Clasado Biosciences spots changing immune health focus amid evolving market developments

02 Aug 2024 --- Consumer interest in immune health has evolved over the past few years. Nutrition Insight sits down with Dr. Frederic Narbel, VP of B2B sales at Clasado Biosciences, to discuss the latest trends and innovation within the category, including why athletes are increasingly seeking immunity-strengthening products and the challenges of formulating functional beverages.

“Initially, world events prompted a sharp and noticeable increase in demand for products that could potentially support immune defence,” states Narbel. “However, the focus has shifted from short-term immune support to the consistent and proactive management of immune health. The same is true of many health areas; consumers today are looking for better everyday health, rather than just addressing health concerns as and when they occur.”

“What’s more, we’re also well into the age of information. Consumers are now more informed about what influences their health than ever before, encouraging them to seek products that can offer ongoing support and not always just a quick fix. They have a whole world of information available as well as access to credible healthcare influencer content with just a few taps of their smartphones; this makes products with strong science backing ever more important.”

He argues that the immune health category is now expanding into new, connected areas. “For example, the sports nutrition category is seeing a lot of potential advantages in focusing on immunity, with the goal of minimizing missed exercise, training sessions and competitions.”

 “There are also interesting immune health trends in product applications. Beverages are one notable example. We are seeing high interest in the functional beverage category, and it’s proving ‘one to watch’ for the future of immune health-supporting products, especially those featuring prebiotics.”

Dr. Frederic Narbel, VP of B2B sales at Clasado Biosciences (Image credit: Clasado Biosciences).Innovation and collaboration
Narbel spotlights the recent innovations he has observed in the immune health category, particularly in relation to prebiotics. 

“Recent innovations include the development of synbiotic formulations that combine prebiotics and probiotics. When ingredients are selected with immune health in mind, synbiotics and their two-pronged approaches can enhance the growth of beneficial bacteria, as well as adding specific strains of probiotic that specifically support the body’s immune defences in one solution.”

He states that this is an area that Clasado Biosciences is exploring in depth. “For example, our collaboration with Probi AB led to the creation of synbiotic concepts combining Bimuno GOS with specific probiotic strains, Probi Defendum.”

Prebiotics for athletes
The Clasado Biosciences executive shares that prebiotics like the company’s Bimuno GOS are highly beneficial in terms of sports nutrition as they support both gastrointestinal and immune health, which is crucial for maintaining performance.

 “Studies have shown that Bimuno GOS can reduce the duration and severity of respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms, which helps reduce missed exercise sessions, training and competition days. In a research example, a study involving top-flight rugby players demonstrated that daily supplementation with Bimuno GOS reduced the duration of cold or flu-like symptoms by 24%,” Narbel details. 

 “Additionally, prebiotics help modulate the gut microbiota, enhancing the production of short-chain fatty acids that improve immune function and reduce inflammation. This supports overall health, enabling athletes from casual or grassroots to elite level, to perform consistently.”

 He explains that the results showed a synergistic interaction whereby the prebiotic fed the probiotic, demonstrating significant benefit potential in immune health. “This was achieved by increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids, like butyrate, as well as lactate, both of which are vital for immune function.”

Prebiotic functional beverages
Narbel also illustrates several challenges and potential high-rewarding opportunities in incorporating prebiotics like Bimuno GOS into functional beverages. 

“One challenge for product developers is ensuring the stability of the ingredient throughout the product’s shelf life and during the manufacturing process. However, Bimuno GOS is highly stable and resistant to heat and acidity, making it an excellent candidate for beverage formulations.”

He points out that another challenge can be found in achieving scientifically supported dosages in order to confer a prebiotic benefit. “For some prebiotic ingredients, this required dosage may be quite high, whereas Bimuno GOS is only required from 1.37 g.”

A further consideration would be the use of health claims on packaging, as some functional ingredients may be limited in that. Clasado Biosciences’ response is to prioritize ingredients that are well-researched and studied.

Gastrointestinal and immune health are crucial for maintaining athletic performance.“For example, there are now more than 80 health claims associated with our prebiotic ingredient around the world. Our focus in this area is driven by the needs of our partners and their consumer audiences,” Narbel details.

“On the opportunity side, functional beverages are a rapidly growing market segment, and incorporating prebiotics can enhance their consumer appeal. Prebiotics in beverages offer a convenient way for consumers to support their gut health as part of their daily routine, aligning with the trend toward proactive health management.”

He asserts that the potential to combine prebiotics with other functional ingredients in beverages opens new avenues for product innovation and meeting consumer demand for holistic health solutions.

Ongoing research
Consumers are currently highly engaged with gut health, and in light of this, Narbel underscores the importance of ongoing research and collaboration in advancing the field of prebiotics. 

“At Clasado Biosciences, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of gut health science, centered around prebiotics and their key role in supporting health. Our collaborations with academic institutions and industry partners enable us to stay at the forefront of the market,” he states.

 “As we expand the global presence of Bimuno GOS, it’s exciting to see the incredible innovation and creativity of our partners, who are using our prebiotic ingredient to connect with consumers in new ways. The future of prebiotics is bright, and the time for formulators to explore this category is now.”

He asserts that Clasado Biosciences has “a solid leading position in the GOS market” due to the extensive scientific research behind Bimuno GOS. “Consumers are looking for products backed by evidence, and our ingredient is supported by over 120 scientific publications and more than 20 clinical trials.”

“This makes it the most comprehensively studied commercially available GOS ingredient, and as a result, a valuable addition to formulations,” Narbel concludes. 

By Milana Nikolova