Gut Health

International panel of scientists agree what makes a 'synbiotic'

24-Aug-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

A group of leading international scientists have created a consensus definition of a 'synbiotic' to provide a foundation for science-based claims about the health benefits of such products.

Editor's Spotlight: Startup Focus

Gut health experts bypass microbiome modulation with redesigned supplements

17-Aug-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

Two prominent microbiome researchers have created their own supplements company which extracts and redesigns specific bacteria thereby affecting a huge range of health conditions without the need to modulate the microbiome.

Scientists create comprehensive database of bacterial genomes

29-Jul-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

An international team of scientists has collated all known bacterial genomes from the human gut microbiome into one 'unparalleled' large database.

Fiber in diet shown to improve gut health measures for bedridden patients

22-Jul-2020 By Hank Schultz

A recent study suggests that dietary fiber improves measures of gut health and patient comfort for people subjected to heavy doses of antibiotics in a hospital setting.

NutraCast Podcast: Ancient Nutrition doubles down on influencer program despite budget shifts

17-Jul-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Online influencers often fill their social media feeds with photos of tropical drinks on the beach or crisscrossing the globe on luxury trips, but the pandemic has put much of that on pause. So what's in store for influencers who are now staying...

Bacteria in newborn's stool may indicate risk of obesity

14-Jul-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

The bacteria found in a baby's first stool can predict its likelihood of becoming overweight by the age of three, according to a new prospective, population‐based study, suggesting a child's risk of obesity may to start during pregnancy.

Study pinpoints gut bacteria linked to reduced heart disease risk

10-Jul-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

A specific strain of bacteria found in the human gut has the potential to reduce the risk for heart disease, scientists have discovered.

Study: Fast fructose consumption overwhelms the gut and leads to fatty liver

06-Jul-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

A new multi-centre study in mice has explained the mechanism behind how excessive consumption of fructose can 'overwhelm' the gut and lead to fatty liver disease, revealing the importance of fructose consumption timing.

'Game changing' research discovers 'striking' links between genes and gut bacteria

25-Jun-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

Specific genes are linked to the existence and amount of certain gut bacteria, according to new research involving nearly 4,000 individuals which authors say could transform our understanding of common diseases, including obesity, irritable bowel syndrome,...

Researchers discover gut bacteria linked to lower cholesterol

18-Jun-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

Researchers from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and Harvard University have discovered a group of gut bacteria that can metabolise enough cholesterol to potentially affect people's metabolism.

'Important' microbiome studies offer hope for IBD prediction

15-Jun-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

We may be able to predict disease relapse in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases based on their microbiome markers, according researchers from APC Microbiome Ireland.

Probiotics developers push boundaries of product categories

04-Jun-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Probiotic supplements are widely promoted as a general way to support gut microbiome and promote health, but what about condition-specific probiotics?

NutraCast Podcast: George Stagnitti on colostrum research

29-May-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Colostrum is often thought of as a newborn's first meal — but it isn’t just for babies.

Review: Athletes have healthier, more diverse guts, but why that’s true is less clear

15-May-2020 By Hank Schultz

Athletes have greater gut diversity and more functional pathways within their microbiota than do their more sedentary peers. Why these facts are true is less clear, wrote the authors of a new comprehensive review.

Prebiotics group signs powerhouse new member as interest in ingredients spikes

30-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

The Global Prebiotics Association has signed an influential new member—Dutch ingredients firm FrieslandCampina—which points to the growing market influence and consumer awareness of this class of ingredients, the group’s director says.

Gut to get through this: Gut health top of the lockdown agenda

30-Apr-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

Coronavirus has given a huge portion of the population both the time and the inclination to learn more about how they can improve their health and two women devoted to gut health education have seen their virtual education platforms flipped into overdrive...

Multi-strain probiotic didn’t change healthy guts much, but study results hint at metabolic syndrome benefits

23-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

A company-funded study of a multi-strain probiotic has found the species survive and propagate in the gut, but don’t significantly change the overall makeup of the microbiome when given to healthy subjects.

Lifestyle influences microbiome more than geography: Study

16-Apr-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Researchers found that human contact could play a larger role than geography or even species when it comes to the makeup of the gut microbiome.

Soil nutrition: NZ start-up to explore fulvic acid use for sports nutrition, gut, and immune health

02-Apr-2020 By Tingmin Koe

New Zealand start-up NZ Fulvic is studying the use of fulvic acid, a nutrient from soil extract, in providing sports nutrition, gut, and immune health benefits.

So Chic: A fashion for fibre boosts chicory root sales

16-Mar-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

The consumer buzz for boosting 'good' gut bacteria will see Europe's prebiotics market value exceed $3.5 Billion by 2026, according to new market research.

Specific gut bacteria linked to blood pressure

26-Feb-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

Researchers have identified a distinct collection of bacteria found in the gut that may contribute to, and predict, the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

3-FL demonstrates safe use for food and dietary supplements: Study

25-Feb-2020 By Danielle Masterson

DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences continues its foray into digestive health by ramping up research on human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs).

Plant-based diet may help boost bacteria that protects heart health: Study

18-Feb-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Researchers explore the role that diet plays in gut bacteria and how it may impact cardiovascular health.

Poop-eating lab mice affect probiotic research outcomes, says study

17-Feb-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

Researchers have studied a key difference between the microbiome of lab mice and humans caused by rodents' tendency to eat their own faeces, which they say could have wide-ranging implications to numerous research areas

Gut bacteria linked to muscle function in the colon, says mice study

07-Feb-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

Micro-organisms in the gut support healthy digestion by helping nerve cells within the intestine to regulate the contraction and relaxation of the muscle wall of the colon, according to a new study in mice.

NutraCast Podcast: Exploring the gut microbiome with Dr. Dan Gubler

31-Jan-2020 By Danielle Masterson

In this episode, we discuss gut composition and how it plays a role in mental health, sleep and exercise.

Common bacteriophage appeared only recently in human gut, study says

20-Jan-2020 By Hank Schultz

A recent study suggests a common gut virus has spread to humans only with the advent of the Industrial Revolution. The paper adds to the still nascent body of research on the human gut virome.

Polyphenols show promise in shifting microbiome away from obesity states

14-Jan-2020 By Hank Schultz

A new paper by Brazilian researchers elucidates ways in which polyphenols may help shift the gut microbiome away from states associated with obesity and metabolic disorders.

Editor's spotlight: Startup Focus

Pioneering scientists create designer prebiotics to disrupt the microbiome health space

13-Jan-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

A team of top scientists leading the way in designer prebiotics has been selected as one of the most pioneering startups in the microbiome health industry.

Startup Spotlight

Nespresso-style gut health: Bioengineer creates personalised probiotic yoghurt machine

06-Jan-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

A Swedish startup is on a mission to make yoghurt truly good for the gut with a kitchen counter machine that makes personalised probiotic and prebiotic filled yogurts, the founder tells NutraIngredients ahead of her debut as a Probiota Pioneer next month.

News in brief

Kaneka gets GRAS status on baby probiotic

18-Dec-2019 By Hank Schultz

Kaneka has announced self affirmed GRAS status on its Baby Colic probiotic dietary supplement meant to ease babies through gut discomfort episodes.

Piglets, probiotics and prebiotics: Study finds gender disparity in immunological function

11-Dec-2019 By Danielle Masterson

A new study looking at the effectiveness of dietary supplements on the immune system found that prebiotics and probiotics may need to be targeted according to sex to achieve optimum health benefits.

News in brief

Sabinsa gets patent on LactoSpore’s mood benefits

09-Dec-2019 By Hank Schultz

Sabinsa has announced a new patent, this one for the effect of its Lactospore probiotic in the suppression depression symptoms in consumers suffering from gut health issues.

Gut microbial diversity an indicator of social and economic status, says scientists

02-Dec-2019 By Will Chu

Could an individual’s microbiome indicate how wealthy they are? That is the premise for a team of scientists, who suggest a healthy gut and its microbe profile are linked to social and economic status.

Atmo Biosciences, Seed Health study impact of probiotics with ingestible gas sensor

22-Nov-2019 By Danielle Masterson

Seed Health is harnessing the huge potential of the probiotics industry by taking an unprecedented look at the inner workings of the human gut microbiome.

Review: Postbiotics show promise, even if method of action is unclear

20-Nov-2019 By Hank Schultz

The use of postbiotics could be an attractive alternative to prebiotics in immunocompromised children and adults, according to a recent review. But the lack of a definition of the term is still a complicating factor in determining effectiveness, the...

MeriCal’s USP probiotics verification was years in making, exec says

14-Nov-2019 By Hank Schultz

The newly announced USP verification of two MeriCal probiotics products—a first in the industry—represents years of work behind the scenes, an executive said.

Prebiotics group concurs with $5.5 billion figure on global market

11-Nov-2019 By Hank Schultz

Growing consumer awareness along with demand in animal nutrition is driving the overall growth of prebiotics, which a trade group says will account for $5.5 billion in sales in 2019. Better messaging can help maintain that momentum, the group says.

Editor's Spotlight: Startup Focus

The gut health guinea pigs: Tenacious twins on the road with a microbiome mission

11-Nov-2019 By Nikki Hancocks

Two radio star identical twins have combined their presenting talent with their passion for gut health and co-founded a business devoted to taking the mystery out of the gut microbiome with public education on a large, evidence based and entertaining...

Probiota Asia 2019

Probiotic from Penang: Malaysian cow’s milk bacteria strain exerts benefits for brain, URT, and liver

11-Nov-2019 By Tingmin Koe

A probiotic strain isolated from cow’s milk in Penang, Malaysia, has been shown to deliver benefits related to brain, respiratory, and gut health.

Company offers personalized probiotics based on DNA microbiome testing

31-Oct-2019 By Hank Schultz

A new company is claiming to offer ‘precision’ probiotics to consumers based on DNA testing of their individual microbiomes.

BASF joins the HMO club with 2’-FL launch

23-Oct-2019 By Stephen Daniells

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are the “hot new thing” said an expert recently, as BASF announced the US launch of its 2’-FL (2’-fucosyllactose) ingredient, which is branded Prebilac.

From the Editor's Desk

Probiotics under fire: ‘When a doctor treats himself, he has a fool for a patient’

18-Oct-2019 By Stephen Daniells

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal has caused consternation among stakeholders in the probiotics space. Why? Well, for an article written by an MD and cancer researcher it’s as unscientific as it is potentially damaging.

Taiyo finds creative way to support prebiotic Sunfiber’s ‘regulating’ effects

17-Oct-2019 By Hank Schultz

Prebiotic ingredient manufacturer Taiyo has added to the evidence behind its Sunfiber ingredient with a study showing normalized stools among subjects with a tendency toward diarrhea.

Labeling, colonization, adequate intakes, & taxonomy to be discussed at IPA’s DC Workshop

10-Oct-2019 By Stephen Daniells

The International Probiotics Association will host its fourth IPA DC Workshop with insights from a range of experts and stakeholders, including the FDA/ CFSAN, FTC, and Health Canada. The event is held in conjunction with the US Pharmacopeia.