Digestive and Immune Health Highlighted at Danisco Symposium

Speakers at the event included both academics and industry experts who spoke on a number of topics, including genomics as a tool for understanding probiotic action, the U.S. regulatory environment and structure function claims.

06/12/07 Continuing its philosophy of knowledge-based ingredient development, Danisco organized its second Health & Nutrition Symposium. This year’s event focused on digestive and immune health, while reviewing some of the latest research on pre- and probiotics. Speakers at the event included both academics and industry experts who spoke on a number of topics, including genomics as a tool for understanding probiotic action, the U.S. regulatory environment and structure function claims, and incorporating fiber, prebiotics and probiotics into food and dietary supplements.

The symposium provided a forum for nearly 150 attendees—food and dietary supplement manufacturers, nutritionists, academia and other researchers. Symposium participants were guided through the latest research in digestive and immune health, including possible links between gut microbial ecology and obesity and the role of pre- and probiotics in digestive and immune health.

Research also focused on how prebiotics and probiotics can enhance digestive and immune health. Beyond the latest research data, dosing, efficacy, stability, scientific substantiation and appropriate language for health claims were all of interest to the audience. Manufacturers wanted to know what label claims they could make about a product, and what experts think is substantiated by current science.

“A symposium like this is not only an opportunity for Danisco to showcase the high level science that underpins our probiotic and specialty carbohydrate products,” says Tom Knutzen, CEO of Danisco. “But it is also an indication of Danisco's commitment to the whole area of health and nutrition. Over the coming years, it is our intention to continue to build our capabilities and to expand our ingredient offering within health and nutrition.” Part of this commitment to health and nutrition is manifested in Danisco’s long history of supporting gold standard human intervention studies to determine the mechanisms and efficacy of nutritional ingredients.