Probiotics, Prebiotics & Postbiotics

Immunity and hypertension ingredients sector set for 45% growth: Frost

14-Sep-2011

Market analyst Frost & Sullivan has fingered immunity and hypertension as two promising nutrient areas, with events such as the recent Swine flu crisis feeding consumer interest in nutritional solutions to health issues.

Study supports safety of BLIS K12 probiotic strain

13-Sep-2011

The probiotic strain Streptococcus salivarius K12 (BLIS K12) is well-tolerated and shows no adverse events even when consumed at levels 10-fold the usual recommended daily intake, says a new study.

Probiotic intake linked to fewer birth complications

13-Sep-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Regular consumption of dairy-based probiotic formulations are associated with a 20% reduction in the risk of pre-eclampsia, suggests new data from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

Probiotics again show immune boosting activity: Study

08-Sep-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplementation with beneficial bacterial strains may boost measures of immune function by about 50%, say new findings from Chr. Hansen.

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.

The digestive tract starts with the lips, says oral probiotics pioneer

02-Sep-2011 By Elaine Watson

The market for oral probiotics has enormous potential if consumers and food and supplement manufacturers can get their heads around the fact that the digestive tract “starts at the lips”, according to one leading player in the field.

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 may reduce anxiety and depression, suggests study

30-Aug-2011 By Nathan Gray

Probiotic bacteria may have the potential to alter brain neurochemistry, affecting anxiety and depression-related disorders, says new research.

Beneo gets approval for oligofructose in India

08-Aug-2011 By Ankush Chibber

The Beneo-Institute (Gmbh) has said that its prebiotic fibre, oligofructose, has been approved for use for more products in India, having previously approved for use in bakery items.

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.

Schiff Nutrition to step away from ‘crazy’ private label contracts

22-Jul-2011 By Elaine Watson

Schiff Nutrition will continue to play in the private label supplements market but will “step away” from “crazy” tenders and pump all available funds into its brands from MegaRed krill oil to Sustenex probiotics, bosses have revealed.

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.

Special edition: Diabetes

Diabetes: From ancient Egypt to modern pandemic

18-Jul-2011 By Stephen Daniells

It has been called a pandemic and a silent killer: Diabetes is a growing specter for public health agencies across the world. In the first part of our special series on diabetes, NutraIngredients examines the underlying condition and gets a grip on how...

Unique probiotic strains trigger very different immune responses: Researchers

18-Jul-2011 By Shane Starling

The ability of probiotics to influence the immune system differs greatly, depending on the strain, Dutch and Belgian researcher have said in findings that could influence clinical trial design.

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’.

Food for thought? Probiotics could promote well being, suggests researcher

06-Jul-2011 By Nathan Gray

Relying on your gut to make decisions may have a lot of truth to it, as research suggests that probiotic modification of the gut may influence the brain and affect mood.

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.

‘Level 1’ evidence that probiotics boost ‘transit time’: Danisco & Fonterra

22-Jun-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Daily probiotic supplements may accelerate transit time and boost general gut health, says a new study from Danisco and Fonterra heralded as providing ‘Level I evidence’.

Atrium commits $5 million to nutrition research for metabolic syndrome

21-Jun-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Canada’s Atrium Innovations has announced a multi-million, multi-year research initiative to study the role and potential of nutrition against silent inflammation and metabolic syndrome.

Researchers discover probiotic colonisation mechanism

21-Jun-2011 By Nathan Gray

Genes responsible for efficient colonisation of the gut have been discovered by a team of scientists at the University College Cork, Ireland.

Probiotics could boost immune functions in athletes, says Prof

20-Jun-2011 By Nathan Gray

Probiotics are best used for their potentially beneficial effects on gut health, but they may also help to boost immune functions – an effect that could benefit sports stars in the future, according to a leading sports scientist.

Ganeden on 'predatory lawsuits', probiotic tea and the Walmart snowball effect

16-Jun-2011

Elaine Watson caught up with Ganeden Biotech's business development boss Mike Bush at the IFT show to talk about opportunities in the food and drink market for its ultra-resilient BC30 probiotic strain.

Breaking news

UAS Labs defends safety, efficacy of probiotics following FDA seizure

09-Jun-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Minnesota-based UAS Laboratories, Inc., has defended the safety and efficacy of its products following a US Marshalls-led seizure, adding that it is working with FDA to ‘remove and/or modify the language’ of alleged disease claims on the labels of its...

Omega-3 plus probiotics may boost health profile of breast milk

08-Jun-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementing breast feeding mothers with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and select probiotics may enhance the fat content of the milk, and boost the immune benefits of the breast milk, suggests a new study from Finland.

Probiotic NDIs: Leading groups argue for genus/species vs strain

08-Jun-2011 By Stephen Daniells

The safety of probiotics should be evaluated at the species and not the strain level when considering possible New Dietary Ingredients notifications, according to a new position paper by three leading probiotic groups.

Prebiotic formula shows ‘intriguing’ benefits for infant guts

03-Jun-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Infant formula containing a select combination of prebiotic fibers may beneficially benefit the gut microflora of newborns, suggest findings from an ‘explorative study’ from Danone.

Prebiotics again show bone boosting benefits for teens

31-May-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of a prebiotic fiber may boost calcium and magnesium absorption in the gut and help build healthy bones during adolescence, suggests a new study with rats.

Prebiotics may keep students healthy during stressful periods

26-May-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of prebiotic fibers may boost the immune system and gut health during periods of heightened stress, suggests a new study with students at exam time.

Special edition: Prebiotics

Frost & Sullivan: US prebiotics market to double in five years

20-May-2011 By Elaine Watson

The US market for prebiotic ingredients is forecast to double in the next five years to more than $220m, according to market researcher Frost & Sullivan.

Special edition: Prebiotics

Prebiotic evolution: From earth oven to pizza oven

19-May-2011 By Stephen Daniells

A clever combination of gut friendly food, consumer education and social media has made Naked Pizza a runaway success. Prebiotic-containing pizza bases will soon be hitting grocery stores, too, says the archaeologist who co-founded the company.

Special edition: Prebiotics

Forget 'prebiotics'. Focus on fiber, say brand experts

18-May-2011 By Elaine Watson

While the food and supplements industry has been talking about prebiotics for well over a decade, most US consumers remain pretty clueless about them, according to marketing experts.

Special edition: Prebiotics

The prebiotic pioneer: Prof Glenn Gibson

17-May-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Harnessing modern technologies like metabonomics will ‘provide the answers’ to questions about how the gut microflora affect human health, says the scientist who co-coined the term ‘prebiotic’.

DuPont succeeds in Danisco bid

16-May-2011 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

US chemical group DuPont has successfully completed its tender offer for Danisco, as 92.2 percent of outstanding shares in the Danish food ingredients firm were tendered by Friday’s deadline, DuPont said on Monday.

Probiotics may ease bowel movements for elderly: Study

13-May-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of probiotic bacteria may improve bowel movements in hospitalized elderly people, according to new findings from Israel.

Prebiotic pasta shows metabolic promise: Study

13-May-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Consuming pasta enriched with prebiotic fibers may slow the emptying of the stomach and ease the rise in blood sugar levels after eating, says a new study from Italy.

Probiotics may ease bloating for people with bowel disorders: Study

12-May-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of two probiotic strains may ease symptoms of bloating in people with bowel disorders, say researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Danisco USA.

BI offers baobab to provide ‘easy’ fiber and antioxidant boost

04-May-2011 By Stephen Daniells

California’s BI Nutraceuticals has launched baobab fruit powder to provide customers with an ‘easy way’ to boost fiber, micronutrients, and antioxidants.

Class actions mount up as Bayer gets slapped with complaint over probiotic claims

03-May-2011 By Stephen Daniells

The surge class action complaints against health claims on food, beverage and dietary supplements shows no sign of calming, as Bayer is targeted in a new class action lawsuit in California against claims made on some of its probiotic products.

Probiotic milk may alleviate fever: Yakult study

29-Apr-2011 By Nathan Gray

Milk fermented with Lactobacillus casei may help to alleviate fever caused by norovirus gastroenteritis by correcting imbalances of intestinal microflora, according to a new study.

Gut microflora comes in three ‘robust’ types, says study

21-Apr-2011 By Nathan Gray

An international team of scientists have identified three distinct varieties of gut microflora. The finding may help explain why individuals respond differently to various nutrients and diets, according to the researchers.

Probiotics may reduce cold/’flu symptoms for male athletes: Study

15-Apr-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum may reduce the duration of symptoms of respiratory tract infections in male athletes, says a new study from Australia.

Study support Stratum’s chitin-glucan for weight management

13-Apr-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Dietary supplementation with chitin-glucan may beneficially alter the gut microflora and improve metabolic processes associated with obesity, suggests new data from a mouse study.

Bacteria supplements may affect weight gain: Rat study extends microflora-obesity link

11-Apr-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Early exposure to bacterial strains during pregnancy, breast feeding, and early life has a profound impact on weight gain in the offspring, says a new study with rats.

EU approves DuPont-Danisco offer – but it’s far from a done deal

05-Apr-2011 By Shane Starling

The European Commission today approved DuPont’s €4.5bn offer for Danish probiotics, enzymes and ingredients giant Danisco but the deal remains in doubt as to date only 6% of Danisco shareholders have accepted the offer.

Probiotic shows child constipation potential: Pilot study

11-Mar-2011 By Nathan Gray

The probiotic Bifidobacterium breve may be effective in increasing stool frequency in children with functional constipation, according to a new pilot study.