Probiotics, Prebiotics & Postbiotics

Cargill on inulin: Today it’s about fiber and weight… tomorrow it will be about prebiotics and mineral absorption

05-Apr-2012 By Elaine Watson

While US firms using inulin and oligofructose are still primarily interested in adding fiber or reducing fat and sugar, they are starting to move beyond generic fiber claims into discussing more specific health benefits, says Cargill.

Probiotics fail to reduce risk of cold and ‘flu in seniors

27-Mar-2012

Drinking Yakult daily did not affect the risk of developing upper respiratory tract infections like the cold and ‘flu, according to randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

NuLiv Science announces self-affirmed GRAS for AstraGin ingredient

26-Mar-2012

California-based NuLiv Science USA has announced that its ingredient AstraGin has received GRAS status following a review by AIBMR Life Sciences.

Indian market shows Eastern promise for probiotics

26-Mar-2012 By Lynda Searby

Indians are dosing up on probiotics to counter gastrointestinal health problems, reports Swedish biotech company Probi, as it announces a deal that will see its Probi Digestis probiotic formulation dispensed to millions of Indian consumers.

Breaking news

New Chapter: 'Countless opportunities await' under new owner, P&G

19-Mar-2012 By Elaine Watson

 New Chapter will continue to run as a standalone business under new owner Procter & Gamble, but will get a "turbocharge" to its mission, according to bosses at the Vermont-based supplement firm.

Prebiotic supplements could aid mineral absorption: Rat study

19-Mar-2012 By Nathan Gray

Supplementation with fibre rich prebiotics could help to boost bone density by increasing the levels of important minerals absorbed in the gut, according to new research in rats.

Resistant starch shows blood sugar benefits for men

14-Mar-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Thirty grams per day of resistant starch may improve sensitivity to insulin by a whopping 73% for men, but not women, suggests a new study from National Starch.

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.

Private label supplements maker Reliance moves into new site

08-Feb-2012 By Elaine Watson

New Jersey-based private label supplements maker Reliance has opened a new eco-friendly facility that will consolidate all of its activities under one roof.

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.

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.

Sugar coated probiotics have increased survival and can reduce infection: Study

24-Jan-2012 By Nathan Gray

A sugary outer coating produced by probiotic bacteria could help them to survive in the good and may also offer clues to how they block some bacterial infections, say researchers.

Probiotic-prebiotic combination may ease eczema in kids: Study

17-Jan-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Combining probiotics and prebiotics to produce a symbiotic may reduce the severity of eczema in children, suggests new research from Taiwan with 60 children.

Study provides framework for gut microflora-obesity advances

16-Jan-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Scientists have identified the gut microbial pattern that corresponds with excess body weight, and deepen our understanding of how the gut microflora interacts with host metabolism.

What’s hot in 2012? African Mango, organic supplements and brain food, says SPINS

13-Jan-2012 By Elaine Watson

African Mango, probiotics, chia, fermented drinks, organic supplements and cognitive health will be top of the health food pops this year, according to TrendWatch 2012, a new report from natural products specialist SPINS.

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.

Danone, Yakult announce 5th year of research grants for probiotic and gut health

11-Jan-2012

Danone and Yakult are handing out another $100,000 for research into the role of probiotics and gastrointestinal microbiota in health and wellness.

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.

Modified probiotics may protect against food borne illnesses: Study

10-Jan-2012 By Nathan Gray

Modified probiotics could help to reduce the risk of food borne infections such as Listeria by blocking the bacteria from entering the body in the gut, say researchers.

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.

Probiotics and stevia extracts among new FCC proposed standards

05-Jan-2012 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

US Pharmacopeia has drafted new ingredient quality standards for inclusion in the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC), for probiotics, steviol glycosides, benzoates, infant formula and flavoring ingredients, and is seeking industry comments.

Probiotic gum beats placebo for bad breath: Study

05-Jan-2012 By Shane Starling

Lactobacillus reuteri-containing gum can significantly reduce halitosis, Danish researchers have found, although the mechanism of action remains a mystery.

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.

Gut microbe diversity is key in fight against allergies, study suggests

20-Dec-2011 By Nathan Gray

Children with a diverse variety of bacteria in their gut may have better protection against allergies, according to new research.

Schiff Nutrition boss: BOGOs don’t build brands

16-Dec-2011 By Elaine Watson

While BOGO (buy one get one at a discount) offers have their uses, an over reliance on them is not in anyone’s best interests, according to the boss of supplement maker Schiff Nutrition.

Probiotics may boost immune health markers for smokers: Study

12-Dec-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of the probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain may boost activity of key immune cells in smokers, says a new study.

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).

Calcium chews, omega-3 gummies and sports beans. Which new delivery formats have legs? Part I

09-Dec-2011 By Elaine Watson

While consumers are constantly urged to boost their omega-3 intakes, not everyone wants to tuck into a plate of oily fish twice a week to get the benefits.

NDI Draft Guidance Comments

UNPA: NDI draft guidance is ‘needlessly burdensome’ & does not advance overall safety of dietary supplements

06-Dec-2011 By Stephen Daniells

The new dietary ingredient (NDI) draft guidance, as it stands, will not help achieve the objective of full and efficient implementation and enforcement of DSHEA, says the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA), as it adds its voice to calls for FDA to...

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.

Probiotics again show oral health potential

28-Nov-2011 By Stephen Daniells

At least seven strains of lactic acid bacteria show potential oral health benefits, according to Spanish researchers.

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.

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.

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.

Chr Hansen eyes first EFSA probiotic approval with uber-“pharma-style” immune study

04-Oct-2011 By Shane Starling

Chr Hansen has commissioned a 1000-person+ trial seeking to demonstrate the immunity benefits of one of its flagship strains, Lactobacillus casei, as the leading Danish probiotics supplier continues to fight for Europe’s first approved probiotic health...

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.