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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Earlier this year, an international team of scientists identified three distinct varieties of gut microflora. NutraIngredients caught up with the lead researcher of the project to find out more about the research and its possible implications.
Dietary changes may have rapid effects on the composition of bacteria in the gut and may influence the harvest of nutrients from the foods we eat, suggest new data with implications for understanding how gut health affects body weight.
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.
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.
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’.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Probiotic bacteria strains tailored to express produce conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) may be able to modify fat tissues, and could play a role in the prevention and treatment of obesity, according to new research in mice.
Frutarom USA is adopting consumer marketing tactics in a bid to grow the market for its BLIS K12 probiotic, as there is currently more awareness of probiotics for gut health than in there is of chewable bacteria for oral health and immunity.
The link between gut and brain may extend to reducing stress, as data from animal and human studies show a reduction in anxiety following probiotic supplementation.
Mapping how the gut microbiota respond to probiotic strains may help produce a framework for “evaluating and optimizing probiotic-based functional foods”, say researchers from Danone and Harvard.
Danone and Yakult have handed out another $100,000 for research into the benefits of probiotics for irritable bowel syndrome and the identification of new beneficial probiotic strains.
Blends of low-calorie sweeteners like maltitol with polydextrose boosted gut microflora when formulated in chocolate with excellent tolerance, says a new study from the University of Reading.
Prebiotic fibres may beneficially modify bacterial populations in our guts and aid weight management, with “promising effects also shown in humans”, says a new review of the science.
Consumer understanding of the benefits of probiotics may receive a fillip following publication of a highly supporting article on Livestrong.com, website of the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
The link between gut microflora populations and weight may also extend to pregnancy, with a new study revealing that women who gain excessive weight during pregnancy have different microfloral profiles.
Bacterial populations in the gut of diabetics differ from non-diabetics, says a new study from Denmark that may open up a potential role for modify gut microflora with probiotics and prebiotics and improve health.
US researchers have successfully transferred gut bacteria from obese humans to germ-free mice, a breakthrough that will allow a more detailed study of the link between gut microflora and obesity.
A daily shot of a probiotic milk drink may reduce inflammation and bleeding in the mouth linked to gingivitis and gum disease, says a new study from Germany.
The products of prebiotic fermentation in the gut may prevent the growth, and promote the death of cancer cells in the colon, says a new study from Germany.
A look into the probiotic crystal ball reveals that genetically engineered "friendly" bacteria could be switched on by specific prebiotic sugar, possibly leading to a new generation of pre- and probiotic products.
Young researchers at the University of Virginia and Harvard University have won $50,000 grants to investigate the role of probiotics in health and disease.
Probiotic supplements during the first trimester of pregnancy may help women lose weight after the infant’s birth, say new findings presented today at the European Congress on Obesity.
Supplements of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota may ease symptoms of anxiety in people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), according to new research funded by Yakult.
NutraIngredient’s Snack Size Science brings you the week's top science. This week we spill the beans on the potential of coffee to boost levels of beneficial bacteria in our guts.
Children and infant probiotics products are booming as parents connect with the healthy bacteria’s immune system boosting benefits, according to market researcher, Euromonitor.
A pilot study from Russia and the US indicates that supplements of Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus plantarum 8PA3 may improve the health of an alcoholic’s liver.
Food giant Nestle is today launching a probiotics drink for children in the US, which the company claims is the only drink on the market to deliver immune benefits coupled with balanced nutrition.
Sleep, mood and digestive health are the areas attracting most interest this year from manufacturers in the food and beverage industries, according to nutritional premix supplier Fortitech.
Modifying our gut bacteria with probiotics and prebiotics may be a new weapon in the fight against obesity. Three experts active in this field discuss the current state of play, and what the future may hold for weight management with probiotics and prebiotics.
UK-based Leatherhead Food International (LFI) is seeking commercial interest for a research project that will explore the potential of probiotics to deliver oral health benefits.
GTC Nutrition has introduced a new prebiotic ingredient, which it claims is one of the highest purity galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) available on the market.
