Lallemand probiotic/vitamin blend sign of things to come
The blend, called ProbioKid Vita+, is being backed with EFSA-validated immunity health claims that spring not from the pre-/probiotic content as these have yet to win claims, but from the presence of vitamin C and vitamin D.
This type of blending is gaining a lot of traction in the European nutra space as companies adapt their formulations to account for the health claim opinions emanating from the European Food Safety Authority’s Parma base, even before they are written into the European Union legislature.
One academic recently suggested ‘just adding water’ to probiotic formulations to allow immunity claims, after water received a positive opinion in the last batch of article 13.1 opinions. While the suggestion was made tongue-in-cheek, it is one that is likely to be followed some suppliers/manufacturers.
Lallemand’s Probiokid Vita+ blend contains three probiotic strains (Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell-52, Bifidobacterium bifidum Rosell-71, Bifidobacterium infantis Rosell-33), fructo oligosaccharide plus vitamin C and D.
Lallemand’s blend has been used in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study that was presented in 2010 at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) congress and conducted in partnership with Laboratoires Urgo in France.
The study results showed typical winter infections were reduced 25% in school-aged children, compared to placebo.
The authors concluded, “a clinically relevant beneficial effect of a 3-month daily synbiotic regimen in preventing usual acute infectious illnesses…”
EFSA vitamin-immunity claims
EFSA-approved article 13.1 general function immune claims for vitamin C and D state:
- Contains/ Source of vitamin D that contributes to the normal function of the immune system and healthy inflammatory response.
- Contains/ Source of vitamin C that has immunostimulating activities and that reduces tiredness and fatigue.
But to bear the claims products must contain 15% of daily recommended daily intakes (RDIs).
