ADM’s fat-reducing probiotic molecule opens doors for metabolic health innovation

16 Apr 2021 --- ADM has reached a new milestone in advancing potential therapies for metabolic health conditions, such as diabetes, through pro- and postbiotics. 

Hailed as a “world-first” in probiotics, researchers identified the molecule lipoteichoic acid (LTA) as the compound that may be behind the efficacy of the company’s Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145 (BPL1).

“LTA is composed of sugars, alcohols and amino acids. It is a complex molecule produced by some bacteria that is a constituent of its cell wall,” Marta Tortajada Serra, R&D director at ADM Health & Wellness, tells NutritionInsight.  

“The exact composition varies between different bacteria, with the LTA in BPL1 (BPL1-LTA)’s singular composition resulting in the reduction of fat deposition – our target functionality.”

As a postbiotic, HT-BPL1 can be used in the formulation of any food or beverage, including fruit juices, bakery products and nutritional bars.

“Before now, there was very little understanding of the specific compound and biological mechanism used to produce our observed results,” explains Patricia Martorell Guerola, cell biology laboratory manager at ADM. 

“No other company in the world has managed to elucidate the mechanism of action for a probiotic, and the fact that we have evidence of it in a peer-reviewed journal is testament to the value of our research,” she says. 

The scientific paper detailing the mechanism of action’s discovery was published in the journal Microbial Biotechnology.

New opportunities
Tortajada Serra explains that the new understanding of the BPL1-LTA molecule’s role in metabolic-related conditions and insulin signaling pathways “opens the doors” to innovation. 

“We can explore now how to isolate this molecule, how to deliver it in multiple formulations. We are also paving the way to characterize the probiotic BPL1 and heat-treated postbiotic HT-BPL1 in terms of its bioactive components.”

“For example, we can use the living probiotic strain in the formulation of nutritional supplements and in some foods, such as yogurts that do not undergo thermal treatment following its addition.”

“The postbiotic can be used in a much wider range of food and beverages, including fruit juices, bakery products and nutritional bars, independent of the industrial sterilization process,” she describes. 

What’s next?
The latest scientific understanding is expected to aid clients when considering regulatory expectations for their claims and positioning. 

“Having this high level of understanding about how functionality is achieved means that we can help food, beverage and dietary supplement manufacturers to overcome the necessary regulatory expectations for responsible claims,” says Tortajada Serra.

“We will continue to provide our partners with scientific evidence for them to more deeply consider the potential value in using these ingredients to effectively position their products.”

ADM is planning to identify the molecule responsible for functionality in other key areas of its portfolio.A long road to BPL1-LTA
The discovery builds on nearly a decade of research and 11 scientific publications, which began with isolating BPL1 using an obese worm as an animal model 10 years ago. 

“We’ve since spent seven years studying the functional effect of BPL1 in three different animal models and in several human clinical trials,” says Tortajada Serra.

An interdisciplinary team of 12 ADM scientists with expertise covering analytical chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology and molecular biology worked on the project for three years to identify LTA as the molecule that may be involved in BPL1’s functionality.

Next on the agenda, ADM is planning to apply the same approach to all its probiotics. 

The ultimate goal is to identify the molecule responsible for the functionality in other key strengths of its portfolio. 

Supporting metabolic health
Therapies targeting the microbiome for metabolic health are emerging in the industry.

Recently, Pendulum Therapeutics raised US$54 million in its series C funding round for its products targeting the microbiome.

The new funds are expected to increase the manufacturing and sales of the company’s first product, Pendulum Glucose Control, which has been clinically shown to lower blood sugar spikes and A1C levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. 

By Missy Green

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