Bacteria in the gut may regulate weight gain and serum cholesterol levels by producing proteins that modify bile acids in the intestine, says a new study with implications for probiotics.
Fiber-rich almonds and almond skin may selectively boost the populations of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the gut, says a new study funded by the Almond Board of California.
A fermented sausage product that is made with probiotic lactobacilli bacteria isolated from infant faeces could transform the meat product in to a health food, according to new research.
The gut starts at the mouth, so it should be no surprise that probiotics, those beneficial bacteria, are a growing presence in the oral health category. But which strains show the most potential, where does the science stand, and how do they work?
In discussing gut health it’s wise to keep in mind the words of the late United States Supreme Court justice Potter Stewart when discussing a 1964 obscenity case. Pornography, Stewart said, was hard to pin down, but “I know it when I see it.” So it...
A paradigm shift is needed in the study of polyphenols to better understand the bioavailability, bio-activity, and the role of the gut microbiota in polyphenol metabolism and health benefits, say experts from academia and industry.
The modification of gut microbiota by prebiotics may also lead to alterations in brain chemistry, according to new dat that suggests a potential role for prebiotic compounds in neuropsychiatric illness.
Polyphenols from apples may modify the bacterial populations in the gut, and reduce markers of inflammation, according a new study from the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited.
A lack of fermentable fibres in people's diet may pave the way for allergic inflammatory reactions such as asthma - and increasing intake of these fibres could help battle asthma, according to new research.
A 3-strain probiotic blend can reduce the occurrence of a bowel condition common among premature babies, researchers writing in Pediatrics journal have found.
Daily consumption ofa drink containing Lactobacillus casei may alter the way our immune cells react to pollen in people suffering from hay fever, according to new research backed by Yakult and the BBSRC.
Bacterial disturbances in the gut may play a role in autoimmune attacks on joints, and could point the way towards novel ways to manage and prevent arthritis, say researchers.
Chr. Hansen has announced the launch of its first liquid form probiotic with a broad target audience, available in a shot dosage which has already proved popular in Italy.
Prebiotic short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS) could modify metabolism through their effect on intestinal microbiota, which could prove helpful for type 2 diabetics, research has claimed.
A daily drink of juice containing wild blueberry powder may boost select bifidobacteria strains in the gut with the potential to influence immune health, says a new study with human volunteers.
TEAGASC SCIENTIST SAYS NEW PROBIOTIC CUTS CHOLESTEROL
Irish scientists working with gut bacteria – microbiota – have found 'exciting opportunities' for value-added dairy products, according to the head of biotechnology at Ireland’s largest food research center.
Ulcerative colitis (UC) sufferers who are surgically fitted with an artificial anus (‘ileoanal pouch’) can benefit from probiotics, Swedish and Dutch researchers have found.
Transplanting gut bacteria from obese humans into germ-free mice leads to greater weight gain and fat accumulation than mice that were given bacteria from the guts of lean humans, says another breakthrough study from Washington University in St Louis.
"An amazing result with possibly enormous implications for the treatment and even prevention of the greatest public health issue of our time"
There is a distinct link between the composition of our gut bacteria and incidence of obesity related conditions including heart disease and diabetes, according to new data from the MetaHIT project.
‘Good’ gut bacteria may arrive in a baby’s digestive system direct from its mother’s gut via breast milk, Swiss researchers have found – a discovery they claim could lead to the development of infant nutrition products that better mimic breast milk.
A daily dose of probiotics may prevent weight gain and insulin resistance in mice, says a new study from scientists at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) with implications for obesity and diabetes.
Clasado has had its Bimuno prebiotic formulation rejected by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which said fresh data analysis provided by the UK-Maltese firm did not show gastro-intestinal benefits.
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is calling for views on an application from Japan’s Miyarisan Pharmaceutical for European Union Novel Foods status for a probiotic strain.
Daily supplements of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) may enhance the absorption of calcium for adolescent girls, says a new study from Purdue University with implications for bone health.
Daily supplements of a fermented milk product containing five different probiotic strains may affect the parts of the brain linked to emotion and sensation, says a new study from UCLA and Danone.
Daily supplements of a novel mixture of prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides may boost gut health and immune function and help reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome, UK researchers report.
German pharma giant Merck and global probiotics leader Chr Hansen have pulled the probiotic-allergy health claim they jointly submitted to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) less than four months ago.
The European probiotic sector is moving forward with research around probiotic strain clusters it is hopeful can win the sector’s first health claim in the European Union.
Prebiotics are the thin end of the wedge in the new era of beneficial functional fibers. Gone are the days where mere ‘regularity’ was the goal; now fiber is understood to provide biochemical benefits in addition to just plain bulk, and prebiotic fibers...
Daily probiotic yogurt consumption may improve energy metabolism and reduce body fat levels by up to 4%, say results of a placebo-controlled, double-blind cross-over clinical trial in Canada.
Recent studies using DuPont’s HOWARU strain combination, combined with a better understanding of ‘the rules of the game’, will lead to positive health claims in Europe, DuPont’s Scott Bush has confidently predicted.
An extract from spruce (Picea abies) may selectively enhance the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and offer a novel prebiotic for the nutritional products, says a new study.
Major changes to the profile of our gut bacteria ecosystem are associated with the development of type two diabetes, according to ‘exciting’ new meta-genomic data published in Nature.
Evolving gut microbiota knowledge is being leveraged to drive prebiotic research forward and providing new insights into older prebiotics, according to a leading researcher.
Battling obesity is not the first port of call for prebiotics – they are much more commonly known for their role in promoting gut health and boosting immune systems. But a growing number of studies is showing different prebiotic forms can influence weight...
Polyphenol-rich extracts from pomegranate peel may selectively enhance the growth of potentially beneficial gut bacteria, suggesting prebiotic activity for the extract, says a new study.
Consumption of probiotics is associated with a reduced risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, according to a review and meta-analysis of previous studies.
A new way of performing research in the field of nutrition could one day open a more accurate picture of how the foods and supplements we eat affect our health, and could offer greater insights of how foods are taken in by specific consumer groups – according...
The addition of pre and probiotics to infant formula could help to boost immune responses by colonising newborn babies’ guts with a stable population of beneficial bacteria, say researchers.
Advances in genomics and understanding the human gut microbiota will lead to the discovery of probiotic bacterial strains that will deliver biomarker-measured health benefits – but it may take 10-15 years, according to a leading researcher.
