Probiotics, prebiotics & postbiotics

Prebiotics & probiotics may ease gut-centric chronic fatigue syndrome: Study

04-Jul-2016 By Will Chu

Signs of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have been found in the gut bacteria in research conducted at Cornell University, which questions whether the disease originates in the brain.

Academics announce Sino-British probiotics research centre

04-Jul-2016 By RJ Whitehead

Chinese academics have collaborated with British counterparts to launch a UK-China Joint-Centre for Probiotic Research.

Sunfiber blunts blood sugar spikes among glucose intolerant subjects, study shows

30-Jun-2016 By Hank Schultz

Japanese ingredient supplier Taiyo has announced the results of a peer-reviewed pilot study that explores the effect its Sunfiber ingredient has on blunting postprandial blood glucose spikes among glucose intolerant subjects.

Prebiotic fiber may boost growth and immune function in infants: Piglet data

29-Jun-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Early supplementation with prebiotic short-chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) may enhance the response to vaccinations and promote growth, says a new study with piglets.

Gut health and activity benefits from food’s short stay in the gut

28-Jun-2016 By Will Chu

Food that travels faster through the gut results in bacteria producing less harmful by-products in the digestive system, resulting in a healthier gut environment, according to a study.

Long chain inulin & chitosan offer probiotic protection: Study

27-Jun-2016 By Natalie Morrison

A coating of long chain inulin and chitosan could offer better protection for probiotics in the gut, say researchers.

Denmark funds microbiota research on ‘probiotic’ phages

23-Jun-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

A University of Copenhagen research project into the use of phages to manipulate gut microbiota is one of 164 “promising projects” to receive funding from the Danish Council for Independent Research (DFF).

science short

High-fibre diet & vitamin A combine to keep allergies at bay

22-Jun-2016 By Will Chu

Sticking to a high-fibre diet has been shown to instruct the immune system to tolerate foods like peanuts that can set off serious allergies, research has shown.

Danish probiotic player expands operations

16-Jun-2016

Private label probiotics specialist Bifodan has upped its production capacity and installed machinery to account for “new product formulations and packaging solutions”.

Study supports cranberry + probiotics combination for anti-UTI benefits

15-Jun-2016 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of proanthocyanidins (c-PAC) derived from cranberries with select probiotic strains may reduce the invasiveness of Escherichia coli, and help protect against urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Public figure profile: Basil Mathioudakis

'EU food regulation is world's best': EC veteran on life after DG SANTE

13-Jun-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

After retiring last February as head of the European Commission’s DG SANTE food legislation unit, Basil Mathioudakis is spreading the world globally about the merits of the EU’s food and nutrition regulation as a consultant to industry and governments.

Whole, natural fiber works best to protect gut mucosal layer, researcher says

10-Jun-2016 By Hank Schultz

Dietary fiber plays an important role in protecting the gut’s mucosal layer, according to research presented at the recent Probiota Americas event.

Leicester City signs sports supplements deal

10-Jun-2016 By Shane STARLING

Welsh firm Pro Athlete Supplementation (PAS) has signed a deal that makes it the exclusive sports supplements supplier to reigning English Premier League (EPL) champions Leicester City Football Club.

Early nutrition vital to fighting back against EU childhood obesity crisis

10-Jun-2016 By Nathan Gray

European children are ‘in crisis’ over the risk of gut disease and obesity, according to a new report that calls for renewed focus on pediatric digestive health. 

Probiotic strain may help prevent obesity

10-Jun-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Probiotic strain Lactobacillus gasseri activates ‘multiple actions’ that may work in synergy to prevent obesity, Japanese research in rats has suggested.

Probiotic pick up: Probi to double sales with Nutraceutix acquisition

07-Jun-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Probi has acquired US probiotic player Nutraceutix for a preliminary cash price of $105m (€92.41m), a move which takes the Swedish supplier’s US client base from just a handful of customers up to about 200.

What we saw at Vitafoods Europe 2016

06-Jun-2016 By Hannah Heath

The Healthy Marketing Team (HMT) were impressed – mostly – by what they saw at the 20th year of Vitafoods Europe in Geneva last month from probiotics to novel powders to category creak and a gummy explosion, says the firm's Hannah Heath.

Japanese consumption, Chinese growth spur global demand for probiotics

06-Jun-2016 By RJ Whitehead

Probiotics manufacturers are increasingly witnessing the rising importance of Asia-Pacific as growing awareness of the health benefits of “good” bacteria continue to drive global growth.

RCT: Probiotic reduces antibiotic-associated diarrhoea

03-Jun-2016 By Will Chu

A Lactobacillus probiotic has been shown to reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) in a clinical study.

Future microbiome studies boosted by ‘multi-omics’ approach

01-Jun-2016 By Will Chu

The combination of multiple ‘omics’ technologies will give greater insights into the gut microbial communities, identifying the populations that inhabit this ecosystem, according to researchers.

Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2016

How to make supplement packaging sexier

01-Jun-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Supplement players need to make their packaging sexier if they are to bat off competition from encroaching healthy food and drink products, says marketing expert.

Bo & Pro gung-ho on no-dairy probiotic ice cream

31-May-2016

Probi and food maker BoFood have inked a deal to use Probi’s probiotic strains in a vegetarian ice cream.

May 31 to June 2 2016, Chicago, Illinois. 270+ signed up

IPA & Probiota Americas partnership set to break records this week

31-May-2016

Chicago will witness the biggest ever meeting of experts from the global pre- and probiotics industry, running today (May 31) until Thursday (June 2). The combined IPA World Congress and Probiota Americas event will unite more than 270 academics, business...

Endurance exercise and gut microbiota? A review explores the relationship

27-May-2016 By Adi Menayang

There have only been a couple dozen studies since 2007 that look at how gut microbiota and endurance exercise relate. A meta-analysis reveals promising benefits, but calls for more research in the area.

Beef & chicken protein match whey for muscle mass and strength

26-May-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Protein from beef and chicken sources are equally as effective as whey protein to stimulate improvements in body composition and resistance training outcomes, says a new study.

Heat-killed lactobacillus shows oral health benefits

25-May-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Consuming capsules with heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 may help reduce probing depth in people with periodontal disease, says a new study from Japan.

‘We need to achieve a prebiotic health claim to advance research in the category’: Academic

23-May-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Despite an abundance of health benefits, the lack of a prebiotic health claim in Europe is stalling research in a number of areas, says a leading prebiotic researcher.

Gut-brain axis uses immune system to ‘talk,’ study shows

23-May-2016 By Will Chu

The gut microbiome and the brain communicate to each other via the immune system, a study has shown as researchers delve deeper into the so-called 'gut-brain axis'. 

dispatches from vitafoods 2016

IPA 'rebirth' sees probiotic membership surge

16-May-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The International Probiotics Association (IPA) has seen a membership swell this year as old faces return and new faces come on board.

Yakult sees net sales growth

12-May-2016 By Jim Cornall

Japanese dairy products company Yakult has released its financial results for the year ending March 31, 2016, and they show an increase in net sales of 5.9%.

Experts react to ‘waste of money’ headlines against probiotics

11-May-2016 By Adi Menayang

A recent article posted on The Daily Beast went with the headline “Probiotics Are a Waste of Money for Healthy Adults.” The story itself is based on findings from a Danish study. We reached out to some people in the industry and academia for a second...

Gut microbiome able to ‘pass on’ disease, study suggests

10-May-2016 By Will Chu

Gut bacteria implicated in the onset of obesity are able to survive outside the human body, raising suggestions this bacteria could be transferred from person to person, a study has suggested.

Synbiotics show anti-eczema potential for kids: Meta-analysis

09-May-2016 By Stephen Daniells

An international team of researchers report that synbiotics are most effective against eczema in children when multiple probiotic strains are combined with prebiotic fibers.

Bifidobacterium probiotic shows metabolic and anti-obesity benefits: RCT

09-May-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Supplements containing Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 may reduce body weight and cholesterol levels in people with metabolic syndrome, says a new study from Brazil.

Canadian marketing guru's research drills down to the very words that motivate consumers

06-May-2016 By Hank Schultz

Words are powerful, and finding out what words consumers use to describe natural and organic products is one of the insights provided by Canadian marketing guru Ryan Benn on Thursday.

Hands-on, point-by-point approach helps marketing maven identify trends

06-May-2016 By Hank Schultz

Marketing maven Blake Mitchell uses a hands-on—or perhaps better put, ‘palate-on’—approach to finding out what will be the next hot food trends.

Lallemand takes over surface and ripening cultures business of DSM Food Specialties

06-May-2016 By Jim Cornall

Canadian company Lallemand, which develops and produces specialty cultures for food applications, has strengthened its position in dairy cultures with the acquisition of the surface and ripening cultures business from DSM Food Specialties.

Where East meets West: Highlights from FI Istanbul

06-May-2016 By Niamh Michail

FoodNavigator is at Food Ingredients Istanbul, scouting out the latest ingredient trends and developments in the region. Here are some that caught our eye.

HK scientists find probiotic mix's benefits in liver cancer treatment

05-May-2016 By RJ Whitehead

Hong Kong researchers have developed a novel probiotic mixture that may have potential therapeutic effects on liver cancer.

Algae Life Sciences announces 239 structure/function claims

05-May-2016

The claims relate to the company’s AstaZine Natural Astaxanthin product, which is extracted from certified organic Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae.

Healthy agers: To market older, you’d better get wiser

04-May-2016 By Lynda Searby

Europe’s seniors see functional foods as a 'dated' concept, are uncomfortable with products that expressly mention age, and want sustainable, naturally nutritious products, finds a consumer study led by the Healthy Marketing Team.

Spanish company files for mastitis probiotic health claim

03-May-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The Spanish firm Biosearch Life has filed for a health claim linking a probiotic strain with the reduced risk of painful inflammation of the breast during breastfeeding.

3 years, 3 countries, 222 children: Big gut data tracks impact of hygiene on microbiome

02-May-2016 By Will Chu

Gut microbiome development in the early stages of life may explain the rise in autoimmune diseases such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis, a study reports.  

The EFSA hackathon: Authority offers €20,000 for app ideas

29-Apr-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

"The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is offering €20,000 for an app idea it can use to provide “quick, user-friendly” mobile access to its work."

Crowdsourcing control: Don’t make it a free for all, warn researchers

29-Apr-2016 By Lynda Searby

With momentum building for crowdsourcing and funding as a platform for nutrition research, scientists warn that greater control may be needed to safeguard the quality and validity of such studies. 

Breaking news

Gut flora composition linked to health, diet, and lifestyle, pioneering population study reveals

28-Apr-2016 By Will Chu

In one of the first population-wide studies on gut flora variation, a distinct link between gut bacteria and health, diet, and lifestyle, has been established.

Plant-derived bacteria shows anti-obesity effects: RCT

28-Apr-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Heat-killed Pediococcus pentosaceus LP28 derived from the longan fruit may help trim waist lines and reduce body fat, say results from a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Probi makes medical moves with its largest distribution deal to date

27-Apr-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Swedish probiotic supplier Probi has signed its largest distribution agreement to date in an 18-country deal with French pharmaceutical firm Ipsen.

Our stool frequency claim may not be sexy – but it adds credibility to empty slogans: BENEO

26-Apr-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

A survey of over 1,000 consumers in the UK and Spain has helped German ingredients giant BENEO join the dots between its EFSA-approved stool frequency health claim on paper and what consumers look for in digestive health on pack.

Probiotics expert: 'Disband EFSA' and end destructive category confusion

25-Apr-2016 By Lynda Searby

A leading probiotics academic has called for EFSA to be “disbanded” saying that the effect of the EU’s central food science agency’s treatment of probiotic claims has been “confusion in Europe”, and that the EU could learn from the Canadian approach to...