Probiotics, prebiotics & postbiotics

Dupont probiotic shows modest effect on common cold nasal inflammation

17-May-2017 By Hank Schultz

A study using a DuPont probiotic strain showed a modest effect on the inflammatory response in the nose in response to an infection with a common cold virus.

What's on the label isn't always what's in the product

Do commercial probiotics need better quality controls?

04-May-2017 By Nathan Gray

Probiotic products should have a more stringent quality control process with processes that ensure contents match what is on the label, warns a new position paper.

Strain-level specificity critical for full compliance, NSF probiotics labeling expert says

03-May-2017 By Hank Schultz

Labeling probiotics to the strain level is becoming an increasing focus in NSF’s certification process, an expert told NutraIngredinets-USA.

BC30 may enhance muscle benefits of HMB during military training: RCT

03-May-2017 By Stephen Daniells

The muscle and anti-inflammatory benefits of HMB may be enhanced by combining the ingredient with the BC30 probiotic, says a new study with soldiers from the Israel Defense Force.

NutriForm Business Days gets ready for its first year

28-Apr-2017 By Emma Jane Cash

Millennials and microbiota probiotics are on the agenda for a two day food supplements event taking place in September.

Human data backs FMT to improve brain functions and reduce healthcare burden

26-Apr-2017 By Nathan Gray

Faecal microbiota transplants (FMT) could significantly reduce hospitalisations and improve signs of cognitive impairment caused by severe liver disease, new human data suggests.

Gut bacteria control age-related inflammation: Mouse data

19-Apr-2017 By Nathan Gray

Changes to our microbiome and intestinal barrier functions directly lead to increased levels of systemic inflammation as we age, say researchers who suggest such age-related inflammation is reversible.

Wellmune may reduce duration of colds in older people

18-Apr-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of the baker’s yeast beta-glucan ingredient Wellmune may lead to fewer incidences of .upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and shorter illness duration, says a new study.

Probiotics and omega-3: Co-microencapsulation boosts bacteria survival and fatty acid retention

11-Apr-2017 By Millette Burgos

The co-microencapsulation of probiotic bacteria with omega-3 rich tuna oil improved its survival and intestinal adhering ability, and also helped to retain a higher proportion of omega-3 fatty acids in the digestive system.

Chr. Hansen posts ‘strong’ H1 with organic revenue growth of 10%

06-Apr-2017 By Nathan Gray

Food and nutrition bioscience firm Chr. Hansen says it is well positioned to deliver its ambitious full year targets, as it reports 10% organic revenue growth for the first half of its financial year.

Fonterra probiotic shows potential to prevent diabetes in pregnancy

06-Apr-2017 By Will Chu

Dairy giant Fonterra’s naturally occurring probiotic could be responsible for a 68% reduction in gestational diabetes in pregnant women, according to researchers.

NutraIngredients Awards: Readers' category open ... YOU decide who wins!

03-Apr-2017

Have your say and vote to decide who will win Readers’ Ingredient of the Year and Readers’ Food Supplement of the Year at this year’s NutraIngredients Awards.

Researchers confirm chicory inulin benefits on blood sugar

03-Apr-2017 By David Anderson

Inulin fibre from chicory root's beneficial effects on metabolic risks – including managing blood sugar levels – has been confirmed by new research.

Probiotics and memory: When conclusions can go too far

31-Mar-2017 By Stephen Daniells

A recent rodent study indicated that a combination of probiotics may impair memory in healthy animals – conclusions that industry experts say go ‘a bit too far’, and are at odds with the totality of the evidence.

Unwanted side effects: Oat beta-glucan beats out plant sterols in cholesterol-lowering study

31-Mar-2017 By David Anderson

While plant sterol esters have a bigger effect on lowering cholesterol than oat beta-glucans, they can come with unwanted side effects including weight gain and microbiome disturbance, finds a new study.

'Fibre is the only option to turn our comfort foods from toxic to therapeutic,' says FiberFlour founder

28-Mar-2017 By Niamh Michail

What made a practicing doctor give up medicine to create and supply a high-fibre flour? “I saw an opportunity to be infinitely more effective in preventing disease in the first place. Fibre is the only option to transform our staple comfort foods from...

Meta-analysis supports probiotic yeast for managing symptoms of GI disorders

24-Mar-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Supplements containing Lesaffre Human Care’s ibSium (Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856) may improve gastrointestinal symptoms in people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Immune boost: DuPont meta-analysis shows positive results for probiotic in elderly

21-Mar-2017 By Eliot Beer

The probiotic strain B. lactis HN019 has a positive effect on the immune system in elderly people, finds a new meta-analysis by DuPont as it launches a new product range.

38 finalists will battle it out in 13 categories

Finalists announced: Find out who made the NutraIngredients Awards 2017 shortlist

20-Mar-2017 By Nathan Gray

NutraIngredients is pleased to announce the shortlisted finalists for the 2017 edition of the NutraIngredients Awards, ... with the winners announced at our exclusive awards evening in Geneva on 10th May. Will you be joining us?

Special Edition: Functional Foods

Naturally functional: Are consumers turned off by 'added' functionality

15-Mar-2017 By Emma Jane Cash

A huge 70% of Europeans prefer health benefits from natural foods, rather than added benefits, according to Mintel - so could the perception that functional foods are unnatural be a barrier to casual users?

Exclusive

First steps: Winclove set for 'probiotic claim' with B12 producing bacteria

13-Mar-2017 By Nathan Gray

A probiotic strain that itself produces high enough levels of natural vitamin B12 to enable EFSA approved health claims is a ‘first step’ towards the category gaining its own claims, says Winclove.

Could probiotic ease depression? Mouse study suggests so…

10-Mar-2017 By Nathan Gray

Lactobacillus, a probiotic bacteria found in live-culture yogurt and sauerkraut, could reverse depressive symptoms, according to a new mouse study that researchers think could hold true in humans.

Stevia & fibre blend promises to slash sugar by 100% with no loss in taste or bulk

08-Mar-2017 By Niamh Michail

Food tech start-up Unavoo has launched a natural, stevia- and prebiotic fibre-based sweetener that can replace sugar like-for-like in dairy, bakery and beverage products.

Probiotics in space testing is ready for lift off, says Yakult

06-Mar-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Yakult is ready to begin carrying out tests on the consumption of probiotics in space, by undertaking experiments on astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS).

Food Vision

Nutrition advice questioned by gut microbe scientist

03-Mar-2017 By Rick Pendrous

Conventional advice on maintaining health and avoiding obesity have been called into question by a leading expert on bacterial gut health – also known as the microbiome – who claimed that ensuring healthy bacteria in the lower intestines and colon has...

Kiwi supplement and health food firms targets for Chinese takeovers as dairy deals come under increased scrutiny

03-Mar-2017 By Gary Scattergood

New Zealand supplement and health food manufacturers are likely targets for merger and acquisition activity over the next year, with private equity firms, notably from China, increasingly looking to splash the cash.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM PROBIOTA 2017 IN BERLIN

Probiota Insights: Which probiotic formats hold the most exciting future potential?

01-Mar-2017 By Nathan Gray

There is a huge focus on finding 'the next big thing' in terms of probiotic delivery formats. But which ones do our Probiota community think hold the most potential?

Chickpea extract a potential prebiotic: China study shows microflora and short-chain fatty acid benefits

28-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Ciceritol extracted from chickpeas has prebiotic potential with a new study showing it can boost the microflora of the colon and promote the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA).

Prebiotic may reduce appetite and calorie consumption in overweight, obese kids

27-Feb-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Daily consumption of oligofructose-enriched inulin may help to increase feelings of fullness and lead to lower energy intake in overweight and obese children, says a new study.

Prebiotics may lower markers of obesity-associated inflammation: Human data

24-Feb-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Incorporating prebiotic oligofructose in the diet as supplements or functional foods may help lower levels of some markers of obesity-associated inflammation, says a new study.

Probiotics may offer relief for allergy sufferers: RCT data

24-Feb-2017 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of three probiotic strains may improve quality of life for people suffering from seasonal allergies, says data from a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM PROBIOTA 2017 IN BERLIN

Probiota Insights: What have the last five years taught us about probiotics?

23-Feb-2017 By Nathan Gray

There has been a revolution in technology. But what do we now know about probiotics that we didn’t know five years ago?

Sheep milk has untapped functional food potential: Review

21-Feb-2017 By Eliot Beer

Sheep milk has significant but neglected potential for use in functional foods, according to a new review, which highlights its suitability for use in probiotic and prebiotic applications.

ARCHIVE ARTICLE OF THE WEEK

Making a deposit: Faecal biobanks have ‘great potential’

17-Feb-2017 By Will Chu

The interest in stool transplants or faecal microbial transplants has gathered momentum in recent years giving rise to the concept of faecal biobanks.

A 'golden age' of probiotics for premature babies? It depends on birth weight and strains: Meta-analysis

17-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

The use of probiotics on very low birth weight (VLBW) infants is associated with a reduced risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), late-onset sepsis, and mortality, but the effects on extremely low birth weight (ELBW) babies is inconclusive.

Transitioning: Danone profits soar by 34% as firm outlines €1bn cost-cutting

15-Feb-2017 By Nathan Gray

A 34% rise in net profits for French dairy and nutrition giant Danone was backed up by the announcement of a €1 billion efficiency program as the firm continues its transition over the next four years.

Deal to develop microbiome analysis for clinical nutrition

Day Two link with Johnson & Johnson on personalised microbiome analysis for diabetes nutrition

15-Feb-2017 By Eliot Beer

Gut microbiome analysis firm DayTwo will collaborate with Johnson & Johnson on personalised clinical nutrition for diabetes, and plans to open up its nutrition recommendation platform to new partners.

Asian expansion gives BioGaia reasons for optimism: Managing director

14-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Probiotics manufacturer BioGaia has reported annual sales growth of 9%, excluding exchange rate effects, with managing director Axel Sjöblad highlighting growth in Asia as a key reason for continued confidence over the next 12 months.

Probiotics boost the kidney benefits of soy milk in diabetic patients, RCT reveals

14-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Probiotic soy milk improves several indexes of kidney function in type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy – a major complication of diabetes and the foremost cause of end-stage renal failure.

Researchers: 'We consider this to be a major breakthrough'

Gut bacteria linked to development of Alzheimer’s disease: Mouse data

13-Feb-2017 By Nathan Gray

Intestinal bacteria can accelerate the development of Alzheimer's disease, say researchers who suggest their findings could open new opportunities for preventing and even reversing the disease through the gut.

Highlights from Probiota 2017 in Berlin

Probiota Insights: Does the prebiotic definition need reworking?

13-Feb-2017 By Nathan Gray

A debate is brewing over what exactly constitutes a prebiotic, and whether the established definition needs to be updated. NutraIngredients spoke with leading researcher Professor Bob Rastall to find out more.

Probiotic may reduce the risk of common cold: Yakult study

07-Feb-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Daily consumption of a fermented milk product with Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota may reduce the risk of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in healthy middle-aged office workers, says a new study.

Prebiotics in early life may boost sleep and daytime rhythms: Study

30-Jan-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementing the early life diet with prebiotics may boost the growth of selective bacteria in the gut and alleviate sleep disruptions caused by stress, says a new study.

High fibre and protein ice cream developed by DuPont is soon to be in hospitals

26-Jan-2017 By Emma Jane Cash

A range of high fibre and high protein ice creams that have better tastes and textures than standard hospital food will soon be on the menu for patients.

Firm open to more M&A activity after profits more than double

Probi set sights on EFSA claim after acquisition caps ‘exceptional’ financial results

25-Jan-2017 By Nathan Gray

Swedish probiotic player Probi could soon re-submit an EFSA dossier for iron uptake, says CEO Peter Nählstedt as he talks to NutraIngredients about how the company more than doubled its profits in 2016.

Inuit microbiome study could shed further light influence of nutrition and modern diet on health

17-Jan-2017 By Nathan Gray

While the gut bacteria of indigenous Inuit populations are ‘broadly similar’ to modern Western populations, subtle differences that distinguish the two could help researchers understand how diet impacts our health through the microbiome, say researchers.

Lotte’s probiotic chocolate success highlights functional potential in Japan

16-Jan-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Functional chocolate is poised to contribute to market growth in Japan based on the success of Lotte’s Sweet Days chocolate, says market analyst Canadean.

BioGaia’s probiotic products to be launched in Thailand

16-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

BioGaia has signed an exclusive agreement with Abbott to commercialize its probiotic products  in Thailand.

Probiotics may reverse damage of generational stress

13-Jan-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Taking male rat pups away from their mothers can produce detrimental effects in those rats when they mature, including mental illness, and these effects can then be passed on to the next generation. A new study suggests that probiotics can help reverse...

Heard of the gut-brain axis? Meet the gut-skin axis...

12-Jan-2017 By Will Chu

Probiotic supplementation may improve adult acne appearance as researchers discuss the existence of a gut-skin axis in which the gastrointestinal area is targeted by bacterial strains to affect skin physiology.