Beyond The Headlines: Probi and ResBiotic probiotics clinical trials support cognition and lung health

18 Aug 2023 --- This week in nutrition news, a probiotic strain by Probi was shown to improve cognition in a clinical trial. Moreover, a different study concluded ResBiotic Nutrition’s probiotic supplement improved lung function in asthmatic patients. Also, HBC Immunology raised seed capital to start preclinical animal trials with peptides.

In brief: Industry news 
In a newly published study, Probi’s proprietary probiotic strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum – Heal9 – was found to significantly improve cognitive performance. In the 12-week randomized controlled study with 129 healthy but stressed participants, consumption of Heal9 improved learning and working memory compared to the placebo group. In addition, the researchers noted strong tendencies for improved mood and sleep in the Heal9 group. Probi notes that this is the third clinical study in mental health documenting strong results on its probiotic. The company sees mental health and wellness as a field with significant growth potential and is set to launch a new product at the Supply Side West trade show in Las Vegas, US, in October. 

ResBiotic Nutrition’s probiotic has been found to improve lung function in asthmatic patients (Image credit: ResBiotic Nutrition).ResBiotic Nutrition’s probiotic – resB Lung Support – has been found to improve lung function through microbiome-mediated mechanisms along the gut-lung axis in asthmatic patients. The research team from ResBiotic Nutrition and a contract research organization suggest the improvement in lung health may have been due to the probiotic supplementing microbes in the gut. They propose these microbes help to increase the production of short-chain fatty acids that travel through systemic circulation to reach the lung microenvironment. The probiotic is a blend of three probiotics Lactobacillus strains – L. plantarum, L. acidophilus and L. rhamnosus – and three herbal extracts, turmeric, holy basil and vasaka. The 4-week open-label pilot study evaluated the safety of resB Lung Support consumption in asthmatic and healthy participants. 

HBC Immunology (HBCI), a majority-owned subsidiary of Hofseth BioCare ASA, raised seed capital financing of US$900,000 from external investors to commence preclinical animal trials with patented peptides FT-002 and FT-005. These are analogs of bioactive peptides discovered by Hofseth BioCare ASA in its soluble protein hydrolysate used to help treat inflammatory bowel disease. The peptides modulate iron metabolism and carry qualified health claims for this mode of action. HBCI focuses on the discovery and development of peptides that normalize tumor micro-environments, resulting in the improved performance of immunotherapies and chemotherapies. With the seed capital, HBCI aims to demonstrate the bioactivity of the lead peptides in animal models of prostate cancer and fund the company’s efforts to open a US FDA investigational new drug application by the end of 2024. 

HBC Immunology will start preclinical animal trials with patented peptides (Image credit: Hofseth BioCare).In brief: Nutrition news 
Together with the government of Nigeria, USAID and stakeholders held a trade fair to foster innovation and collaboration to address severe acute malnutrition in the country by improving sustainable local access to affordable ready-to-use therapeutic foods and other life-saving nutrition commodities. The event provided a platform for government officials, donors, local product manufacturers and investors to discuss challenges, share experiences, network and explore collaborative opportunities in expanding therapeutic foods programs. In Nigeria, severe acute malnutrition affects 3.6 million children. A 2021 survey revealed that severe malnutrition in Nigerian children increased from 7% to 12% in five years, with only 2.8% having access to therapeutic foods. 

Gencor has sponsored England International cricket player Danni Wyatt, who recently played in the Women’s Ashes Series and was announced Player of the T20 Series. The company’s co-founder, R.V. Venkatesh, cited Gencor’s commitment to sports and active nutrition and stated the sponsorship aims to “help advance females in sports and further promote the health and well-being of athletes.” Gencor notes its sports nutrition solutions are designed for optimal performance and recovery and can be customized to every level of athletic ability. 

The WHO hosted the first Traditional Medicine Summit to share evidence and best practices in the field. At the event, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized traditional medicine’s “enormous” contributions to human health and its understanding of the “intimate links” between health and the environment. Many modern drugs, including nutraceuticals, trace their roots to ancient healing practices. Tedros noted that bringing together ancient wisdom and modern science is critical for the health and well-being of people and the planet. Through the summit, the WHO has been working to inform policies, standards and regulations for the safe, cost-effective and equitable use of traditional medicine, with a new global strategy planned for 2025. 

Gencor sponsors England International cricket player Danni Wyatt (Image credit: Gencor).In brief: Scientific studies 
US-based researchers found that sulfate groups on complex sugar molecules called glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) affect mice brain “plasticity.” The study’s results, presented at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society, indicate that GAG activity is driven by the presence or absence of particular sulfation motifs – patterns of sulfate groups on the sugar molecules. The researchers hope that continuing studies on GAGs’ chemistry in the brain could highlight research on restoring or enhancing neural connections in memory. 

Research published in Advances in Nutrition concluded that supplementation with certain micronutrients and their combinations may reduce DNA damage and promote cellular health by improving the maintenance of genome integrity. Nutrients essential in DNA metabolism and repair include folate, vitamin B12 and zinc. In contrast, nutrients that prevent oxidative stress and inflammation include vitamins A, C and E, lycopene, curcumin, proanthocyanidins, selenium and zinc. The researchers reviewed 96 studies, all randomized, controlled and uncontrolled longitudinal intervention studies conducted in humans. Specifically, they focused on studies that associated links between nutrients and established biomarkers of DNA damage related to developmental and degenerative disease risk, such as developmental defects, cancer and age-related diseases like neurodegenerative diseases. 

By Jolanda van Hal