Vitafoods 2024 live: dsm-firmenich unveils innovative microbiome-targeted vitamin B2 solution

16 May 2024 --- At the ongoing Vitafoods Europe trade show in Geneva, Switzerland, dsm-firmenich launches the world’s first “biotic” vitamin, Humiome B2. It’s designed to ensure targeted vitamin B2 delivery — releasing around 90% of the vitamin in the lower intestine and colon. The ingredient delivers prebiotic-like benefits that modulate and nourish the gut microbiome to support gut barrier integrity, immunity, mental well-being and metabolic health.

The company employs its IP-protected Microbiome Targeted Technology to ensure that the vitamin reaches the body’s microbiota, as in standard vitamin B2 or riboflavin solutions, the vitamin is mainly absorbed in the small intestine.

At Vitafoods, Nutrition Insight catches up with Ruedi Duss, global gut and metabolic lead at dsm-firmenich, to discuss the company’s latest microbiome solution.

“Over the years, we have developed a Multi-Unit Pellet System (MUPS) and managed to create a vitamin B2 supplement with two layers. The first layer, we call it the outer coating, is pH responsive and will actually survive and not be solved in the stomach area. It dissolves in the small intestines where it releases the second, inner coating,” he explains.

“The second layer will go all the way to the small intestine and only toward the very end, early colon release and dissolve in the colon. That's how we have managed to bring B2 to the colon. More than 90% of a 10 mg solution will reach the colon versus basically zero in a conventional impact. What we are offering is a biotic vitamin.”

Holistic gut health
Dsm-firmenich notes that the new product is built on its “ecosystems” approach to unlock holistic health from the gut. The company aims to maintain gut balance and function by supporting and preserving the key pillars of the gut ecosystem — a healthy gut environment, keystone species, gut barrier integrity and microbiome-independent mechanisms.

Ruedi Duss, global gut and metabolic lead at dsm-firmenich.“In recent years, we have moved into ‘health from the gut’ benefits. We have chosen to research vitamin B2 and to understand more about its potential benefits and if we could formulate it in a way that will allow us to deliver it to the colon,” states Duss.

“Typically vitamins will be absorbed in the small intestine. Nine to eight, almost zero will reach the colon, assuming we have a 10 mg dose. Now, what we have realized is that if we manage to bring vitamin B2 to the colon, we can actually see a lot of additional benefits, other than the typical energy-related benefits of vitamin B2.”

The new ingredient can also work alongside other gut health enablers, such as pro-, pre- and postbiotics and human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). Recently, the company told us that consumer awareness of HMOs is growing as research underscores their benefits in cognitive development through the gut-microbiome-brain axis.

Humiome B2, which was initially launched in the EMEA and North America regions, helps to maximize the bioavailability of vitamin B2 and offers functional benefits to formulators, such as enhancing vitamin stability by protecting against humidity, light and oxygen.

Targeted delivery system
Humiome B2 is the first product in the company’s Humiome portfolio that features the Microbiome Targeted Technology. This dual-action colon-targeted delivery system utilizes an innovative two-layer natural coating.

An outer layer protects the vitamin B2 core from the acidic environment of the stomach and small intestine. It can withstand digestive enzymes and a low pH, ensuring the inner layer remains intact until it reaches the colon.

Once there, the inner coating dissolves and releases the vitamin, allowing it to nourish and support the growth of beneficial bacteria, provide detoxification and reduce reactive oxygen species.

“What you want to make sure is first of all, that the release of B2 is really happening. The FDA-approved MUPS model shows under real conditions that up to 90% of B2 will be released,” asserts Duss.

“In the Netherlands you have a number of physiological models — team model and team model two. We also went through all these and submitted data that will be published soon where we will show in these additional physiological models that MUPS works in humans. Of course, this will also come with human clinical studies.”

At Vitafoods, the company also presents supplement solutions based on omega fatty acids and vitamin D, offering visitors the chance to taste-test a new food fortification format for medical nutrition.

Moreover, together with Indena the company will unveil combined biotic and botanical concepts at the show.

By Milana Nikolova, with live reporting from Jolanda van Hal at Vitafoods Europe

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