DSM explores latest gut health and immunity trends in HMOs for adults and vitamins for gut microbiome

15 Mar 2021 --- DSM is putting human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), vitamins and omega 3s in the spotlight, with new supplement concepts and research findings linking them to wider gut health and immunity industry trends. 

Ahead of DSM Expo 2021 taking place March 16-18, NutritionInsight speaks with two company experts on HMO terminology, demands for plant-based omega 3s and revitalizing vitamins.

Gut-health vitamins and HMOs for adults
DSM’s 2021 Global Health Concern study revealed that one in three adult consumers take supplements to support gastrointestinal (GI) health.

At the event, DSM will be showcasing its latest concept V-Direct, a new vitamin solution including vitamin C and B-group vitamins targeting the upper and lower gut. 

“V-Direct, through its special design, delivers vitamins to the small intestine and to the large intestine where the gut microbiome resides,” explains Cosimo Palumbo, segment lead of DSM’s dietary supplements EMEA division.

“As gut health stands at the center of our human health ecosystem, it plays a key role in all aspects of people’s physical and mental health. The supplement market will benefit from a new generation of vitamins that can nourish the human body and the trillions of beneficial microbes that live with and within us,” he adds.

Palumbo points to the 2021 DSM Global Health Concern study, revealing one in three adult consumers take supplements supporting GI health.Also tapping into the gut and immune health trends is DSM’s Glycare HMO concept for adult nutrition. 

When presented with the solution, 70 percent of DSM’s study respondents were interested in Glycare, especially popular among parents and people with GI concerns. 

Adult interest is rising in HMO supplementation, considering the sugar molecules can enhance the growth of helpful Bifidobacteria in the colon, limiting the nutrient supply for undesirable organisms. 

Terminology confusion over HMOs
Known as the gold standard of infant nutrition, breastfeeding is widely linked to a reduced risk of GI conditions and infections in the newborn stage, as well as later in life. 

HMOs, highly abundant in human milk, could be partly responsible for this protective effect, says Ira Walterscheid-Müller, segment lead of the early life nutrition EMEA division.

However, from a regulatory point of view, the term HMO may also be confusing, considering HMOs added to infant formulas are not derived from human milk but are produced by state-of-the-art biotechnology. 

Consequently, the term “human identical milk oligosaccharides” (HiMOs) is “more transparent and accurate,” says Walterscheid-Müller. 

“As they are structurally identical, the benefits provided should be the same when considering a specific HMO such as 2’FL or LNnT,” she explains.

Simultaneously, different mechanisms and HMO types may yield varying beneficial effects. “Not all gut bacteria utilize the various HMOs to the same extent. As we gain scientific understanding on different HMOs, there may be new and exciting potential for bringing their combined benefits to infant feeding.”

Regulatory concerns in fatty acid labeling
Another regulatory concern is the varying labeling requirements of different fatty acids in infant nutrition products in the EU. Walterscheid-Müller uses docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) – both present in human milk – as an example. 

The Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127 mandates the addition of DHA must reach the exact levels recommended by the European Food Safety Authority: a minimum 20 mg per 100 Kcal and maximum 50 mg per 100 Kcal.

The best nutrition for a good start in life includes both ARA and DHA, says Walterscheid-Müller.Meanwhile, however, the addition of ARA in infant formula remains optional. “Global scientific experts have expressed concerns regarding the potential health risks of new infant formula containing only DHA, especially at levels higher than those in breast milk and infant formula marketed to date,” flags Walterscheid-Müller.

DSM highlights DHA and omega 6 ARA in combination may be key for immune function and can help ensure healthy pregnancies and optimal infant growth and development in the first 1,000 days and beyond.

Fish oils without fish?
While the health benefits of omega 3s are increasingly coming to the fore, their supply is concerningly deteriorating. 

The world’s rapidly growing population is putting increasing pressure on natural resources. Marine pollutants such as microplastics and heavy metals are also creating industry anxiety.

Plant-based omega 3s can therefore address overfishing, biodiversity reduction and climate change, says Palumbo. 

Launched last year for maternal and infant nutrition, DSM’s algae-derived omega 3 life’sOMEGA is almost twice as potent as typical fish oils, which only include 270 mg/g of EPA and DHA.

Other topics in focus
Outside of the early life nutrition and supplements sectors, DSM will also be spotlighting F&B concepts, malnutrition improvement strategies and medical nutrition therapies for the elderly throughout the three-day virtual event.

The plant-based revolution is moving ahead full-throttle, but research has shown that some plant-based products have a way to go when meeting texture and flavor expectations in F&B. 

For example, the fibrous texture, umami flavor and nutritional profile of meat is difficult to recreate in plant-based meat alternatives. This can be an obstacle when trying to appeal to former meat eaters or flexitarians, who will always have a comparison point and, therefore higher standards for mouthfeel and taste.

Meanwhile, hidden hunger is a prevailing public health concern affecting two billion people worldwide. It can have devastating impacts on human health, including blindness, anemia, weakened immunity and the onset of non-communicable diseases. 

This has spotlighted the need for nutrition interventions for children and seniors alike. For example, fortified staple foods or dietary supplements distributed to large population groups can combat malnutrition and make nutritious diets more affordable and accessible worldwide.

By Anni Schleicher