Kerry details APC Microbiome partnership to explore innovative gut-brain axis solutions

19 Aug 2024 --- Aiming to explore new concepts in the gut-brain axis, Kerry recently joined forces with APC Microbiome Ireland, a research center focused on microbiome science. The organizations will combine Kerry’s market reach and product development capabilities with APC Microbiome’s scientific insights and research excellence. 

Kerry highlights that the gut-brain axis has been gaining rapid attention due to its potential to improve mental and physical well-being. The companies seek to create innovations for mental health through targeted gut health interventions. 

Sonja Nodland, Kerry’s RDA senior manager of immune health, tells Nutrition Insight that the partnership aims to develop “novel, best-in-class postbiotics” that solve unmet health needs for conditions involving the gut-brain axis by leveraging the expertise of the renowned microbiome scientists and key opinion leaders at APC Microbiome. 

“We are looking to bring efficacious, science-backed postbiotic solutions to the market. These will require high-quality evidence and market-friendly stability attributes to benefit the most consumers possible globally.” 

“The current project with the APC runs for two years with the intention to deliver new dietary solutions, launching 12–18 months after the conclusion of this project. This aggressive timeline will, of course, depend on all the science going smoothly, which is never guaranteed,” she explains. 

Gut-brain axis awareness

Nodland underscores that the gut-brain axis has “come to the fore” in recent years as a critical piece of the puzzle in improving cognitive health. She highlights that the microbiome has a crucial impact on human health. 

“This collaboration will allow us to understand better how affecting the bidirectional communication between the brain and the gut microbiome might improve our mental or cognitive health with dietary interventions.” 

“The increasing recognition by consumers that the gut is directly linked to many of the systems of the body, including the brain, and that by positively affecting the gut, it may be possible to benefit other systems of the body — the gut-brain axis of influence having a high level of recognition,” she adds. 

By partnering, the companies seek to create mental health innovations through gut health interventions (Image credit: Kerry).The growing consumer awareness of the gut-brain axis inspires research and innovations in biotics for brain and mental health, expanding to mood, sleep and energy. 

Kerry has released several clinically-backed biotics as part of its portfolio of solutions to improve digestive health, immunity and cognitive well-being. The company launched Plenibiotic, a rice-derived postbiotic for human and pet supplements, which science finds to support digestive and skin health. 

Meanwhile, Kerry released clinical results finding that Wellmune, the company’s postbiotic ingredient, trains the innate immune system — one of two primary immune system functions.

Exploring the science

Kerry asserts that the pioneering research conducted by the APC Microbiome has led to significant discoveries in gut health, immunity and the gut-brain axis. The company points to APC’s scientific expertise and ability to translate research into practical health solutions as valuable contributions to new product development. 

“The APC has published a number of scientific papers in the past ten years that have characterized the bidirectional communication between the gut and the central nervous system, specifically the brain, as well as how the gut microbiome is able through various mechanisms to affect our cognitive health,” details Nodland. 

“The APC has also been a leader in the field of gut microbiome therapies, researching how various types of ‘biotics’ affect human and animal health, including probiotics and, more recently, postbiotics.”

APC Microbiome focuses on microbiome science and has developed preclinical models to investigate dietary interventions.The research center is located at University College Cork, Ireland and focuses on understanding the complex interactions between the microbiome and human health. 

The microbiome institute recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, highlighting its contributions in a “20 Years Impact” brochure, such as over 3,000 scientific publications advancing the understanding in health areas like antimicrobial resistance and chronic diseases. 

New product development

Kerry notes that the potential benefits of the collaboration include insights that may lead to the development of new food, beverage and nutraceutical products with targeted benefits for the gut-brain axis, addressing issues such as stress, anxiety and cognitive function. 

Nodland comments: “Working with world-renowned institutes like the APC propels Kerry’s NPD in the space of cognitive health or gut-brain axis.” 

“The APC has developed several preclinical models that allow for the investigation of the effects of dietary interventions on aspects of cognitive health, including mood and social behavior. These models will provide an excellent platform for developing clinical-based science-backed solutions benefiting cognitive health through the gut-brain axis.”

Recently, the Kerry Health and Nutrition Institute and APC Microbiome also collaborated in a webinar on postbiotics, a growing area of interest in gut health. This webinar explored the science behind postbiotics and highlighted the products’ role in digestive, immune and cognitive health. 

By Jolanda van Hal