New probiotics hang hat on 'synergistic' formulas, DRcaps delivery technology

30-Jun-2013 - Last updated on 01-Jul-2013 at 14:17 GMT

Related tags Probiotic Stomach Digestive system

IQBiotix, an American offshoot of a company with roots in the UK and Dubai, has launched a line of probiotic products in the US that feature both DRCaps technology and synergistic formulations.

“We are a 30-year old company in the UK, manufacturing both in the UK and in Dubai,” Hasnain Walji, PhD, CEO of IQBiotix told NutraIngredients-USA. “We have over 150 nutritional supplement products. Right now we are focusing just on these unique probiotics which are not available on the market here in the US.”

Synergistic nutrients

The company calls its line ‘intelligent probiotics.’ Unlike many competing products, IQBiotix’s line includes products that contain herbs, vitamins and enzymes that work together to help address specific health issues.

“These are synergistic nutrients that we incorporate. We have a product called LactaseBiotix that includes lactase enzymes for people who are senstive to dairy products. We have an immune product that has beta glucans, garlic and other antioxidants for immune enhancement. The other is Cranbiotix, which includes a cranberry extract with other strains of probiotics for urinary tract infections,” Walji said.

Advanced delivery technology

Another distinguishing factor of these probiotics is their unique delivery approach using Capsugel’s DRcaps for optimal nutrient efficiency. This technology enables the bacteria to travel intact through the highly acidic region of the stomach to arrive in the small intestine which they then colonize to offer their health benefits.

"The main challenges faced by probiotic bacteria during their transit via the stomach include a low acidic environment as well as exposure to bile salts and pancreatic medium,” Walji said. Walji called the DRcaps “a breakthrough technology that can offer a much larger percentage of the probiotics in the intestine alive."

Traditional capsules made from gelatin are known to begin disintegrating immediately, explained Missy Lowery, marketing manager for Capsugel, with complete disintegration observed within approximately 15 minutes.

Capsugel’s new DRcaps, however, are “designed to resist disintegration in pH 1.2 (stomach acid) – 100 percent in the first 30 minutes and only about 10 percent in the first 2 hours”, she said.

“It is not an enteric coated capsule which would, by USP definition, need to maintain 100 percent non-disintegration in the first two hours,” explained Lowery.

Under the conditions of the intestine – pH6.8 - the DRcaps capsule “fully opens”, she added.

DRcaps can alsocut production costs and time, according to Capsugel, since no coating step is required. The capsules do not require the application of chemical coatings to protect ingredients, mask tastes, or postpone the release of active ingredients, said Capsugel.