Containing a blend of Lactobacillus plantarum, Streptococcus thermophilus, two Bifidobacterium strains, including Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), the product G-NiiB Mood Well MQU10 seeks to support mental wellness by tackling the gut-brain axis.
Using findings of a six-week open-label study conducted on individuals with mild to moderate depression, the product makes benefit claims such as “significantly improve persistent sadness” and “significantly reduce excessive worries, fears and tensions.”
Developed by researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Faculty of Medicine, the powder sachet synbiotics can be taken by adults and children as young as two years old.
So far, G-NiiB has launched various microbiome products for supporting immune health, eczema, gut health, liver health, healthy mood and relaxation in kids, but this is the first product developed to support mental wellbeing in both adults and children.
Bridging the gap between stigma and treatment
Tim Chan, marketing lead at G-NiiB, told NutraIngredients that there is still considerable stigma when it comes to seeking professional treatment or counselling for issues related to mental wellness.
In Hong Kong, one in two adults aged 18 and above is said to suffer from mental distress, said Chan, citing findings of a survey commissioned by local mental health charity Mind HK in partnership with Manulife Hong Kong last year.
Involving 1,000 Hong Kong residents, the survey showed that about two in five (41%) showed signs of depression at mild to severe levels and nearly one in three (31%) showed signs of mild to severe levels of anxiety.
Only 3% of respondents ranked professional counselling or therapy as their top source of support, the study showed.
“Mood challenges are common, yet many people do not seek professional support, whether due to access barriers or personal hesitation,” said Chan. “This often delays timely care. We see an opportunity to bridge this gap by offering a science-based, everyday option that helps support mood stability.”
While the food supplement is not meant to serve as a pharmaceutical, it is hoped that it could act as a basic solution for individuals looking to improve their mental well-being, including healthy individuals who are not diagnosed with depression or anxiety disorders.
“There are two key gaps we aim to address. First, the space between doing nothing and seeking medical treatment. Second, the lack of credible, science-based daily solutions that support mental well-being,” Chan said.
Aside from the more well-known PS128 psychobiotics, he noted that the use of biotics for mental wellness is still at a nascent stage in Hong Kong.
To reach the target audience, G-NiiB Mood Well MQU10 is sold in the pharmacy retail chain Mannings, private hospitals, clinics and G-NiiB’s online store.
Clinical findings
In a six-week open-label, single-arm, multicentre trial led by the Faculty of Medicine of CUHK, it was reported that the G-NiiB Mood Well MQU10 formulation has significantly lowered depressive and anxiety symptom scores from the baseline.
A total of 42 individuals aged 18 or above and diagnosed with mild to moderate depression, based on their Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores, took a sachet of the synbiotic powder once daily for six weeks. Individuals who had recently used psychiatric or antibiotic medications were excluded from participating in the trial.
The primary outcome was changes in Clinical Global Impression – Improvement (CGI-I), while changes in PHQ-9, anxiety based on General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and quality of life were secondary outcomes.
Findings showed that over 83% of the subjects reported improvements based on CGI-I outcomes. A breakdown of the statistics showed that 9.8% said their condition had “very much improved” relative to baseline, while 48.8% had “much improved” and 24.4% reported minimal improvement. The remaining reported no change, while one subject reported that the symptoms had become minimally worse.
Depressive symptoms, as self-evaluated by subjects using PHQ-9, fell significantly from baseline, as PHQ-9 scores dropped 38% from 12.1 at baseline to 7.5 by the end of the study.
Anxiety symptoms, as evaluated by GAD-7, also decreased significantly by 33.7% from a score of 9.3 to 6.2 by the end of the study.
Quality of life, as assessed by the World Health Organization Quality of Life - Brief Version, also reported that 50% of subjects had better sleep satisfaction. Two in five (40.5%) saw improved concentration and 45.2% experienced increased personal relationship satisfaction.
“Improving quality of life is critical, because when individuals are under mental distress, it affects not only how they feel, but how they engage with the world around them,” said Chan. “While many solutions focus on sleep, we see sleep issues often as part of a broader picture linked to stress and emotional well-being. By supporting the gut–brain axis, we aim to address these underlying factors more holistically.”
