Gut/digestive health

Microbiome modification could prevent metabolic syndrome: Mouse data

26-Nov-2014 By Nathan Gray

Promoting healthy gut microbiota could help to prevent and even reverse metabolic syndrome, according to new research.

Gut bacteria ‘shift’ from fibre could aid weight loss

24-Nov-2014 By Nathan Gray

Dietary fibre can cause a shift in the gut toward beneficial bacteria may have the potential to assist in weight loss, while also reducing the risk of colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, and other diseases, say researchers.

Special edition: Functional Foods

What's driving functional food and beverage growth? Snacking, convenience, and consumer behavior

20-Nov-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

With sales of $176.7 billion this year functional foods are a hot growth sector. But which ingredients, sectors and countries are the best bets for product launches?

Special edition: functional foods

Functional Foods: The end of the processed foods era?

20-Nov-2014 By Peter Wennstrom

To understand Functional Foods you must see it as a strategy to add value to processed foods, says the president and founder of the HealthyMarketingTeam, Peter Wennstrom, in this guest article.

Deerland Enzymes achieves Halal certification for manufacturing plant

14-Nov-2014 By Hank Schultz

Deerland Enzymes, a manufacturer of dietary supplement formulations, has received Halal certification for its manufacturing facility in Kennesaw, GA from the certification group Islamic Services of America, the company announced today.

Tainted science? Microbiome studies may be ‘flawed’ by contamination

13-Nov-2014 By Nathan Gray

Researchers may be incorrectly linking certain microbes to the microbiota and disease states because of laboratory contamination, a new study has warned.

Probiotic encapsulation backed for better delivery within food matrix

06-Nov-2014 By Nathan Gray

A new review describing a variety of methods for the encapsulation of probiotic bacterial strains highlights the opportunities that better encapsulation technologies could bring for the market, but warns that the efficacy of encapsulated probiotics must...

GanedenBC30 may boost response to prebiotics, says new study

04-Nov-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Consuming Ganeden’s BC30 probiotic strain may enhance the effects of prebiotics, compared with prebiotics alone, says a new study funded by Ganeden Biotech and Schiff Nutrition.

Bran more effective than whole grain in alleviating obesity symptoms: Study

31-Oct-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Supplementation with finger millet bran may help alleviate symptoms of obesity like oxidative stress, inflammation and gut microbial imbalances, according to mice research published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

We want you: Scientific committee calls for cutting edge science at Probiota 2015

29-Oct-2014 By Nathan Gray

A newly established scientific committee are set to assess cutting edge research for the Probiota 2015 Scientific Frontiers poster session. Don’t miss your chance to present as entries close on November 7.

Naturex’s Pacran gets Canadian approval for urinary tract health claims

27-Oct-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Health Canada has awarded a Natural Product Number for Naturex’s Pacran, the natural solution for urinary comfort, has been awarded a Natural Product Number from Health Canada.

Prebiotics and synbiotics show potential to reduce obesity-related issues: Meta-analysis

22-Oct-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Supplementing the diets of overweight and obese people with prebiotics and synbiotics may improve some metabolic measures, including cholesterol and triglyceride levels, says a new systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 randomized clinical trials.

‘Accelerating the commercial adoption of early stage research’: Leading probiotics event unites science and industry in North & South America

17-Oct-2014

San Diego will host the first ever Probiota Americas in June 2015, which will bring together eminent scientists and business leaders from the pre & probiotic and microbiota focused nutrition industries of North and South America. 

Probiotics giant debuts soft gel with 2-year shelf life

13-Oct-2014 By Lynda Searby

Danish probiotics player Chr Hansen has launched a patent-pending soft gel that can deliver live probiotics with a two-year shelf life and matched it with a probiotic-omega-3 supplement targeting pregnant women.

Glucosamine can inhibit colon inflammation in IBD: Mouse study

07-Oct-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Glucosamine chito-oligosaccharides may reduce tissue damage for those with inflammatory bowel disease, according to research with mice.

Diet may impact risk of inflammatory bone disease by changing gut bacteria

06-Oct-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Diet may fuel or dampen susceptibility to autoinflammatory bone disease by changing the intestinal bacteria balance, according to a mouse study published in the journal Nature.

Bifidobacterium may prevent weight gain and glucose intolerance in obese mice

06-Oct-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of the potential probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 420 may reduce fat levels and glucose intolerance in obese and diabetic mice, says a new study from DuPont Nutrition and Health.

NutraIngredients-USA’s Digestive Health Forum: 'Women aged 55-64 are the sweet spot for the market'

30-Sep-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Younger women and men are the new targets for digestive health product manufacturers, with women aged 55-64 already dominating the market, according to experts at the NutraIngredients-USA Digestive Health Forum.

Quote/unquote: Gut health, sports nutrition, and curcumin - The best of Bénéfiq 2014

26-Sep-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

We headed to Quebec City this week to attend the 2nd instalment of Bénéfiq, an international rendezvous on health ingredients, and we’ve plucked a few pearls of wisdom from the podium for your reading pleasure…

Special Edition: LATAM

Hispanics are key opportunity for supplement marketers, Packaged Facts report says

22-Sep-2014 By Hank Schultz

Hispanic consumers are an area of untapped growth potential for dietary supplement marketers, according to a report from market research firms Packaged Facts.

Meta-analysis offers ‘cautious optimism’ for efficacy of probiotics for functional constipation

22-Sep-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Probiotic supplements may help people with constipation by improving stool consistency and transit time, but the benefits appear strain specific, according to a new meta-analysis of 14 RCTs.

News in brief

Ganeden BC30 gets Mexican regulatory approval

18-Sep-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Mexico’s Federal Commission for Protection Against Health Risks (COFEPRIS) has approved the use of GanedenBC30 (Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086) as an ingredient for food and beverage enrichment.

NutraIngredients-USA Digestive Health Forum: One week to go!

18-Sep-2014

Leading minds from the world of digestive health will join NutraIngredients-USA’s Stephen Daniells for an hour-long discussion of the sector, from science and claim substantiation, to market sizing and key consumer demographics.

Ullman on Bayer-FTC issue: ‘Be as careful with your implied claims & testimonials as you are with the express claims’

17-Sep-2014 By Stephen Daniells

The US Federal Trade Commission’s motion against Bayer for claims made for its probiotic dietary supplement, Phillips’ Colon Health “warrants close monitoring” because of the potential wide-ranging implications, according to a prominent attorney.

L. paracasei may alter intestinal microbiota in healthy people: Study

17-Sep-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Probiotic strain Lactobacillus paracasei could alter the intestinal microbial in healthy populations, but this depends strictly on the ‘ecosystem’ of the individual, according to research. 

Bayer ‘extremely disappointed & strongly disagrees’ with FTC/DoJ allegations against Phillips’ Colon Health claims

12-Sep-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Healthcare giant Bayer has said it will defend itself ‘vigorously’ against the US Federal Trade Commission decision to bring a motion against the company for claims made for its probiotic dietary supplement, Phillips’ Colon Health.

‘Novel’ synbiotic is well tolerated and linked to increases in beneficial gut species

29-Aug-2014 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and prebiotic cellobiose may boost populations of bacteria in the gut associated with improved host health, says a new study from Denmark and Finland.

New data supports EpiCor’s anti-inflammatory potential

26-Aug-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

EpiCor, the yeast fermentate from Embria, may offer anti-inflammatory effects, according to new human data that supports earlier findings from laboratory and animal studies.

Z Trim Holdings unveils BioFiber Gum for supplement encapsulation, food additive applications

20-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

Z Trim Holdings, an Illinois-based producer of functional ingredients derived from corn fiber and other grain byproducts, has launched its BioFiber Gum (BFG) for food, supplement and industrial applications. BFG is said to have both a suite of attractive...

Chr. Hansen wins landmark probiotics health claim in South Korea

18-Aug-2014 By Anne Bruce

Bioscience company Chr. Hansen’s Urex product has become the first probiotic to win an approved health claim in South Korea.

Does sporting activity improve gut function?

13-Aug-2014 By Anne Bruce

Improved diversity of the intestinal microbiota in sports people could be due to gut barrier function, experts have suggested.

Functional food giving supplements a run for their money: Packaged Facts

12-Aug-2014 By Maggie Hennessy

After taking a hit due to recent negative press and a consumer shift toward more use of functional food and beverages, the US nutritional supplements market will see growth return to just over 6% per year through 2018, when sales will reach $16.4 billion,...

Is strain-specificity of prebiotics a limitation or opportunity?

11-Aug-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Strain-specificity of prebiotics is not a limiting factor but rather an opportunity to develop the ‘next generation’ of synbiotic formulations, says Winclove Probiotics in response to unflattering results of a study on synbiotics. 

The whey to go? Morning protein drink may help T2 diabetes

06-Aug-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Whey protein drinks may help people with type 2 diabetes control erratic glucose levels, according to research.

Special edition: Cognitive Health

Evidence of gut/brain connection piles up, but actual products are a ways off, researcher says

24-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

The gut is teeming with bacteria, good and bad, and these organisms and their cousins living elsewhere on and in the body outnumber the body’s own cells by an order of magnitude.  It is only recently that the notion has come to the fore that these microorganisms...

Synbiotic gut health benefits limited, say researchers

18-Jul-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Potential gut health benefits of synbiotics may be limited since only specific combinations enhance probiotic survival and growth, say researchers.

Soluble corn fiber may boost calcium absorption for teens

17-Jul-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily intake of soluble corn fiber may enhance the absorption of calcium for adolescents, says a new study from Purdue University with implications for bone health.

Japanese dairy backs bifidobacteria

16-Jul-2014 By Anne Bruce

Scientists have called new discoveries from leading Japanese dairy product company Morinaga Milk Industry on popular probiotic genus bifidobacteria, “an interesting first step”.

New Pediococcus acidilactici probiotic's origin in nature confers its high stability, supplier says

15-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

A probiotic isolated from switchgrass is one of the newest competitors in the robustness claims sweepstakes. Developed by biotech firm Imagilin Technology and marketed by New Jersey-based A&B Ingredients, the new ingredient is based on a proprietary...

New study deepens substantiation for Epicor’s gut and immune health benefits

10-Jul-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

The potential gut and immune health benefits of EpiCor, the yeast fermentate from Embria, may be linked to an ability to modulate both the total bacterial composition in the gut, and which specific species stick to the intestinal wall, according to a...

Exercise and high protein diet may increase gut microbiota diversity: Research

18-Jun-2014 By Nicola Cottam

Exercise and ‘extreme' high protein diet could have beneficial impact on gut microbiota diversity, according to research published in the British Medical Journal. 

Better together: Polyphenol may have greater bioavailability in combo with others

18-Jun-2014 By Sarah Hills

The amount of polyphenols absorbed and used by the body may be greater when taken with other polyphenols, according to a research review of the antioxidants.

Prebiotic fibers may improve metabolic factors in obese individuals: Study

16-Jun-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of inulin-type fructans prebiotics may boost levels of beneficial Bifidobacteria species in the gut of obese people, and reduce metabolic risk factors, says a new study from the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium.

Herb shows gastro benefits: Study

12-Jun-2014 By Nicola Cottam

Supplementation with Vital Solutions’ proprietary Benegut perilla frutescens leaf extract offers substantial relief from gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort, say researchers.

ISAPP consensus: Gut, yes. Immunity, no (for now)

Time to recognise ‘core benefits of certain probiotics’: ISAPP

11-Jun-2014 By Shane STARLING

The evidence has grown so strong for the best-documented probiotic strains that a generic digestive health claim should exist, according to a consensus statement from leading international researchers published this week in Nature Reviews: Gastroenterology...

Dispatches from the IPA World Congress in Athens, Greece

Psychobiotics can feed gut-brain health axis: 'It’s really an exciting frontier,' says professor

05-Jun-2014 By Shane STARLING

Evidence is building that links the gut microbiome and brain function and ‘psychobiotics’ are at the heart of that, says a leading Irish researcher working in the field for more than five years.

Canadians set for run at calcium constipation market

04-Jun-2014 By Sarah Hills

A health science company is positioning for launch into the calcium bone health market after coming out top in a clinical trial that put it head-to-head with Pfizer’s Caltrate brand. Reduction of constipation side-effects were the main benefits.

Review links ulcerous stomach bacteria with obesity

02-Jun-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The gradual decrease of the ulcer-causing stomach bacteria Helicobacter pylori could be linked to the global obesity endemic, according to an international research review. 

DuPont wins rare European probiotic gut health claims

02-Jun-2014 By Shane STARLING

DuPont-Danisco has won official approval for probiotic-based gut health claims based on its strains in Switzerland after working with a local retailer.

‘A basis for the future selection of probiotics’: Study shows how gut bacteria communicate with host to regulate weight

28-May-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Bacteria in the gut may regulate weight gain and serum cholesterol levels by producing proteins that modify bile acids in the intestine, says a new study with implications for probiotics.