Gut/digestive health

Sabinsa scores industry first with patent-pending synbiotic bilayer tablet

14-Mar-2012 By Elaine Watson

Sabinsa is set to score an industry first this year when it unveils the first bi-layer synbiotic tablet featuring prebiotics in one layer and probiotics in the other.

Engredea, Expo West in pictures: What’s hot on the showfloor?

12-Mar-2012

Plant protein, ‘clean’ sports products, melt-in-the-mouth supplements, algal-omegas-3s.... and a very sweaty man with a skipping rope. Elaine Watson brings you the highlights from Engredea and Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim.

Pre and probiotics in formula could boost infant immunity

06-Mar-2012 By Nathan Gray

The addition of pre and probiotics to infant formula could help to boost immune responses by colonising newborn babies’ guts with a stable population of beneficial bacteria, say researchers.

RCT supports gut health boosting potential of wheat bran extract

06-Mar-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Three weeks of supplementation with a wheat bran extract may beneficially alter markers of gut health, say results of a placebo-controlled cross-over human intervention trial from Belgium.

Functional foods offer ‘protective matrix’ for probiotic delivery, confirm researchers

23-Feb-2012 By Nathan Gray

A new model to evaluate probiotic survival in the gut has confirmed that many bacteria strains survive better when consumed in a functional food matrix such as fermented milks – so allowing a greater chance to promote health, say the researchers.

Danone launches new global probiotics group to “talk with lawmakers”

22-Feb-2012 By Shane Starling

Danone has formed the Global Alliance for Probiotics (GAP) with other sector giants like Yakult, DuPont-Danisco and Chr Hansen as the frustrated industry seeks to win a first European Union health claim.

Dispatches from Probiotic Summit

Danone: “Probiotics category could disappear”

07-Feb-2012 By Shane Starling in Brussels

Global probiotics leader Danone continues to prepare for the worst under the European Union’s uber-strict health claims regime that may this year deliver a barren, claimless landscape to the world’s biggest-selling functional food category, an official...

Novel pectin fractions, ‘molecular decoys’ and the future of prebiotics

06-Feb-2012 By Elaine Watson

Novel oligosaccharides produced from biomass such as citrus pectin could become the next generation of prebiotic ingredients, according to one leading researcher in the field.

New probiotic strains will win health claims (but not for 10-15 years): Prof

03-Feb-2012 By Shane Starling

Advances in genomics and understanding the human gut microbiota will lead to the discovery of probiotic bacterial strains that will deliver biomarker-measured health benefits – but it may take 10-15 years, according to a leading researcher.

Cranberry shows urinary tract benefits for children: Study

02-Feb-2012 By Stephen Daniells

A glass of cranberry juice per day may reduce the recurrence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children by 43%, suggests a new study funded by Ocean Spray.

US per capita spending on probiotic supplements expected to nearly double by 2016

02-Feb-2012 By Elaine Watson

Per capita spending on probiotic supplements is forecast to almost double over the next five years in the US, according to market researcher Euromonitor International.

Cocoa may prevent intestinal disease: Rat study

25-Jan-2012 By Nathan Gray

Eating cocoa could help to prevent intestinal disease and complaints linked to oxidative stress, including colon cancer caused by chemical substances, suggests new research in rats.

Blueberry & broccoli may boost bowel health

13-Jan-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Adding blueberries or broccoli to the diet may shift the balance of bacteria colonizing the gut, and improve inflammation associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), suggests new data from a mouse study.

Probiotic may minimize severity of C. difficile-induced colitis: Ganeden study

10-Jan-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Dietary supplements with Ganeden’s BC30 bacterial strain may reduce the severity of infection with C. difficile and speed recovery, suggests new data from a study with animals.

Fiber-rich vegetarian diet leads to better gut microflora profile: Study

09-Jan-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Consuming a vegan or vegetarian diet results in different profiles of gut microflora, with lower levels of potentially pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli, says a new study.

Disptaches from Microbiota 2011

IPA co-founder: EU probiotic approach is “dirty pool”

23-Dec-2011 By Shane Starling

Jarrow Rogovin, never a man to mince his words, says it is high time the IPA and other trade groups stepped up to the plate to defend a sector that has been under regulatory siege on both sides of the Atlantic for several years.

Krill oil shows colitis potential: Rat study

09-Dec-2011 By Nathan Gray

A diet supplemented with krill oil helps to improve the markers of colitis and IBD in a rat model of the disease, say researchers.

NDI draft guidance comments

IPA: We do not see NDI draft guidance as 'death sentence' for probiotics industry

09-Dec-2011 By Elaine Watson

The only probiotics that should be subject to new dietary ingredient (NDI) notifications should be “new probiotics derived from GM engineering which have little to no history of safe use”, according to the International Probiotics Association (IPA).

NDI draft guidance comments

FDA history of safe use definition is ‘arbitrary and unfounded’, says pre/probiotics group

06-Dec-2011 By Elaine Watson

The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) has urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to rethink its approach to live microbial dietary ingredients.

Probiotic ice cream shows oral health potential: Study

01-Dec-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Eating ice cream containing probiotic strains may reduce levels of the bacteria in the mouth responsible for tooth decay, says a new study from India.

Blueberry powder may boost beneficial gut bacteria: Study

21-Nov-2011 By Stephen Daniells

A daily drink of juice containing wild blueberry powder may boost the levels of beneficial bifidobacteria in the gut, according to new study with human volunteers.

Ganeden Biotech strikes global probiotics deal with Unistraw

18-Nov-2011 By Elaine Watson

Ganeden Biotech - the Ohio-based firm behind ultra-resilient probiotic strain BC30- has struck a deal with Unistraw International that will see BC30 incorporated into Unistraw’s probiotic straw concept on a global basis.

US consumers drink 122,000 bottles of Yakult a day

14-Nov-2011 By Elaine Watson

US consumers drink 122,000 bottles of probiotic drink Yakult a day based on an average of bottles sold in the period January to September 2011.

Bilberries may reduce bowel inflammation, boost gut health

09-Nov-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Consuming dried bilberries may reduce inflammation in the bowels of lab animals, according to a new European study with potential for inflammatory bowel disease patients.

Calcium may enhance probiotic survival in the gut, cut cholesterol levels

28-Oct-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Combining calcium phosphate supplements with probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei may enhance the colonization of the probiotic in the gut, and boost reductions in LDL cholesterol levels, says a new study with humans.

Probiotics may influence carbohydrate metabolism: ‘Elegant’ study

27-Oct-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Probiotic bacteria consumed in a yogurt may not change the host’s gut populations, but they do influence carbohydrate metabolism by the resident microbes, according to an ‘elegant’ new study using identical twins and germ-free mice.

Researchers isolate iron as probiotic blocker during active IBD

20-Oct-2011 By Shane Starling

Certain probiotic strains underperform in the presence of iron-rich environments created during the active phase of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), UK researchers have found.

Berry-enriched soybean flour could open new ingredient category for food and supplements

17-Oct-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Impregnating soybean flour with antioxidant-rich blueberry or cranberry extracts may open up new dietary supplement and functional food opportunities for industry, suggests new research.

Stratum rolls out kiwifruit ingredient to boost regularity

07-Oct-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Stratum Nutrition is launching a new whole kiwifruit ingredient to boost digestive regularity and gut health.

Nutraceutix builds IP with US patent for probiotic delivery system

07-Oct-2011 By Stephen Daniells

The US Patent and Trademark Office has awarded Washington State-based Nutraceutix a patent for its probiotic delivery system, adding to four international patents for the BIO-tract delivery system.

Buckwheat sugar shows anti-diabetic and potential prebiotic activity

04-Oct-2011 By Stephen Daniells

A sugar extracted from buckwheat called D-fagomine may help maintain healthy blood sugar levels and displays potential prebiotic activity at small doses, according to new research.

Yakult USA volumes ratchet up as it prepares to open first US plant

30-Sep-2011 By Elaine Watson

Japanese probiotic pioneer Yakult is now selling more than 118,000 bottles of its signature probiotic drink a day in the US (based on average sales Jan-June 2011) compared with 110,000 in mid-2010 and 90,000 in 2009.

Novel ‘raffinose-derived’ oligosaccharides show prebiotic promise

27-Sep-2011 By Shane Starling

Forms of oligosaccharides derived from some vegetables, grains like lupine, cottonseed and soy whey could have commercial applications following an in vitro study that demonstrated prebiotic gut health benefits.

Review backs prebiotics for prevention of gut infections

23-Sep-2011 By Nathan Gray

Despite the recent regulatory challenges in Europe, prebiotics can be predicted to continue their success as functional foods, according to a new review.

Health Canada publishes probiotics monograph

19-Sep-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Health Canada has released a monograph for probiotics to guide industry for preparing Product Licence Applications (PLAs) and market authorization of labels for natural health products.

Astaxanthin shows benefits against colitis, for mice at least

15-Sep-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Consuming the carotenoid astaxanthin as part of the diet may reduce the development of colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel condition, suggests new data from mice.

Maternal omega-3 intake may influence childhood allergy

12-Sep-2011 By Nathan Gray

Omega-3 fatty acids may aid the development of the infant gut and improve how gut immune cells respond to bacteria and foreign substances, making the baby less likely to suffer from allergies in the long term, according to new research in pigs.

Olive extract shows benefits for inflammatory bowel disease

12-Sep-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Olive oil and the hydroxytyrosol it contains may reduce inflammation linked with the development of colitis, says a new study from Spain.

Biopolymer protection may be boost to probiotic industry

06-Sep-2011 By Nathan Gray

A new biopolymer technology that protects probiotic bacteria during transit through the body could provide a major boost for the industry, according to new research.

You are what you eat: Gut bacteria enterotypes linked to diet

02-Sep-2011 By Nathan Gray

The type of food you eat may help to determine the type of bacterial population – or enterotypes – in your gut, according to a new study.

Probiotic video game in the works

31-Aug-2011 By Shane Starling

The makers of the Microwarriors probiotic and prebiotic documentary that has been raising probiotic awareness since its release at the beginning of the year, are working on a video game set for launch next year.

Probiotics maker: There is a temptation to overstate the benefits

08-Aug-2011 By Elaine Watson

Regulatory uncertainty in Europe and a string of high-profile lawsuits in the US has made firms much more cautious about making health claims about probiotics, according to one California-based supplier.

Survey shows sharp rise in awareness of pre- and probiotics

08-Aug-2011 By Elaine Watson

Consumer awareness of the benefits of prebiotic fibers and probiotics for digestive health has risen steadily in the US over the past five years, according to a new survey into functional foods.

Agro-waste could provide nano-fibres for probiotics encapsulation

01-Aug-2011 By Nathan Gray

Waste fibres from the agricultural and food processing industry could be used for the nano-encapsulation of bioactives such as probiotics, according to new research.

Biotech firm launches mission to commercialize novel prebiotics

27-Jul-2011 By Elaine Watson

A New Orleans-based biotech firm on a mission to commercialize “novel evidence-based prebiotic products” is aiming to bring its first products to market next year.

Chia seeds may offer omega-3 heart and liver benefits: Study

26-Jul-2011 By Nathan Gray

Consumption of chia seeds as a source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) may bring about redistribution associated with heart and liver protection, according to new research in rats.

Novel oat beta-glucan attracts big guns in US food market

20-Jul-2011 By Elaine Watson

Some of the biggest names in the US food and drink industry are experimenting with samples of a heart- and gut-friendly oat beta glucan soluble fiber that could also help them slash fat levels and clean up product labels.

Dead or alive: Benefits of probiotics need live organisms

12-Jul-2011 By Stephen Daniells

The potential beneficial effects of select bacterial strains are dependent on the organisms being alive, says a new study that supports the WHO definition of probiotics as being ‘live microorganisms’.

Gut feeling: New study proposes probiotic mechanism for IBD benefits

05-Jul-2011 By Stephen Daniells

A protein on the surface of specific probiotic bacteria may promote anti-inflammatory responses in the gut and explain the potential role of select probiotics to ease symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), says a new study.

Prebiotics may restore metabolic alterations linked to omega-3 poor diets: Study

01-Jul-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Adding prebiotic fibers to the diet may go some way to restoring the metabolic alterations associated with insufficient intakes of omega-3, suggest new findings from a study with mice.