Probiotics, prebiotics & postbiotics

DuPont and Ireland’s APC venture forward in microbiome-inspired pact

30-Nov-2017 By Will Chu

DuPont Nutrition and Health further strengthen their probiotic credentials collaborating with the APC Microbiome Institute in the first of a series of partnerships intended to push microbiome science to the forefront.

Is there a link between exercise, exhaustion and probiotics? Kent State researchers aim to find out

27-Nov-2017 By Adi Menayang

Can probiotics help combat heat-caused complications during exercise? Researchers from Kent State University aim to find out, with the help of a grant from i-Health Inc. and DSM Nutrition.

Probiotics may protect against blood pressure raising effect of salt, study finds

17-Nov-2017 By Tim Cutcliffe

The harmful effect of salt on blood pressure may be offset by consumption of a probiotic, reports a new study in Nature.

Probiotics ease symptoms of childhood dermatitis and reduce need for steroids: Study

14-Nov-2017 By Tim Cutcliffe

Oral probiotics improve the severity of Atopic Dermatitis (AD) in children, and lower the frequency of steroid use needed to manage flare-ups, according to a recent study in JAMA Dermatology.

Watch: Probiotics and diabetes — 'A fantastically exciting' area for research

13-Nov-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Diabetes and other metabolic disorders are providing fertile ground for new probiotic research, says a DuPont expert who has highlighted new findings on supplementation and a reduced risk of gestational diabetes.

BioGaia’s probiotic may curb diarrhoea cases and linked growth disorders

13-Nov-2017 By Will Chu

Supplementation using BioGaia’s probiotic strain has shown to reduce the rate of diarrhoea and associated disorders such as stunting of growth and cognitive deficiencies, a study finds.

Mouse data backs DuPont prebiotic for multiple effects

10-Nov-2017 By Will Chu

DuPont’s prebiotic fibre could exert positive benefits to the gut microbiome, according to an animal study featured in Nature which also raises future implications on skin, metabolic and even brain health.

Study explores how composition and function of gut microbiota changes during day

06-Nov-2017 By Stephen Daniells

The composition and function of the microbiota in the human gut changes throughout the day, with links to dietary and bathroom habits. The findings may have implications for the design of future probiotic clinical trials.

Chr Hansen’s probiotic dairy product for kids: An untapped market ripe for innovation?

06-Nov-2017 By Will Chu

Chr. Hansen’s new probiotic children’s drinking yoghurt taps into a trio of trends identified by the dairy producer combining functional dairy for gut health that appeals to young taste buds and health conscious parents.

Microbiome composition may drive side effects to chemo drug: study

06-Nov-2017 By Tim Cutcliffe

The development of diarrhoea in reaction to a leading colorectal cancer (CRC) chemotherapy drug may be determined by patients’ gut bacteria make-up, suggests a new study in npj Biofilms and Microbiomes

Gut bacteria may be responsible for age-related inflammation, mouse study suggests

03-Nov-2017 By Tim Cutcliffe

Young mice developed low-grade chronic inflammation after receiving gut bacteria transplanted from old mice, reported a new study in Frontiers in Immunology

Vox Pop: Consumers are familiar with the word ‘probiotic,’ but struggle to define it

02-Nov-2017 By Adi Menayang

Probiotics are distinct types of bacteria that have been clearly defined by health authorities around the world, trade associations, as well as the World Health Organization. However, this definition may have not yet entered mainstream consciousness.

Research suggests prebiotic fiber could add to the arsenal for fighting the obesity epidemic

02-Nov-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

The stubborn rise of obesity rates in America despite the launch of a wide-range of calorie-restricting ‘diet’ products and exercise plans underscores the difficulty of weight loss, but emerging research on the role of the gut microbiota in the battle...

Probiotics benefit indigestion sufferers through gut microbiota normalisation

01-Nov-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Probiotics can effectively treat indigestion by normalising gastric microbiota, a Japanese study has found.

SCIENCE SHORT

Probiotics backed for weight loss benefits: Meta-analysis

31-Oct-2017 By Tim Cutcliffe

Probiotic supplementation with various strains of Lactobacillus have been shown to induce a small but statistically significant weight loss in the obese and overweight, according to a new review and meta-analysis.

Probiotic could delay onset of gluten intolerance in children: RCT data

24-Oct-2017 By Nathan Gray

New trial data suggests that the probiotic strains Lactobacillus plantarum Heal 9 and Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2 could support the immune system and delay the onset of gluten intolerance in children.

Acai may offer prebiotic benefits throughout the GI tract, researchers find

19-Oct-2017 By Adi Menayang

The polyphenols found in acai can survive through the digestive system, potentially bringing prebiotic benefits throughout the gastrointestinal tract down to the colon, according to researchers in the UK.

Fonterra probiotic strain may help relieve post-natal depression, suggests study

19-Oct-2017 By Tim Cutcliffe

Women who consumed the probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 during and after pregnancy showed fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety in the weeks after their infant’s birth, according to research published in EBioMedicine.

Probiota Asia 2017

Multi-strain versus single strain probiotics: More doesn’t necessarily mean better outcomes

19-Oct-2017 By Gary Scattergood

More research is needed to assess the efficacy of multi-strain probiotic treatments, because current data shows that adding more strains doesn’t always lead to better outcomes for all illnesses.

Kerry Group acquires probiotic player Ganeden to complement existing portfolio

11-Oct-2017 By Nathan Gray

Nutrition and food giant Kerry Group has sealed a deal to buy US-based probiotic technology firm Ganeden, the company said.

Microbiome sampling could predict weight loss success – help to drive personalised diet plans

09-Oct-2017 By Nathan Gray

The make-up of our gut bacteria environment may play a key role in personalised nutrition approaches to fight obesity, according to new research.

Probiotics for breast cancer? Bacterial imbalance link sets up future prospect

09-Oct-2017 By Will Chu

Differences in the bacterial make up of breast tissue in those with breast cancer point to the existence of a “microbiome" within the breast as well as the prospect of probiotic use in the battle against this disease.

International project puts forward universal stool study protocols

06-Oct-2017 By Will Chu

A worldwide collaboration looking to standardise procedures in research of the microbe make-up of stool specimens believe its introduction will optimise data quality in this emerging field.

Recipient’s gut bacteria make-up may drive faecal transplant response

06-Oct-2017 By Tim Cutcliffe

The gut microbiota composition of the recipient may determine the effectiveness of a faecal transplant in reducing insulin resistance, according to a new study in Cell Metabolism.

Mouse data links microbiome changes to lupus severity and complications

03-Oct-2017 By Nathan Gray

Probiotic strains found in yoghurts may help prevent complications associated with lupus, according to new mouse data that reports female mice given Lactobacillus have an altered microbiome and reduced symptoms.

When formulating probiotics for children, functional foods might not be the best delivery format, expert argues

28-Sep-2017 By Adi Menayang

As more brands incorporate nutritional ingredients into foods and beverages to meet consumer demand for functional foods, one probiotic expert discourages the practice for brands formulating for children and teenagers.

Agave fibers show gut health and weight management potential

27-Sep-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Extracts from agave may boost the diversity of the gut microbiota and help promote weight management, says a new study using lab mice. 

Thousands of new microbial communities identified in the human body

26-Sep-2017 By Emma Jane Cash

A new study of the human microbiome has found thousands of new microbial communities in the body, shedding light into the roles the microbiome plays in human health.

Probiotics and obesity: Consumption of Yakult’s Shirota strain aids weight loss in children

25-Sep-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Yakult’s probiotic strain Shirota (LcS) aids weight loss while also improving lipid metabolism in obese children, according to a new pilot study.

Research supports immune benefits of Ganeden’s new Staimune ingredient

22-Sep-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Inactivated Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086A has similar immune activation and anti-inflammatory effects as live cells, says a new study using Ganeden’s recently launched Staimune ingredient.

Probiotic intervention may increase beneficial gut bacteria in cancer patients

22-Sep-2017 By Will Chu

A DuPont-backed study demonstrates the efficacy of a probiotic intervention after studies reveal its ability to alter and modify the intestinal microbiome in patients with colon cancer.

Prebiotics may help fight rotavirus: Study

20-Sep-2017 By Tim Cutcliffe

Milk oligosaccharides reduced the infectivity of human rotavirus, according to a recent cell study published in The Journal of Nutrition.

SCIENCE SHORT

Gut bacteria may work with body clock to control weight gain: Study

18-Sep-2017 By Tim Cutcliffe

Cross-talk between the microbiome and the circadian clock appears to determine weight gain by mice in response to a high-fat diet, according to a recent study in Science.

Probiotics may help prevent colon cancer, mouse study suggests

14-Sep-2017 By Tim Cutcliffe

Treatment of mice with a strain of probiotics reduced the frequency and size of colorectal tumours after exposure to carcinogenic and inflammatory chemicals, reports a new study in American Journal of Pathology.

Mimicry: Gut bacteria metabolites copy human signalling molecules

07-Sep-2017 By Emma Jane Cash

New gut-mediated therapies could be on the horizon, according to new research that finds GPCR (G-protein-coupled receptor) ligands, formed by gut bacteria, mimic human signalling molecules.

Global Probiotics Council announces young investigator grant recipients

07-Sep-2017

How gut bacteria affect nutrient absorption and immune status, how protein malnutrition alters the gut bacterial communities, and how bacteria in the intestines interact with dietary fibers are the three topics picked for research grants from the Global...

‘Promising’: Probiotic combination may shorten C. difficile infections

06-Sep-2017 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of four probiotic strains may shorten the duration of an infection with Clostridium difficile, says a new study that supports the role of probiotics to counter the most common cause of hospital-acquired infections.

Could faecal microbiota transplantation be used to tackle asthma?

31-Aug-2017 By Will Chu

Faecal microbiota transplantation is arguably more effective in managing asthma than current treatments and even probiotics, say two scientists, who call for more research into its use.

Prebiotic nanofibre matrix aids probiotic survival in functional beverages

30-Aug-2017 By Will Chu

A prebiotic nanofibre matrix that protects beneficial bacteria in the low pH environment of fruit juices could prove an effective encapsulation agent for the probiotic delivery in functional beverages. 

Yoba-For-Life leads the way for ‘generic’ probiotics for health & wealth in Africa

28-Aug-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Small probiotic yogurt businesses are springing up across Eastern Africa and having a big impact on local populations, boosting health and wealth for hundreds of thousands. How are they doing it?

‘Surprising’ impact of gut bacteria on gene expression in the brain

Gut-brain axis: Gene regulation may be link between gut bacteria and anxiety

25-Aug-2017 By Nathan Gray

The trillions of microbes in our gut can have a dramatic influence on microRNAs that regulate gene expression in parts of the brain including those related to fear and anxiety, new data suggests.

Fruit-based prebiotic: A viable dairy alternative for probiotic foods and drinks?

24-Aug-2017 By Will Chu

Pectin and pulp extracted from passion fruit makes an effective probiotic food carrier, research finds as it demonstrates properties that stimulate probiotic growth and survival in the gut.

Stress hormone may be ‘middle man’ in gut-brain communication

24-Aug-2017 By Tim Cutcliffe

The stress hormone cortisol appears to mediate the link between a common type of gut bacteria and the levels of an abundant brain metabolite, according to a recent animal study in Gut Microbes.

Are anthocyanins a prebiotic? Brazilian researchers summarize what we know so far

22-Aug-2017 By Adi Menayang

The study of prebiotics — a term used to describe the ‘food’ beneficial gut bacteria feed on — is still in its infancy. Researchers in Brazil synthesized existing studies of dark blue flavonoids called anthocyanins and found that more and more studies...

Team aim to produce probiotic supplement for athletes

Strains for sports: Microbiome make-up is vital for athletic success

22-Aug-2017 By Nathan Gray

Researchers harvesting the microbiome of athletes have identified, and plan to commercialise, specific probiotic strains that could aid sports performance and recovery.

Danone pressured to strengthen margins as activists strike

16-Aug-2017 By Katy Askew

French dairy giant Danone has become the latest European target of activist investors, with New York hedge fund Corvex Management taking a €340m stake in the group.

Probiotics a possible treatment for jaundice in newborn babies: Chinese meta-analysis

16-Aug-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Probiotic supplementation might be able to safely and effectively treat jaundice in babies, a Chinese systematic review and meta-analysis found, but researchers say better quality data is required.

Probiotics in space: NASA explores viability of microorganisms for space flight

14-Aug-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Spending time in the low gravity environment of space leads to significant changes to your body – your bones weaken and your sense of taste may diminish. It is also known that the diversity of culturable bacteria in the gut microbiome decreases, which...

Dietary fibre helps ‘good’ bacteria win battle of the microbiome

14-Aug-2017 By Tim Cutcliffe

Feeding beneficial gut bacteria with fibre appears to help a signalling mechanism which limits the growth of harmful pathogens, according to a new study published in Science.

Probiotic uses glycerol to kill ‘superbug’ in laboratory

10-Aug-2017 By Tim Cutcliffe

A species of the probiotic genus Lactobacillus may selectively kill an antibiotic resistant bacterium, according to a study in Infection and Immunity.