AB Biotek snaps up DAO company to tackle chronic disease via diet

27 May 2021 --- AB Biotek, a global business division of Associated British Foods, will now harness an enzyme called diamine oxidase (DAO) for the dietary management of chronic diseases. This follows its acquisition of Spanish biomedical company DR Healthcare, which specializes in DAO, for an undisclosed sum.

“AB Biotek’s strategy is to develop differentiated microbiome modulating solutions based on scientifically proven synergies between fermentable microorganisms and other bio-ingredients,” Gerald Dard, global managing director of AB Biotek, tells NutritionInsight.

“DR Healthcare brings a significant stepping stone to accelerate this strategy. Our primary focus is on organic growth, which might be complemented with acquisition opportunities.”DR Healthcare is a biomedical company focused on the dietary management of chronic diseases based in Barcelona.

Avoiding histamine absorption
DAO is an important intestinal enzyme that is naturally secreted by the human body. It is widely known as a critical enzyme at the core of reducing symptoms of many of today’s ailments, including food intolerances and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), prevalent in millions of people around the world.

“DR Healthcare has focused its product portfolio based on the scientific evidence that DAO deficiency prevents people from metabolizing exogenous or dietary histamine,” says Dard.

If there is a DAO deficiency, histamine – a compound involved in inflammatory responses – may not be degraded. It is then absorbed through the epithelium, reaching the bloodstream and accumulating in blood and tissues.

This can trigger various symptoms, such as migraine and fibromyalgia, as well as other chronic diseases. Therefore, DAO is essential to avoid the absorption of histamine and prevent the appearance of these symptoms.

Food as medicine?
Managing a diet low in histamine is a good approach when paired with DAO supplementation for those diagnosed with DAO deficiency, explains Dard.

“However, it is not possible to treat these chronic diseases simply with diet since histamine is present in practically all foods in one concentration or another. It is possible to reduce the intake but not eliminate it. Intake of alcoholic beverages should also be monitored, as ethanol is an inhibitor of DAO activity.” 

The use of diet to help manage various health conditions has become popular under the “food as medicine” movement. 

In March, an expert from The American College of Lifestyle Medicine emphasized that this approach can address a host of chronic diseases that are on an upward trend.

Late last year, the US National Institutes of Health awarded a US$2.9 million grant for food as medicine research, and Project Well recently landed US$2 million in seed financing for its food as medicine marketplace. DAO is essential to avoid the absorption of histamine.

A “bright future”
DAO will now complement AB Biotek’s commercial portfolio of probiotic yeast strains. DR Healthcare will become a business unit of AB Biotek’s Human Nutrition and Health division and will continue to be run by its founder, Juanjo Duelo. The company’s established brands on the market will continue to exist and expand.

“With the acquisition of DR Healthcare, we now have the next stepping stone in shaping our science-based organization to serve the fast-growing human nutrition and health space,” says Dard. 

“DR Healthcare has a strong track record in this area, and we welcome our new colleagues who are equally passionate about the health and wellness of today’s consumers.”

Duelo also emphasizes the companies’ shared values, including advanced health solutions and deep science.

“The future is bright under the good ownership of AB Biotek, and the timing is perfect for bringing innovative technologies to improve the well-being of those people who suffer from various pathologies associated with the deficiency of DAO,” he concludes.

By Katherine Durrell