Evonik launches targeted synbiotic solutions 'In Vivo Biotics'

Providing a combination of probiotics blended with prebiotics or other health ingredients​, the specialty chemicals company headquartered in Essen, Germany, says its synbiotics will establish a new category to rival existing probiotic supplements which can suffer from instabilities and delivery challenges.

Launching under the brand 'In Vivo Biotics', the ready-to-use supplement solutions aim to meet current and anticipated needs of the market. 

"Our solution builds on our vast biotech and formulation expertise, supported by valuable consumer insights," ​Evonik states in its online marketing. "To offer such outstanding solutions, our diverse team of scientists searches for microbial strains and synergistic combinations, which initiate targeted in vivo production of metabolites, microbiome modulation or the local clearance of unwanted biomolecules. Once identified, we analyze the effectiveness of those combinations in clinical studies and perform microbiological analyses to pinpoint the mode of action."​

In Vivo Butyrate

In Vivo Biotics Butyrate is the brand's first 'bulk synbiotic solution'. Evonik funded a study​ which concluded that combining the probiotic Bacillus subtilis​ with the dipeptide L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine stimulates in-vivo butyrate production by shifting the microbiome towards butyrate-producing species, thereby impacting a wide range of health areas.

The synbiotic, available in ready to pack bulk capsules, utilise Evonik's pH-dependent coating with Eudraguard biotic to ensure that the probiotic effect takes place in the lower gut. 

Benefits of Butyrate​

SCFAs, such as butyrate, play an important role for neuronal processes by regulating stress-responses and maintaining a healthy brain physiology. In the gut, SCFAs induce the secretion of hormones and neurotransmitters, such as GABA and serotonin, which have a positive impact on mood and sleep​. SCFAs strengthen the blood-brain-barrier, stimulate the formation of neurons (neurogenesis), and help to maintain the normal function of neurons (neuronal homeostasis).

More than 70 percent of immune cells are located in the gut interacting with the microbiome making it the first line of defence. SCFAs, like butyrate, strengthen the gut barrier by influencing the intestinal mucosa and barrier integrity. Serving as important “fuel” for gut cells, butyrate helps them keep their function for immune system support. Also, the activation of immune cells (regulatory T-cells) is regulated by SCFA. 

Butyrate is also known for its diverse positive effects in blood glucose​ and cholesterol management​.

Based on consumer insights, Evonik has developed a range of product solutions fitting different need states with the basic formulation of Bacillus subtilis ​and L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine, plus added ingredients relevant to consumer perception.

Inflammation​

Omega-3 fatty acids are well known for their inflammation-mediating effect with an important role of this inflammation-mediation assigned to the so called “resolvins” (lipid mediators). Resolvins are a metabolic conversion-product of Omega-3-fatty acids and its this conversion that is a key limiting factor in conventional Omega-3 supplements, according to Evonik. Conversion of Omega-3-fatty acids into resolvins can occur in the gut but this conversion can largely vary between individuals.

'In Vivo Biotics Resolvin' provides a combination of the Omega-3 source AvailOm​ and Bacillus megaterium​ DSM32963 to promote the conversion of omega-3 fatty acids into resolvins.

Bacillus megaterium​ DSM32963 is a unique strain discovered, in a study funded by Evonik​, to convert omega-3 fatty acids into resolvins. 

Skin 'inflammaging'​

Inflammation also plays a major role in skin health, including skin redness or skin aging. The term “Inflammaging​” was coined to express the connection between continuous, low-grade inflammation and declining skin structure and function during aging.

Therefore, to target the beauty-from-within category, In Vivo Biotics' 'Resolvin myperfect' solution provides a combination of Bacillus megaterium​ DSM32963 and AvailOm with other ingredients known for their beauty effects=. 

Gluten intolerance​

Gluten intolerance is an increasingly prevalent digestive disorder which comes with unpleasant, sometimes severe symptoms, and the need to follow a gluten-free diet.

Gluten comprises a mixture of proteins found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye, with a high content of difficult-to-digest proline- and glutamine-rich peptides. The human body can do this only partially, and therefore depends on the presence of beneficial gut bacteria.

Tapping into the discovery of a combination of synergistic microorganisms ​which produce the entire spectrum of enzymes necessary for complete gluten breakdown, In Vivo Biotics sells a 'gluten tolerance-gluten degradation' solution.

The idea behind the solution is that the synergistic microorganisms digest common gluten-containing foods in an aim to eliminate the immunogenic activity of only partially digested gluten, as seen in comparison to commonly used benchmarks in vitro​.