Beyond the Headlines: FrieslandCampina Ingredients supplies prebiotics to Australia, TopGum debuts cappuccino gummies

(Image credit: FrieslandCampina Ingredients).

05 May 2023 --- This week in nutrition news, FrieslandCampina Ingredients has secured approval for its Biotis galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) to be used in gut health supplements in Australia. TopGum launched high-dosage caffeine gummies, the first product developed by the company’s microencapsulation technology that helps absorb caffeine effectively. Meanwhile, Sweet Victory’s botanical gum has been shown to reduce sugar cravings and improve weight loss in a consumer study. 

In brief: Nutrition news
FrieslandCampina Ingredients received exclusive rights to supply its Biotis galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) for new supplements containing GOS for two years in Australia. The country’s Therapeutic Goods Administration has added GOS to its Permissible Ingredients Determination for listed complementary medicines. According to FrieslandCampina Ingredients, 40% of Australian consumers say gut health is “extremely important to them,” while 30% suffer from gut health-related issues. The Biotis GOS range includes Biotis GO-OP High-Purity, designed to enable the formulation of prebiotic supplements. This ingredient is the company’s purest prebiotic with a GOS content of over 90% that is efficacious in doses of 2g. 

TopGum is launching Gummiccino, high-dosage caffeine gummies with coffee’s aroma, flavor and color (Image credit: TopGum). TopGum is launching Gummiccino, a line of functional gummies infused with Coffea robusta coffee bean extract that captures coffee’s aroma, flavor and color. The gummies are created with TopGum’s new proprietary microencapsulation technology to enhance flavor and boost absorption. Each serving of two coffee gummies contains 40 mg of caffeine, equivalent to a standard espresso shot. The gummies will be available in espresso, cappuccino and mocha flavors. TopGum’s COO Eli Edri notes that the new microencapsulation system allows the body to absorb caffeine effectively by coating caffeine particles with a natural substance that breaks down in the stomach. 

Exosomm created a bioactive ingredient for the medical food space through a technology that isolates exosomes – natural particles in maternal milk that play a crucial role in developing healthy immune systems. Exosomes are nanoparticles produced by the body’s cells that accumulate in high concentrations in breast milk. They contain microRNA that studies have shown impacts early child development and future health. The biofoodtech start-up upcycles byproducts of traditional cheese-making processes to create the ingredient. Preclinical studies conducted by the company indicate the ability of exosomes to reduce inflammatory bowel disease inflammation, boost glucose tolerance and prevent pancreatic and liver damage. The company has been selected as a finalist in the Most Innovative Nutraceutical Ingredient category at the Vitafoods trade show. 

Kyowa Hakko’s Setria Glutathione has been approved by the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency as a health ingredient, making it the only glutathione approved in the country for use in supplements and functional foods. The antioxidant helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals and other toxins. Setria Glutathione has been clinically tested to support the immune system and overall health and wellness. It has been shown to replenish the body’s reserves when taken orally. The ingredient is produced by fermentation to ensure purity and bioavailability and is commonly used in tablets, capsules and powder applications. 

Exosomm created a bioactive exosome ingredient for medical food, naturally found in breast milk (Image credit: Exosomm). In brief: Industry news 
A consumer study showed that food tech start-up Sweet Victory’s botanical chewing gum has the potential to support weight loss. Over 80% of the study’s participants reported they had cut down on their intake of sweets, helping to result in measurable weight loss in 87% of users at an average of 1.3 kg per two weeks. The gum contains Gymnema sylvestre, a native Indian botanical hailed for its sugar suppression activity. After two minutes of chewing, sweet flavors become dull. In the trial, 80 people aged 35-45 received a pack of 45 units of Sweet Victory chewing gum, with instructions to chew gum at least three times a day and weigh themselves daily. The gum has been selected as a finalist in the Most Innovative Finished Nutraceutical Product category at the Vitafoods trade fair. 

Lallemand Health Solutions will present the fourth edition of the Mind, Mood & Microbes International conference on the microbiome-gut-brain axis in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on May 10-11. At the event, scientists, healthcare professionals and industry partners will share new developments and findings about the impact of microorganisms on the brain-gut axis and mental wellness. The gut microbiome has become a primary target for addressing health concerns. Still, Lallemand Health Solutions notes the translation of research insights into clinical context is one of the critical challenges. The company’s commercial partner in Brazil, Aspen Farmaceutica, will present insights into the latest study on Lallemand’s Cerebiome psychobiotic formula, with positive influences on the gut microbiota of individuals with mild anxiety. 

In brief: Scientific studies 
Swedish researchers found that diet has a much more substantial impact on the intestinal microbiota composition than defensins – intestinal defense molecules produced by the body. The study, published in Microbiology Spectrum, finds these molecules help prevent increased blood glucose levels after consumption of high-fat and high-sugar “Western-style diets.” The researchers compared the microbiota composition of healthy mice with those that could not produce functional defensins, after which the mice were fed healthy or low-fiber diets. The researchers found increased blood glucose values in mice that lacked functional defensins and were fed a Western-style diet, indicating that these molecules may help protect against metabolic disorders when eating unhealthy diets. 

A new study published in JAMIA Open indicates that wearable devices like smartwatches can monitor and assess psychological states without completing mental health questionnaires. The team suggests this approach may enable a larger population to access psychological assessment and care. They note that mental health disorders are common but that access to mental health services needs to be improved. By applying machine learning models – a type of artificial intelligence – to data collected from wearable devices, the researchers found they could identify a patient’s degree of resilience and well-being. Study participants wore an Apple watch, measuring heart rate variability and resting heart rate, which was compared with surveys collected at baseline on resilience, optimism and emotional support. 

By Jolanda van Hal 

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