Platform launched to push digestive health beyond probiotics

By Lynda Searby

- Last updated on GMT

'We believe we need to talk more about different digestive health functions.'
'We believe we need to talk more about different digestive health functions.'

Related tags Digestive health Nutrition Gut flora

DSM is ramping up its focus on digestive health with the launch of a new ‘platform’ to help manufacturers develop products that target specific gastro-intestinal health concerns.

The company’s ‘improve your digestion’ platform can be seen as an attempt to expand the industry’s use of gut health ingredients beyond probiotics and steer customers towards ingredients that perform specific and scientifically-substantiated functions.

“We believe we need to talk more about different digestive health functions. The same solution doesn’t apply when you’ve got a gluten intolerance as when you want to maintain a healthy microbial flora,​Ruedi Duss, global marketing manager at DSM Nutritional Products, told NutraIngredients.

“Our aim is to explain to customers that there are ways to differentiate using different gut health benefits.

Through the platform, the company is offering a “comprehensive portfolio​of ingredients that offer benefits in three areas of digestive health: microbial flora, digestion and gut wall.

These include the enzymes Tolerase L, which helps lactose intolerance sufferers digest dairy, and Tolerase G, which enables those with a gluten intolerance to digest residual gluten; OatWell dietary fibres from oat beta-glucan, which have benefits for healthy gut, bowel function and intestinal immunity; and vitamins A, B2, C, D, E, biotin, niacin, nutritional lipids and DSM’s Fabuless oil-in-water emulsion.

From probiotics to prebiotics

To date, probiotics – a space in which DSM isn’t currently active in Europe – have been the most popular gut health ingredient. These feature in DSM’s portfolio of digestive health ingredients, through its US i-Health division, which produces Culturelle supplements.

More of a focus for DSM, however, is the prebiotics sphere; Duss hinted that DSM is currently investigating how certain prebiotics can influence the microbial flora.

gut health

“The right balance of microbiota plays a relevant role in digestive health. Probiotics is where it all started. The whole story is out there even though products aren’t allowed to carry probiotic claims in the EU [under the EU nutrition and health claims regulation [NHCR].

“DSM has Culturelle supplements on the market in the US, but we will be looking at other options for maintaining healthy intestinal flora. There is science that we have developed that, although not ready yet, will show evidence in microbiota for prebiotics,​ he noted.

Enzymes respond to gluten-free trend

Duss was less guarded when it came to discussing Tolerase L and Tolerase G – DSM’s enzymes for processing lactose and gluten.

Whilst he said that Tolerase G would not be suitable for coeliacs, he suggested it could be used in products targeting the growing number of consumers who claim to be sensitive to gluten or have made a lifestyle choice to avoid foods containing gluten.

“We are about to start explaining to our customers how such an enzyme can improve a potential health problem. We know we are at the start of the education curve but already we have created a lot of interest.

While Tolerase L is commercially available in the EU, as yet Tolerase G is only approved for use in the US. Duss confirmed that DSM is working towards obtaining EU approval for Tolerase G. 

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

Whitepaper: Discover a new era in postbiotics

Whitepaper: Discover a new era in postbiotics

Content provided by DSM Nutritional Products | 28-Nov-2023 | White Paper

Postbiotic ingredients are set to open up a world of opportunities across the human health and nutrition industry, fueled by developing science demonstrating...

Taking Immune Support to a New Level

Taking Immune Support to a New Level

Content provided by AB Biotek Human Nutrition & Health | 30-Oct-2023 | White Paper

Patent-pending ABB C1® redefines immune support by addressing innate, acquired, and Trained Immunity. In 'ABB C1®: Training Now for Future Immune...

New Study for Female Athletes

New Study for Female Athletes

Content provided by Gencor | 19-Oct-2023 | Product Brochure

In a recent clinical trial backing its ingredient Libifem® for improved muscle strength, power, endurance and body composition with a females-only popluation...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars