Gut Flora

C-sec and probiotics: Intake benefits microbiome development in 6–12-month-old infants - China RCT

08-May-2023 By Si Ying Thian

Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 (Lp N1115) supplementation for 12 weeks improved the gut immunity and helped maintain faecal pH levels in infants born via C-section, a new RCT reveals.

Study: Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 supports gut health in C-section babies

20-Apr-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

A new RCT involving infants born by cesarean section concludes Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 may help boost the Lactobacillus population in the gut, maintain faecal pH, improve gut immunity and reduce cortisol levels, especially in very young infants.

Review hails Akkermansia as “most promising next-gen probiotic”

19-Apr-2023 By Olivia Brown

The recent review spotlights the efficacy of Akkermansia muciniphila in reducing the risk and progression of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes (T2D), suggesting its strong potential for use for targeted dietary interventions within probiotics.

Scientists construct complex, complete prototype for the microbiome

25-Oct-2022 By Danielle Masterson

Researchers figured out a way to build a synthetic microbiome that housed 100+ human gut strains to form a stable and resilient community – an accomplishment that is helping them learn more about the connections between the microbiome and human health.

Kibow embarks on drug development for its kidney health probiotic

27-May-2022 By Hank Schultz

Kibow Biotech, developer of a probiotic formulation aimed as supporting kidney disease sufferers, has announced progress in developing the same formula as a drug.

Researchers propose ‘Probiotics Identity Card’ based on DNA and flow cytometry

21-Feb-2022 By Hank Schultz

Researchers based in Italy and Ireland have proposed a two step approach to validating and enumerating probiotic supplements. A stakeholder group commented that the approach holds promise for better quality control within the industry.

Monkey gut study shines light on ecology’s role in human microbiome

09-Oct-2019 By Danielle Masterson

A new study has found the human gut more closely resembles that of baboons than it does our closest relatives, the apes.

View from the Editor's Chair

Where’s the innovation in dietary supplements? Part 1: From supply chain to new science

15-Feb-2018 By Stephen Daniells

A couple of years ago the CEOs of some of the industry’s specialist retailers were lamenting what they saw as a lack of innovation in dietary supplements, but there is much to be excited about in dietary supplements and innovation is everywhere.

Vitafoods survey shows digestive health is top concern for industry – for the first time

Gut feelings: Digestive health is top of the agenda for nutraceutical industry

30-Jan-2018 By Nathan Gray

An increasing consumer interest in probiotics and the microbiome could be one reason why digestive health has hit the top of the nutraceutical and functional food industry agenda for the first time, say experts.

Could a healthy microbiome affect genes linked with colon cancer?

12-Jan-2018 By Tim Cutcliffe

Chemical signalling mechanisms in the microbiome seem to be linked to an enzyme previously associated with colon cancer progression, say researchers.

DSM to expand gut health portfolio with BioCare Copenhagen deal

22-Dec-2017 By Nathan Gray

Global nutritional ingredients player DSM has acquired BioCare Copenhagen A/S in a deal that will see it expand its probiotic and gut health portfolio.

Is there a link between exercise, exhaustion and probiotics? Kent State researchers aim to find out

27-Nov-2017 By Adi Menayang

Can probiotics help combat heat-caused complications during exercise? Researchers from Kent State University aim to find out, with the help of a grant from i-Health Inc. and DSM Nutrition.

SOFAR Americas launches Innovia probiotic micro-shot

22-Nov-2017 By Stephen Daniells

With consumers increasingly looking for alternatives to pills, SOFAR Americas has launched a new probiotic micro-shot, and the initial market reception has been very positive for the patented DryCap delivery system.

Probiotics may protect against blood pressure raising effect of salt, study finds

17-Nov-2017 By Tim Cutcliffe

The harmful effect of salt on blood pressure may be offset by consumption of a probiotic, reports a new study in Nature.

A revolution in microbiome analysis? Novel method offers ‘true’ quantitative analysis of gut bacteria

17-Nov-2017 By Nathan Gray

New methods to measure and accurately quantify the levels of gut bacteria in stool samples could be a revolution for researchers and companies looking to link our gut bacteria make up to specific issues of health and disease.

Online Digestive Health Conference

Support for digestive health claims among topics for tomorrow's event

14-Nov-2017 By Hank Schultz

Probiotics and prebiotics—the names themselves are a claim, something that companies need always to be aware of. This is one of the topics that will be covered in tomorrow’s Online Digest Health Conference sponsored by NutraIngredients-USA.

Mouse data backs DuPont prebiotic for multiple effects

10-Nov-2017 By Will Chu

DuPont’s prebiotic fibre could exert positive benefits to the gut microbiome, according to an animal study featured in Nature which also raises future implications on skin, metabolic and even brain health.

Study finds link between gut microbiota, sleep quality and cognitive flexibility

07-Nov-2017 By Stephen Daniells

A new study highlights the link between sleep habits, gut microbiome composition and cognitive flexibility in healthy older adults, but could probiotics benefit sleep-related cognitive issues?

Study explores how composition and function of gut microbiota changes during day

06-Nov-2017 By Stephen Daniells

The composition and function of the microbiota in the human gut changes throughout the day, with links to dietary and bathroom habits. The findings may have implications for the design of future probiotic clinical trials.

Researchers detect prebiotic potential in freeze-dried, powdered agave stem

30-Oct-2017 By Adi Menayang

The plant that gave the world tequila and mezcal may have prebiotic health benefits, according to researchers from Mexico and Germany.

Hydrolysed protein plus prebiotic formula could aid infants with allergy risk: Danone Nutricia study

13-Oct-2017 By Nathan Gray

A combination of partially hydrolysed protein infant formula and specific prebiotic oligosaccharides leads to changes in the gut microbiota of infants at high risk of allergy, creating a microbiome that is closer to that of breastfed infants and which...

Mouse data links microbiome changes to lupus severity and complications

03-Oct-2017 By Nathan Gray

Probiotic strains found in yoghurts may help prevent complications associated with lupus, according to new mouse data that reports female mice given Lactobacillus have an altered microbiome and reduced symptoms.

When formulating probiotics for children, functional foods might not be the best delivery format, expert argues

28-Sep-2017 By Adi Menayang

As more brands incorporate nutritional ingredients into foods and beverages to meet consumer demand for functional foods, one probiotic expert discourages the practice for brands formulating for children and teenagers.

Agave fibers show gut health and weight management potential

27-Sep-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Extracts from agave may boost the diversity of the gut microbiota and help promote weight management, says a new study using lab mice.

Can prebiotics help tackle obesity? New systematic review questions available evidence, draws criticism

05-Sep-2017 By Adi Menayang

In a systematic review, researchers in Brazil concluded that with the science available, “it would not be appropriate to recommend, at the moment”, the clinical use of prebiotics, or its combination with probiotics, to tackle obesity-related health risks.

Could an altered microbiome predict Parkinson’s disease risk?

01-Sep-2017 By Tim Cutcliffe

People with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) appear to have a different gut bacteria composition to healthy individuals, suggests a new study in Movement Disorders.

Could faecal microbiota transplantation be used to tackle asthma?

31-Aug-2017 By Will Chu

Faecal microbiota transplantation is arguably more effective in managing asthma than current treatments and even probiotics, say two scientists, who call for more research into its use.

Stress hormone may be ‘middle man’ in gut-brain communication

24-Aug-2017 By Tim Cutcliffe

The stress hormone cortisol appears to mediate the link between a common type of gut bacteria and the levels of an abundant brain metabolite, according to a recent animal study in Gut Microbes.

Probiotic supplementation may ease constipation among elderly, new study suggests

14-Aug-2017 By Adi Menayang

Different strains of probiotics induced beneficial effects in chronic constipation among the elderly, researchers from the University of Valencia found.

Study supports safety of pomegranate metabolite, urolithin A

11-Aug-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Extensive toxicological data supports the safety of urolithin A, a metabolite from pomegranate compounds and an emerging ingredient positioned for its anti-inflammatory properties and for boosting mitochondrial and muscle function.

Infant gut bacteria link with smarter toddlers: Study

24-Jul-2017 By Tim Cutcliffe

The make-up of babies’ gut microbiomes may be associated with with later cognitive development, suggests new research.

Cause or consequence? Investigating the link between gut bacteria and heart health

19-Jul-2017 By Nathan Gray

People with heart failure have been found to have less gut bacteria diversity and lack certain important species groups. So are changes in our microbiome causing heart disease, or visa-versa?

Athletes and the gut microbiota: Can we mine for new probiotics?

10-Jul-2017 By Stephen Daniells

The gut microbiomes of athletes are more diverse than non-athletes, and scientists at Harvard are predicting that new probiotics derived from athletic microbiomes could be hitting the market within two years.

Probiotic blend to tackle infant infection deemed safe by researchers

09-Jun-2017 By Will Chu

A probiotic blend for use in infants to help prevent the reoccurrence of winter infections is safe and well tolerated, a study concludes.

Prebiotic may lower body fat in obese children

09-Jun-2017 By Tim Cutcliffe

Consuming oligofructose-enriched inulin (OI) alters gut microbiota, reducing body fat in overweight or obese children, according to a new RCT conducted at Calgary University.

Probiotics may counter obesity effects on vascular function: Study

07-Jun-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementing the diet with probiotic Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum CECT 7765 may reverse the detrimental effects that obesity has on the function of blood vessels, suggests preliminary data from lab mice.

Special Edition: Bone & Joint Health

Can bone health be improved through microbiota manipulation?

31-May-2017 By Emma Jane Cash

Bone mineral density could be altered by prebiotics and probiotics, according to a new review that links diet-induced obesity, the gut microbiota and bone health.

Looking ahead to the IPA World Congress + Probiota Americas 2017

The gut-brain axis: An exploding field with popular appeal

25-May-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Interest in how the gut microbiota may influence brain function and vice versa is growing, and recent data indicates the beneficial bugs may also help with PTSD and protect against potentially detrimental effects of antibiotic use in early life.

Timing of probiotic consumption 'unimportant’ for colonization: Study

24-May-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Should probiotics be consumed on an empty stomach or with a meal? A new study from the University of Milan suggests it doesn’t matter.

Looking ahead to the IPA World Congress + Probiota Americas 2017

Ghosts of our African guts: What traditional hunter-gatherers can teach us about gut health

18-May-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Understanding how our ancestors lived and how this affected their gut microbiome may boost prebiotic and probiotic formulations, and give companies a compelling story for consumers, says an expert.

ProbioKid probiotic strains recognized safe in US and Canada for use in young children

09-May-2017 By Adi Menayang

The probiotic strain blend ProbioKid by Lallemand has received a Natural Product Number (NPN) from Health Canada, while the GRAS status is still only self-affirmed in the US.

Dispatches from Experimental Biology 2017

Anthocyanin-prebiotic blend shows gut health benefits for obese: Nu Skin study

02-May-2017 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of anthocyanins and prebiotics may improve the composition of the gut microflora and reduce bloating and abdominal pain in obese adults, according to data presented at Experimental Biology 2017.

US Army exploring how stressors affect gut health in soldiers

20-Apr-2017 By Stephen Daniells

The mental and physical stresses associated with military training may be detrimentally affecting the health of the gut in US soldiers, potentially opening doors to nutritional interventions.

Gut bacteria control age-related inflammation: Mouse data

19-Apr-2017 By Nathan Gray

Changes to our microbiome and intestinal barrier functions directly lead to increased levels of systemic inflammation as we age, say researchers who suggest such age-related inflammation is reversible.

Dannon awards $50K for yogurt, probiotics & gut microbiome research

12-Apr-2017 By Stephen Daniells

The effects of probiotics during breastfeeding and how to identify unique chemical signatures to elucidate the benefits of probiotic yogurt are the two research projects on the receiving end of the Dannon Fellowship Grant.