BioReal Sweden's (formerly AstaReal) has harvested its first crop
of astaxanthin-producing microalgae from its new bioreactors, after
almost doubling capacity in order to meet rising demand from Japan.
Biohit Oyj, the Finnish company behind a cysteine chewing gum
unveiled this week that could help reduce the risk of oral cancer
in smokers and drinkers, is looking for partners to help realise
the full potential of its technology...
Swiss biotech company Lonza has announced the latest move to expand
its nutritional ingredients portfolio, with the acquisition of the
larch arabinogalactan assets of US firm Larex Inc.
A double-blind clinical trial of Zila's Ester-C has added more
support to the tolerability of the supplement; more support to the
company's tolerance claims.
People who eat a diet high in fibre have significantly lower levels
of a protein that is associated with inflammation, diabetes and
heart disease, say scientists, giving yet more support for
high-fibre diets.
France's Danone has announced a three-year licence with US-based
Integrated Genomics for access to the ERGO database and genomic
discovery system to enhance the group's probiotic understanding and
R&D.
The momentum behind the roll out of BioGaia's Reuteri to
international markets shows no sign of slowing, with the
announcement of a new agreement with Ferring Pharmaceuticals to
sell the drops in Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic...
BioGaia's patented Reuteri drops are set to start making an
appearance in pharmacies and drug stores in Great Britain and
Ireland this year, through a newly announced exclusive license
agreement with Forest Laboratories UK.
Seeka Kiwifruit Industries, New Zealand's largest kiwifuit supply
company, says it is to extend its business portfolio into the
nutraceutical world by investing further in health supplements
business Vital Foods.
A raft of new agreements and some positive study results have
helped BioGaia to report promising results for full year 2005, in
which it edged SEK 8.1m (€0.86m) closer to the point where accounts
turn from red to black.
Contrary to earlier reports, saw palmetto, the extract from the
berries of a dwarf palm tree, has no effect on non-cancerous
prostate swellings, claims that have been called "puzzling" by a
leading herbal expert.
The first consumer product containing a probiotic strain derived
from human milk by Puleva Biotech has launched in Spain, and the
company hopes it may find a home in other foods for infants and
adults.
Proliant Health and Biologicals has reported positive results in a
company trial aimed at reducing symptoms of irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS) and improving quality of life of sufferers using its
ImmunLin supplement.
Insoluble fiber, from wholegrains, is currently enjoying more
attention from consumers and the food industry than soluble fiber,
but interest in the soluble variety is rising fast, according to
Frost and Sullivan.
Orafti is seeking to raise industry awareness of its prebiotic
fibers by bringing them together under the Beneo brand, which has,
until now, been used solely for consumer marketing.
Inulin, a soluble fibre extracted from chicory roots, is
accumulating value in the functional food market, as ongoing
research finds the ingredient has several different health
benefits.
Institut Rosell is gearing up for the launch of its new
Probio'Stick on-the-go probiotic product. Its latest trial
indicates that it may be helpful in dealing with some of the
symptoms of chronic stress.
Merck Médication Familiale, the French subsidiary of Merck Consumer
Healthcare, has introduced its first standalone probiotic
supplement on the French market, following the strong demand for
its multivitamin-probiotic combination.
Broccoli's ability to fight Helicobacteri pylori, the
bacterium responsible for most stomach cancers, has been
demonstrated in a human study for the first time, claim Japanese
researchers.
Swedish probiotic biotech company BioGaia is making headway in its
short-term mission to attain profitability, reporting a 39 percent
increase in sales to SEK 16.4 million for 3Q 2005.
The French dairy group will launch its successful Activia probiotic
yoghurts in the US at the start of next year as American consumers
catch on to the benefits of 'friendly bacteria'.
A coating technology, first used to keep cookies crisp, may be the
key to opening up new applications for probiotic bacteria like
cereals or ice-cream.
Danisco has announced the next phase in its global cultures
expansion programme, investing €3 million in ramping up production
capacity of freeze-dried cultures at its plant in Sassenge.
Too many producers are falsely labelling their products as
probiotic and could present a stumbling block to the sector's
expansion, says the marketing head of leading innovator Valio at
Drinktec 2005.
Nutraceutical developer Provexis has entered into a collaboration
agreement with an unnamed 'leading' clinical nutrition company to
create a food containing its plantain extract for people with
inflammatory bowel diseases.
Herbal medicines like ginger and chamomile may help alleviate
gastrointestinal complaints in children, but more research into
their effects is needed, according to a new review article. Some,
such as star anise, could prove dangerous.
Leading cereal maker Kellogg on Monday launched a new initiative in
the US to promote its fibre-rich cereal products. It aims to raise
awareness of the importance of dietary fibre in order to encourage
Americans to increase their...
Infants in developing countries are particularly vulnerable to
illnesses such as pneumonia and diarrhea, but researchers have
found that taking a zinc supplement each week could significantly
lower their risk of dying from these diseases.
If anyone doubted that the US probiotics market's star is rising,
kefir-maker Lifeway Foods' latest results, positive in spite of
milk price vagarities, should be enough to convince them.
Orafti is positioning its Raftilose Synergy1 oligofructose-enriched
inulin to take advantage of growing interest in the digestive
health market in the US, reports Jess Halliday.
UK vitamin distributor Quest is launching what it believes is the
first probiotic that has been scientifically shown to target IBS
symptoms, a condition that affects a third of the UK population at
one time during their lifetime,...
A probiotic formulation developed by French/Canadian company
Institut Rosell reduced symptoms associated with IBS in tests on a
rat model, writes Dominique Patton.
Researchers in New Zealand's Massey University have reported that
whey protein concentrate reduced the severity of rotavirus-induced
diarrhea in a mice model. If replicated in humans, this result
could help save the lives of...
The prebiotic activity of different fibres will be measured and
compared in a new study designed to help food makers decide which
ingredient to select for their gut health products, reports
Dominique Patton.
Cranberry juice, already well-known as a remedy for urinary tract
infections, may help protect against common infections caused by
gastrointestinal viruses, reports Dominique Patton.
Supplement retailer GNC has reformulated its Natural Brand
acidophilus products, taking advantage of Nutraceutix's technology
and processes to give the live organisms a better chance of
surviving the long and perilous journey...
A health claim for the prebiotic effect of inulin will be published
by the French food safety authority tomorrow, giving food
manufacturers in this market the go-ahead to promote the health
benefits of inulin-containing foods, reports...
The message about the gut health benefit probiotics can deliver is
finally getting through to US consumers, according to a new report
on the state of the functional foods sub-category.
Nurture's OatVantage ingredient can lower the risk of coronary
heart disease more than any other commercial oat product, according
to a company-funded study carried out at the University of
Minnesota.
High consumption of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) increases the risk
of salmonella infection in rats, according to new research,
although it is impossible to tell whether the prebiotic ingredient
could have the same impact on humans,...
A supplement of fish oil, soluble fibre and vitamins and
antioxidants reduces reliance on traditional therapies for people
with ulcerative colitis, according to a new study.
A drink containing a probiotic strain isolated from infants
relieved symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome to the same extent as
pharmaceutical treatments for the condition, report Irish
researchers.
Complex sugars found naturally in a New Zealand variety of honey
appear to have prebiotic effects, offering food makers a natural
gut health ingredient.
A new report suggests that Americans are waking up to the health
benefits of cultured dairy products - and in particular probiotic
shots - as part of the wider trend towards functional foods,
reports Jess Halliday.
As the most recently defined category of biotics, postbiotics hold significant potential for innovation across a wide variety of applications in the Health...
A new clinical trial evaluated 250mg/day Pomella® for beneficial effects on the gut microbiome, circulating short chain fatty acids, and gut-microbial...