Gut Flora

Probiotic drink may help control insulin resistance: Healthy human research

04-Feb-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Probiotic supplementation may be useful in preventing insulin resistance caused by excessive consumption of high-fat foods, according to industry-backed research published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

Researchers question extra prebiotic use in enteral nutrition

15-Dec-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Additional prebiotics oligofructose and inulin through enteral nutrition does not significantly impact faecal concentrations of ‘friendly bacteria’ bifidobacteria in intensive-care patients, according to research.

‘An important contribution to the clinical evidence’: Second generation prebiotic shows anti-anxiety potential

03-Dec-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Supplements of the second generation prebiotic Bimuno containing a novel mixture of galacto-oligosaccharides may lower measures of anxiety, says a new study from the UK.

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.

Insight: How 100 trillion bacteria in your gut help to keep you healthy

23-Oct-2014 By Annick Mercenier at Nestlé

I am one of many scientists around the world whose work involves studying an ecosystem of diverse species. Some are already known to us, others have never been catalogued before.

‘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. 

What women want: Lallemand launches probiotics for female health

14-Oct-2014 By Lynda Searby

The absence of any EU-approved health claims for probiotics hasn’t deterred Lallemand Health Solutions from launching a suite of probiotics addressing women’s health issues.

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.

Probiotic potential: Altering gut bacteria shows promise for fatty liver disease

29-Sep-2014 By Nathan Gray

Probiotics may have beneficial effects on the treatment and prevention of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and other related conditions, according to a new review.

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…

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. 

‘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.

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. 

‘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.

science short

Gastro health and immunity: Chr Hansen reviews 300 papers on probiotic strain

28-Apr-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Danish probiotic leader Chr Hansen has gathered mounting probiotic science under one roof in a review of 300 Bifidobacterium-focused papers.

Almonds & their skins show prebiotic potential: Human data

06-Mar-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Fiber-rich almonds and almond skin may selectively boost the populations of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the gut, says a new study funded by the Almond Board of California.

Special edition: Pre & Probiotics

What is gut health? That's the blurry 800-pound gorilla in the room

20-Feb-2014 By Hank Schultz

In discussing gut health it’s wise to keep in mind the words of the late United States Supreme Court justice Potter Stewart when discussing a 1964 obscenity case.  Pornography, Stewart said, was hard to pin down, but “I know it when I see it.”  So it...

Special edition: Pre- and Probiotics

Consumers gradually coming round to probiotics’ oral health potential, and thinking beyond 'dental’ first

20-Feb-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

The gut starts at the mouth, so it should be no surprise that probiotics, those beneficial bacteria, are a growing presence in the oral health category. But which strains show the most potential, where does the science stand, and how do they work?

Special edition: Polyphenols

Polyphenol science needs to catch up to better inform regulators and consumers, say experts

28-Jan-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

A paradigm shift is needed in the study of polyphenols to better understand the bioavailability, bio-activity, and the role of the gut microbiota in polyphenol metabolism and health benefits, say experts from academia and industry.

Prebiotics may modify brain chemistry through microbiota modulation: Rat study

27-Jan-2014 By Nathan Gray

The modification of gut microbiota by prebiotics may also lead to alterations in brain chemistry, according to new dat that suggests a potential role for prebiotic compounds in neuropsychiatric illness.

Apple polyphenols may slash inflammation marker levels, change gut microbiota

22-Jan-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Polyphenols from apples may modify the bacterial populations in the gut, and reduce markers of inflammation, according a new study from the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited.

Understanding the aging gut: Microbiome modifications may be linked to health and lifespan

17-Jan-2014 By Nathan Gray

Modifications to the microbiota could lead to changes in health and lifespan that are associated with aging, according to new research in fruit flies.

Probiotics may benefit energy metabolism in obese people: Human data

13-Jan-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements of probiotics combined with an herbal preparation may improve obesity-related parameters, according to a new study from South Korea.

Probiotics can reduce bowel problem in premature babies: Study

16-Dec-2013

A 3-strain probiotic blend can reduce the occurrence of a bowel condition common among  premature babies, researchers writing in Pediatrics journal have found.

Probiotics may offer hay fever benefit: RCT data

28-Nov-2013 By Nathan Gray

Daily consumption ofa drink containing Lactobacillus casei may alter the way our immune cells react to pollen in people suffering from hay fever, according to new research backed by Yakult and the BBSRC.

Dispatches from SupplySide West 2013

MicroPharma ready to launch microbiome supplements direct to healthcare practitioners

25-Nov-2013 By Stephen Daniells

Innovative Canadian company MicroPharma is leveraging half a billion dollars-worth of microbiome research to launch microbiome supplements any day now, the company’s CEO told NutraIngredients-USA.

Dispatches from SupplySide West 2013

Carefully designed probiotic studies can provide good data while skirting disease endpoints, supplier says

21-Nov-2013 By Hank Schultz

Few would argue that the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act has helped foster an innovative and thriving industry.  But the last twenty years haven’t been a bed of roses for probiotics suppliers, at least not in area of researching ingredients...

Gut reaction: Could hormone receptors on gut bacteria be driving diet-health interactions?

15-Nov-2013 By Nathan Gray

Dietary intake of foods that affect hormone levels could drive changes in the microbial make up of ourgut flora, according to new research in mice.

Gut bacteria may be linked to rheumatoid arthritis: Study

12-Nov-2013 By Nathan Gray

Bacterial disturbances in the gut may play a role in autoimmune attacks on joints, and could point the way towards novel ways to manage and prevent arthritis, say researchers.

Big Interview: Todd Beckman, cofounder and COO of GoodBelly

Consumer education on probiotics critical: GoodBelly founder

28-Oct-2013 By Maggie Hennessy

In a country like the US where 60 to 70 million people have digestive issues, and roughly 20% of the population suffers from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (though only a third seek medical attention, according to the National Institutes of Health), the founders...

Blueberry powder may boost gut bacteria with 'demonstrated health-promoting properties', says a new study

26-Sep-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

A daily drink of juice containing wild blueberry powder may boost select bifidobacteria strains in the gut with the potential to influence immune health, says a new study with human volunteers.

Probiotics can benefit colitis sufferers with ‘anal pouch’ issues: Study

17-Sep-2013 By Shane STARLING

Ulcerative colitis (UC) sufferers who are surgically fitted with an artificial anus (‘ileoanal pouch’) can benefit from probiotics, Swedish and Dutch researchers have found.

‘The Battle of the Microbiota’

Gut health and obesity: Human gut bacteria can alter mouse metabolism, depending on diet, says new study

06-Sep-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Transplanting gut bacteria from obese humans into germ-free mice leads to greater weight gain and fat accumulation than mice that were given bacteria from the guts of lean humans, says another breakthrough study from Washington University in St Louis.

"An amazing result with possibly enormous implications for the treatment and even prevention of the greatest public health issue of our time"

Microbiome breakthrough: Gut flora implicated in metabolic disorders

29-Aug-2013 By Nathan Gray

There is a distinct link between the composition of our gut bacteria and incidence of obesity related conditions including heart disease and diabetes, according to new data from the MetaHIT project.

Probiotics may ‘counter obesity and diabetes’: NIH study

10-Jul-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

A daily dose of probiotics may prevent weight gain and insulin resistance in mice, says a new study from scientists at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) with implications for obesity and diabetes.

Do cranberry’s urinary tract benefits start in the gut?

The potential gut health benefits of berries offer fruitful research area

21-Jun-2013 By Stephen Daniells in Charlotte, NC

Hippocrates once said, ‘All disease starts in the gut’, and the potential for berry compounds to influence the gut microbiota and positively impact human health is only beginning to be understood, according to presentations at this week’s Berry Health...

GOS prebiotics may boost calcium absorption for teens: Purdue data

20-Mar-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) may enhance the absorption of calcium for adolescent girls, says a new study from Purdue University with implications for bone health.

Probiotics may ease stress-related gut problems: Mouse data

15-Mar-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

A supplement of beneficial bacteria may ease stress-induced intestinal inflammation for people with irritable bowel syndrome, suggests new data from the University of Michigan.

'A big step forward': Probiotics may alter brain activity in healthy people, says Danone/UCLA data

14-Mar-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements of a fermented milk product containing five different probiotic strains may affect the parts of the brain linked to emotion and sensation, says a new study from UCLA and Danone.

‘Second generation’ prebiotic shows potential against metabolic syndrome

18-Feb-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements of a novel mixture of prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides may boost gut health and immune function and help reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome, UK researchers report.

Special Edition: Fiber

Prebiotics boost gut health while adding functionality

11-Dec-2012 By Hank Schultz

Prebiotics are the thin end of the wedge in the new era of beneficial functional fibers.  Gone are the days where mere ‘regularity’ was the goal;  now fiber is understood to provide biochemical benefits in addition to just plain bulk, and prebiotic fibers...

'Our probiotic science will lead to an EFSA health claims approval': DuPont VP of marketing

14-Nov-2012 By Hank Schultz

Recent studies using DuPont’s HOWARU strain combination, combined with a better understanding of ‘the rules of the game’, will lead to positive health claims in Europe, DuPont’s Scott Bush has confidently predicted.

Probiotics may help cut body fat levels: RCT data

14-Nov-2012 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily probiotic yogurt consumption may improve energy metabolism and reduce body fat levels by up to 4%, say results of a placebo-controlled, double-blind cross-over clinical trial in Canada.

Spruce extract could be ‘untapped’ prebiotic

26-Oct-2012 By Stephen Daniells

An extract from spruce (Picea abies) may selectively enhance the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and offer a novel prebiotic for the nutritional products, says a new study.

Gut bacteria changes touted as a cause of diabetes

27-Sep-2012 By Nathan Gray

Major changes to the profile of our gut bacteria ecosystem are associated with the development of type two diabetes, according to ‘exciting’ new meta-genomic data published in Nature.

Pomegranate peel extract shows prebiotic potential

08-Jun-2012 By Stephen DANIELLS

Polyphenol-rich extracts from pomegranate peel may selectively enhance the growth of potentially beneficial gut bacteria, suggesting prebiotic activity for the extract, says a new study.

DISPATCHES FROM VITAFOODS EUROPE 2012

EndoSeaRch: A new way to modify gut health?

30-May-2012 By Nathan GRAY

A new approach to modifying gut bacteria via orally delivered minerals has been gaining a lot of interest from probiotics players, says Aquapharm.

Probiotics have benefits for antibiotic induced diarrhoea: Meta-analysis

10-May-2012 By Nathan Gray

Consumption of probiotics is associated with a reduced risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, according to a review and meta-analysis of previous studies.