Probiotics, prebiotics & postbiotics

Could the health effects of inulin be complimented by wheat fiber?

09-Oct-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Long-chain arabinoxylan derived from wheat has potential prebiotic activity and may complement the effects of inulin, an established prebiotic fiber, according to new data from Belgium and the Netherlands.

EpiCor shows prebiotic activity – new study unlocks ingredient’s immunity mechanisms

07-Oct-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

The immune benefits of EpiCor, the yeast fermentate from Embria, may be related to its prebiotic potential to boost levels of beneficial bacteria, says a new study.

EU passes generic descriptors law: Clearing up confusion or compromising commercial freedom?

07-Oct-2013 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

The European Commission has passed a law meaning generic descriptors for food and beverage products which could be construed as health claims will only be allowed if they have been in use for more than 20 years.

Prebiotic fibre could induce 'profound metabolic changes'

02-Oct-2013 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Prebiotic short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS) could modify metabolism through their effect on intestinal microbiota, which could prove helpful for type 2 diabetics, research has claimed. 

Russia restricts food supplement marketing

01-Oct-2013 By Shane STARLING

Russia has placed restrictions on food supplement marketing by forcing radio, TV and video adverts to carry medical disclaimers.

Study backs milk protein micro-particles for probiotic survival

01-Oct-2013 By Nathan Gray

A mixture of casein and whey protein may offer the best encapsulation and survival possibilities for the probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, according to new research.

Big Interview

Chr. Hansen CEO: “It is more evolution than revolution – we don’t need revolution”

30-Sep-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Chr. Hansen CEO Cees de Jong talks with FoodNavigator about his vision for corporate evolution, with a definite emphasis on emerging markets – without neglecting the company’s European roots.

Gut bacteria are closely linked to immune functions, review suggests

30-Sep-2013 By Nathan Gray

A new understanding of the essential role of gut microbes in the immune system could hold the key to battling significant and global public health issues, researchers have suggested.

'A critical time for nutrition': New report outlines priorities to address malnutrition

27-Sep-2013 By Nathan Gray

A 'groundbreaking' new report from an alliance of more than 50 nutrition experts and NGOs has identified three key areas of focus in the global battle against malnutrition.

Blueberry powder may boost gut bacteria with 'demonstrated health-promoting properties', says a new study

26-Sep-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

A daily drink of juice containing wild blueberry powder may boost select bifidobacteria strains in the gut with the potential to influence immune health, says a new study with human volunteers.

TEAGASC SCIENTIST SAYS NEW PROBIOTIC CUTS CHOLESTEROL

'Dairy pro- and prebiotics can boost brain, liver and infant health'

24-Sep-2013 By Fiona Barry

Irish scientists working with gut bacteria – microbiota – have found 'exciting opportunities' for value-added dairy products, according to the head of biotechnology at Ireland’s largest food research center.

Spanish firm wins cholesterol-lowering probiotic patent

23-Sep-2013

Spanish start-up AB-Biotics has been granted a composition patent linking its Lactobacillus plantarum blend with cholesterol reduction in Europe.

Live from the 20th International Congress of Nutrition

Prof: 'GI can be more powerful obesity-fighting tool in Asia than the west'

20-Sep-2013 By Shane Starling in Granada, Spain

Prebiotics and other fibres have a big role to play in curbing spiraling obesity, diabetic and pre-diabetic rates in emerging economies like India and China, according to one respected nutrition academic here at the ICN in Granada.

Special Edition: Amino acids and protein

Specialty peptides, enzymes and probiotics: Options abound for formulators to make the ‘protein we have even better than it is already’

18-Sep-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

While much has been said and written about different protein sources, complimentary ingredients like enzymes and probiotics allow consumers to make the ‘protein we have even better than it is already’.

Probiotics can benefit colitis sufferers with ‘anal pouch’ issues: Study

17-Sep-2013 By Shane STARLING

Ulcerative colitis (UC) sufferers who are surgically fitted with an artificial anus (‘ileoanal pouch’) can benefit from probiotics, Swedish and Dutch researchers have found.

Meta-analysis: Probiotic reduces infant skin disorders (but not asthma/wheezing)

16-Sep-2013 By Shane Starling

The probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus decreases skin sensitivity in children that can reduce disorders like eczema, researchers have found after a scan of published studies – but other allergic ailments like asthma and wheezing were not affected.

Baobab fruit extract shows blood sugar management potential

16-Sep-2013 By Stephen Daniells

Formulating functional foods with extracts from the baobab fruit may help manage blood sugar levels, says a new study.

Increased protein protects against muscles during diet and weight loss, say researchers

13-Sep-2013 By Nathan Gray

Doubling the recommended daily allowance of protein intake could help to protect against muscle loss during dieting and exercise related weight loss, say researchers.

Fi Asia-Thailand

Doing business in Asia: distributor helps Ganeden gauge local tastes

11-Sep-2013 By RJ Whitehead

During the course of Fi Asia-Thailand, we will be looking at the logistics behind how international companies are tapping into their new Asian markets.

What is a health benefit? Researchers issue probiotic guidance for EFSA applications

11-Sep-2013 By Nathan Gray

An evaluation of all EFSA opinions relating to probiotics will help industry players better understand what sort of claims are accepted as a health benefit and which claims are not, say researchers.

Probiotic yoghurt does not alter overall microbiota makeup: Study

10-Sep-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Probiotic yoghurt increases the presence of certain probiotic strains, but does not change the overall microbiota makeup, according to research by Laval University.

‘The Battle of the Microbiota’

Gut health and obesity: Human gut bacteria can alter mouse metabolism, depending on diet, says new study

06-Sep-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Transplanting gut bacteria from obese humans into germ-free mice leads to greater weight gain and fat accumulation than mice that were given bacteria from the guts of lean humans, says another breakthrough study from Washington University in St Louis.

L. rhamnosus probiotic shows long-lasting anti-eczema benefits for kids: RCT

05-Sep-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements containing the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 strain may reduce the incidence of eczema and skin sensitivity in children, according to data from a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Vitafoods Asia

Chr Hansen: While EU regulations are tough, Asia's are a minefield

04-Sep-2013 By RJ Whitehead

On a day when its headquarters in Copenhagen announced a significant overhaul of a number of its core businesses, Chr Hansen’s vice-president of health and nutrition sales highlighted the regulatory difficulties companies face when doing business in Asia.

Big changes at Chr Hansen

Nature lover: Chr Hansen plays natural card in 6-platform reinvention

04-Sep-2013 By Shane STARLING

Danish ingredients giant Chr Hansen has today rebranded itself ‘Nature’s Number 1’ as it announced a 6-platform strategic overhaul of its colours, enzymes and cultures businesses.

Prebiotic potential: Mushroom ‘waste’ could enhance probiotic survival

03-Sep-2013 By Nathan Gray

By-products from mushroom processing could be a cheap and unexplored source of prebiotics that may enhance the survival of probiotics in storage and digestion, according to new research.

"An amazing result with possibly enormous implications for the treatment and even prevention of the greatest public health issue of our time"

Microbiome breakthrough: Gut flora implicated in metabolic disorders

29-Aug-2013 By Nathan Gray

There is a distinct link between the composition of our gut bacteria and incidence of obesity related conditions including heart disease and diabetes, according to new data from the MetaHIT project.

Plant polyphenols may modulate microbiota: In vitro study

27-Aug-2013 By Nathan Gray

Bioactive compounds from black tea and grapes may help to modify the composition of our gut ecosystem, according to new research from Unilever scientists.

Probiotics may not prevent Crohn's disease relapse: RCT data

23-Aug-2013 By Nathan Gray

Supplementation with the probiotic Saccharomuces boulardii (S. boulardii) may not prevent clinical relapse in patients with Crohn's disease, according to the findings of a clinical trial.

HFMA: “The report ignores the significant efforts by UK manufacturers’ to comply with the regulation...”

Industry response: Which? food supplements attack is ‘inaccurate'

22-Aug-2013 By Shane STARLING

The UK food supplements industry has hit back at the consumer watchdog there that today slammed some of Europe’s biggest manufacturers like Seven Seas, Vitabiotics and Boots for deceiving consumers with unsubstantiated health claims.

It's all in the genes: Researchers unravel genetic mechanism behind microbiome colonisation

21-Aug-2013 By Nathan Gray

A set of newly identified genes may explain how and why microbes are able to colonise our gut in a stable, say researchers.

BioGaia probiotic shows dental health benefits: Clinical trial

21-Aug-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Sucking on a probiotic lozenge may produce “significant additional clinical improvements” to scaling and root planing for people with chronic periodontitis, says a new study.

IPA questions scope of conclusions of study that found no effect of probiotics on diarrhea

15-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

The International Probiotics Association has identified several issues with the design of a recently published study finding no effect of probiotics on antibiotic associated diarrhea (AAD) or Clostridium difficile diarrhea (CDD). These issues could call...

‘Largest’ study questions probiotic diarrhoea benefits

08-Aug-2013 By Nathan Gray

Probiotic supplements may have no benefit for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in elderly people, according to new data from the largest study ever to look at the issue.

Probiotic supplement may offer autism benefits: Study

01-Aug-2013 By Nathan Gray

Supplementation with the probiotic nutritional supplement Delpro may have a beneficial effect on bowel issues associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), new research has suggested.

Chr. Hansen finalises Turkish subsidiary takeover

01-Aug-2013

Chr. Hansen has finalised its acquisition of the final 50% of shares in its Turkish subsidiary, Peyma Chr-Hansen A.S.

Chr Hansen files global probiotic immunity patent

31-Jul-2013 By Shane Starling

A Lactobacillus rhamnosus probiotic blend can battle chest infections, says Danish probiotics leader Chr Hansen in a global patent application.

Solvay management buys out Solactis

26-Jul-2013 By Shane STARLING

€13bn Belgian supplier Solvay has sold its Solactis nutrition division that includes galactofructose  (lactulose) to its former nutrition programme manager.

News in brief

Missed Bone & Joint Health 2013? Listen again free, on-demand

25-Jul-2013

Can you make inflammation claims regarding joint health? How do you differentiate products in the bone health sector where so many products are based on calcium and vitamin D?

Vast majority of food manufacturers want more from ingredients, says DSM

24-Jul-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The vast majority of food manufacturers are open to a dialogue on how to get more from their ingredient supply chain, according to president of DSM Food Specialties Hans Christian Ambjerg.

Sabinsa appoints new CEO to ‘execute a disciplined and ambitious growth pattern’

24-Jul-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Jayasankar (Jay) Nair has joined Sabinsa as Chief Executive Officer, with the company set to 'execute a disciplined and ambitious growth pattern'.

Beijing plant is DuPont’s first step in ready-to-market probiotics

16-Jul-2013 By RJ Whitehead

In 2011, DuPont bought a food processing plant to the north of Beijing and straight away began to convert it into a blending and packaging site for its dietary supplements.

Probiotics show ‘promise’ to prevent caries: Systematic review

15-Jul-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

The potential of probiotics to support oral health and prevent caries is ‘promising’, but ‘only few studies have demonstrated clear clinical outcomes’, according to a new review in Nutrients.

Multi-species probiotics again show benefits for IBS sufferers: RCT data

12-Jul-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

A combination of six probiotic species may relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), say results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Probiotics may ‘counter obesity and diabetes’: NIH study

10-Jul-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

A daily dose of probiotics may prevent weight gain and insulin resistance in mice, says a new study from scientists at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) with implications for obesity and diabetes.

Spanish firm develops probiotics with metal nano particles for tumour treatment

05-Jul-2013 By Shane Starling

Spanish firm Biosearch Life has applied for a patent for the tumour treating potential of Bifidobacterium probiotics infused with magnetic nano metals.

New research suggests a possible link between autism and gut bacteria populations

Autism linked to decreased microbe diversity in the gut: Study

03-Jul-2013 By Nathan Gray

The diversity of beneficial bacteria in our guts may be associated with the development of autism, according to the first comprehensive analysis bacterial analysis of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Chr. Hansen narrows growth forecast on carmine prices and customer loss

03-Jul-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Chr. Hansen has narrowed its growth forecast for 2012-13 after a major natural colour customer in South America chose to return to synthetics, and carmine prices declined.

Irish microbiota research centre to receive €50m boost

03-Jul-2013 By Shane STARLING

The Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre (APC) in Cork, Ireland has received a €36m investment from the Irish government that will fund its research activities for at least another six years, its GM told us this morning.

SoHo Flordis acquires US practitioner channel supplement marketer along with Swiss firm

02-Jul-2013 By Hank Schultz

SoHo Flordis International, an Australian/Indonesian natural medicines company, has acquired two companies in the space, ProThera, based in Reno, NV and Swiss company Ginsana.