Probiotics, prebiotics & postbiotics

Liver function probiotic addresses ‘unmet clinical need’

07-Oct-2016 By Lynda Searby

OMNi-BiOTiC HETOX, an eight-strain probiotic formulation from Institut Allergosan, is the first product to present a therapeutic alternative to organ transplants for sufferers of liver disease.

‘interesting insights’

Probiotics & gene interaction mapped in fermented milk: Study

07-Oct-2016 By Lynda Searby

New research characterising kefir has detected genes that could be responsible for health benefits of the fermented dairy beverage popular in eastern Europe and the Middle East.

New study on BLIS K12 probiotic supports oral hygiene benefits in children

06-Oct-2016 By Adi Menayang

Science continues to build supporting Stratum Nutrition and Blis Technologies’ BLIS K12 probiotic strain and its oral hygiene benefits. This latest study focuses on children with bad breath.

To persist or not persist: Personalising probiotics

05-Oct-2016 By Will Chu

Personalising probiotics could result in a greater chance of long-term alterations to the gut microbial ecosystem, according to a study, even six months after administration.

Synbiotics may benefit women with gestational diabetes

04-Oct-2016 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of three probiotic strains and prebiotic inulin may improve markers of insulin metabolism and lipid levels in women with gestational diabetes, says a new study.

Waste not want not: Faecal transplants effective against C.difficile infection

03-Oct-2016 By Will Chu

The transfer of stool from a healthy donor into a patient suffering from a bowel infection is a safe and effective treatment option, researchers from Germany have said. 

Probiotics may ease severity of multiple sclerosis: Study

29-Sep-2016 By Will Chu

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), whose diets were supplemented with probiotics, demonstrated a reduction in the severity of their condition as well as improvements to mental health.

Capsugel finding fortune ‘outside the capsule’

28-Sep-2016 By Shane Starling

Business is booming at nutraceutical and pharma delivery system giant Capsugel as it reaps the benefits of a shift ‘outside the capsule’ for the first time.

Probiotics to help drive 44% rise in APAC functional foods market by 2026

28-Sep-2016 By Gary Scattergood

The functional food ingredients market in Asia Pacific is being tipped to rise from $2.85bn at the end of 2016 to $5.04bn in 2026 with probiotics projected to be the fastest growing segment over the forecast period 

Meta-analysis supports inulin’s cholesterol busting potential

27-Sep-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Consuming prebiotic inulin-type fructans may help slash LDL cholesterol levels across a range of population groups, says a new systematic review and meta-analysis.

Bacteria in faeces may determine body fat levels, study concludes

27-Sep-2016 By Will Chu

The type of bacteria in human faeces could decide how much dangerous fat is stored in the body, a study from Kings College, London has concluded.

Too much gluten may trigger coeliac disease in babies

27-Sep-2016 By Natalie Morrison

High gluten intake before the age of two carries coeliac disease risk, researchers say, challenging coeliac development links with breastfeeding and age.

Alginate-starch encapsulation could aid probiotic survival

21-Sep-2016 By Nathan Gray

The use of a modified alginate and hi-maize starch encapsulation technique could help to increase the survival rate of probiotics, say Thai researchers.

Mixed results for probiotic cirrhosis study

20-Sep-2016 By Eliot Beer

Probiotics given to liver cirrhosis sufferers boosted neopterin levels and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, but had no significant effect on white blood cells’ ability to consume bacteria, the original aim of the study.

'The race is on in this industry to take positions for future growth of probiotics.'

Probiotics giant buys world’s best-documented strain

16-Sep-2016 By Shane STARLING

Danish probiotics and enzymes leader Chr Hansen has paid €73m in cash to acquire the Lactobacillus rhamnosus-based LGG suite of probiotic strains from Finnish dairy group, Valio.

Review questions food fortification dominance in nutrition policy

14-Sep-2016 By Eliot Beer

Policy makers around the world are relying too much on food fortification and other nutrition-specific interventions, at the cost of using more holistic approaches, according to a review.

Gut bacteria’s impact on HIV patients opens door for probiotic intervention

08-Sep-2016 By Will Chu

Gut bacteria is likely to play a role in the immune recovery of HIV patients, a study has found

Probiotic pills show skin anti-aging benefits: RCT data

08-Sep-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Scientists from Korea Yakult report that Lactobacillus plantarum HY7714 supplements may boost skin elasticity and reduce skin wrinkles in women with dry skin.

Probiotic mix shows cardiovascular benefits, for mice at least

07-Sep-2016 By Stephen Daniells

A mixture of 8 bacterial strains may reduce inflammation in the vascular system and may protect against the development of atherosclerosis, says a new study.

Cornelius’ future suite-smelling as new lab opens for business

06-Sep-2016 By Will Chu

Ingredients distributor Cornelius has opened its new research and development facility which the company said would add ‘insight’ and ‘inspiration’ to new product development (NPD).

UK-China probiotics centre plans GM research

02-Sep-2016 By Eliot Beer

The UK-China Joint Centre for Probiotics Research is focusing on specific probiotic applications, and plans to use GM techniques to engineer highly targeted microorganisms to fight specific pathogens.

EU rejects more than 90% of all health claims: Study

26-Aug-2016 By Eliot Beer

The EU has authorised only a small fraction of the health claims submitted to it, with a number of categories seeing no authorised claims at all, according to a new analysis of the bloc’s uber-strict health claim process.

Could Brexit give a boost to the UK’s supplements industry?

24-Aug-2016 By Eliot Beer

Amid the uncertainty of Brexit, supplement industry groups see opportunities for a more liberal UK regime outside the EU, but others question how much practical difference the UK’s split will make.

New product idea? Study used chia and flaxseeds to encapsulate probiotics

23-Aug-2016 By Adi Menayang

By spray drying, researchers from Chile and Canada encapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium infantis using chia and flaxseed.

Probiotic problems: Mastitis marketing flawed, say researchers

23-Aug-2016 By Eliot Beer

A paper claiming the marketing of probiotics to treat mastitis is problematic has caused a controversy, but probiotics researchers and manufacturers say the science is sound.

Baby food and probiotics driving expectations for a €1.7bn colostrum market within the decade

19-Aug-2016 By Natalie Morrison

The global colostrum market is expected to hit a valuation upwards of €1.7bn ($1.9bn) by 2026 with baby food and probiotics leading the way, analysts predict.

Breast milk may be lacking for pre-term infants: Study

16-Aug-2016 By Eliot Beer

A human breast milk study opens the door for customised nutrition for premature babies, as researchers find pre-term milk contains different micronutrients for the first few weeks after birth only. 

Pregnancy gingivitis study opens new probiotic area for BioGaia

10-Aug-2016 By Eliot Beer

A new study showing beneficial effects of L. reuteri lozenges against pregnancy gingivitis could open up new markets for probiotic producer BioGaia, says its manager director.

Update on ‘illegal’ Belgian tax row following flood of court cases

BASF joins multinationals challenging Commission's 'illegal' tax ruling

08-Aug-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

German chemical giant BASF has joined the seven companies and the Belgian government taking legal action against the European Commission for its ruling that a generous Belgian tax scheme was illegal.

Capsugel, BASF, Omega Pharma among firms to benefit from contested tax scheme

Capsugel takes Commission to EU court over ‘illegal’ tax scheme demands

05-Aug-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Capsule manufacturer Capsugel and at least six other companies have taken the European Commission to EU court over the ruling that a Belgian ‘excess profit’ tax scheme was illegal.

BC30 plus protein linked to improved recovery after exercise

04-Aug-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Combining protein with Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 (GanedenBC30) may improve recovery after excessive exercise and reduce markers of muscle damage, says a study.

When is it best to introduce complementary feeding for infants? Commission asks EFSA

02-Aug-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Commission has asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to update its scientific opinion on the appropriate age for introduction of complementary feeding for infants.

Soluble corn fiber shows bone health benefits for older women

01-Aug-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Doses of soluble corn fiber may boost calcium retention for postmenopausal women by up to 7%, says a new study from Purdue University and Indiana University.

Soybean by-product tipped as alternative prebiotic

01-Aug-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

By-product Okara, otherwise known as ‘soy pulp’ or ‘tofu dreg’, is a promising novel prebiotic, according to researchers testing the ingredient in a human gut model. 

Could seaweed bioactive help fight food allergies?

31-Jul-2016 By Nathan Gray

Bioactives found in a certain form of commercial red algae could help to counter symptoms of food allergies, say researchers.

Probiotics may promote weight loss and reduce BMI

29-Jul-2016 By Nathan Gray

Consumption of probiotic ‘good bacteria’ could reduce body weight and body mass index (BMI) scores according to a new Chinese meta-analysis.

'We won’t take this as the final outcome. We spent too much time, too much money.'

310th probiotic claim rejection: EFSA throws out Probi claim for iron absorption

27-Jul-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded there is “insufficient” evidence to claim a probiotic can help boost iron absorption – but applicant Probi says it won’t take no for an answer.

Researchers assess effects of beta-carotene fortified synbiotic food on type 2 diabetics

26-Jul-2016 By Adi Menayang

A synbiotic food fortified with beta-carotene may improve markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in people with type 2 diabetes, says a new study. 

UK criminalises infant formula marketing offences

26-Jul-2016 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

The UK government has introduced legislation that would make a company’s failure to fall in line with EU infant formula and baby food marketing laws a criminal offence subject to fines.

Silicon Valley app promises probiotic lab advances

25-Jul-2016 By Lynda Searby

Research labs could soon be using smartphones to count CFUs (colony forming units), as a Silicon Valley start-up releases a new app that gets an encouraging review from Swedish probiotics producer Probi.

Review supports the appetite control effects of Taiyo’s Sunfiber

22-Jul-2016 By Stephen Daniells

As little as two grams per day of Sunfiber, Taiyo’s proprietary form of guar fiber, may help reduce calorie intake from snacking by as much as 20%, according to a new review.

Lafti L10 probiotic shows respiratory benefits for athletes: RCT

21-Jul-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Elite athletes are at increased risk of upper respiratory tract illness (URTI), but supplementation with Lactobacillus helveticus probiotics may reduce the duration of the illness, according to data from Serbia.

Fragmented Lactobacillus may slash body fat: RCT

18-Jul-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Supplements containing a fragmented Lactobacillus amylovorus CP1563 may help cut body fat levels and trim waist sizes, says a new study from Japan.

Microbiome modulation may aid symptoms of autism: Study

16-Jul-2016 By Nathan Gray

The use of diet and functional foods to alter the microbiota and impact the gut-brain axis could be a promising strategy for people with autism spectrum disorder, say researchers.

Personalised nutrition: Listening to the gut microbiome

15-Jul-2016 By Will Chu from Amsterdam

Personalised diets may provide diabetics with a more natural way of controlling the post-meal spikes in blood sugar glucose that are linked to obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, a study suggests. 

Special Edition: Anti-Aging

Seeing is believing: Managing consumer expectations for beauty from within products

15-Jul-2016 By Stephen Daniells

When consumers use beauty-from-within products they expect to see the effects in the mirror, and sometimes quickly, but this is actually more of an opportunity than a challenge, say experts.

UK microbiome start-up wins investors as platforms expand

11-Jul-2016 By Shane Starling

Publicly listed UK start-up Optibiotix has €4m+ in the bank and is pushing forward on a series of microbiome-focused nutrition projects that include a joint research initiative with weight management giant, SlimFast.

Biofortis and Triskelion: A French-Dutch contract research powerhouse for gut-immune health?

08-Jul-2016 By Lynda Searby

Development of an in vitro model that mimics the gastrointestinal tract is one of the ways in which Biofortis and Triskelion hope to help further research into the relationship between the gut microbiome and immune health, under a new partnership.

Scientists connect gut microbiota disruption with multiple sclerosis onset

07-Jul-2016 By Will Chu

Gastro dysbiosis has been implicated in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) as a study continues to lay bare the gut microbiota’s influence on a range of chronic conditions.  

Chr. Hansen posts more ‘modest’ results for EU human health

05-Jul-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Danish probiotic supplier Chr. Hansen has reported more modest growth within EU human health and nutrition, saying its success and failure hinges on that of probiotic launches on shelf.