detailed prebiotic fibre intake analysis which can be used in future nutrition and microbiome focused studies.

Scent product could transform dietary supplement marketing, manufacturer says

17-Sep-2020 By Hank Schultz

A new product providing long lasting, pleasant scents that has been quietly making inroads in the industry aims to revolutionize the marketing of dietary supplements by improving customer experience.

Lonza launches probiotic ingredient for sports nutrition

16-Sep-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Lonza recently announced the launch of its new TWK10 probiotic ingredient, a Lactobacillus plantarum strain that is isolated from fermented Taiwanese Kimchi.

Probiotic skin therapy improves eczema in children, says pilot study

11-Sep-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

A topical probiotic treatment can reduce eczema severity and increase quality of life for children as young as three, according to the results of an early, open-label study.

Serious about the skin microbiome: Science, regulation and opportunities in 2020

09-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The skin microbiome continues to ignite interest as science fast advances and product innovations hit shelves, but where exactly are the biggest opportunities for industry and what will be the key challenges moving forward?

Is the nutraceutical industry prepared for a second wave of COVID?

08-Sep-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Based on interviews with key players across the globe, industry is locked and loaded should a second round of coronavirus strike.