Fiber & mineral synergy: OptiBiotix’s functional ingredient boosts microbiome diversity

28 Jul 2020 --- As the gut health megatrend proliferates in the nutrition sector, life sciences company OptiBiotix has launched a new ingredient synergy which boosts the gut microbiome’s diversity. The functional fiber and mineral blend, called WellBiome, can support health and well-being, with a focus on digestive, heart and metabolic health. “It is targeted towards nutraceutical businesses and brands in the health and nutrition industry for incorporation into nutritional applications,” Dr. Frederic Narbel, Managing Director of Functional Fibres at OptiBiotix, tells NutritionInsight.

WellBiome was formulated by UK universities and developers and is suitable for a range of applications in the food and supplement segment, the company notes. “WellBiome in its final application is targeted towards consumers who wish to look after their health and overall well-being,” Narbel says.

“By containing a patented blend of fibers and trace minerals chosen for their scientifically supported backgrounds, the blend promotes key areas of health and wellness, especially digestive, heart and metabolic health which are of paramount importance and of focus in today’s society,” he adds.

Ingredient synergies such as prebiotics and minerals or pre- and probiotics are touted for their perceived health benefits.He goes on to explain that WellBiome is a highly versatile ingredient and formulators can incorporate it into many applications. There include supplements, bars, shakes, meal replacements, bakery offerings, dairy products and breakfast cereals to further add to its functionality or to add functionality that did not exist before. “We see significant potential in applications that excite the consumer, such as healthy snacks and high fiber gummies,” Narbel notes.

“In terms of delivery, WellBiome can be used as part of a powder blend or incorporated into everyday foods. Therefore, consumers can receive all the health benefits through the products they enjoy the most,” he affirms.

Trillions of bacteria for good health
The human gut contains trillions of bacteria important for maintaining good health. Supporting the health-positive microbes in the gut with compounds, such as functional prebiotic fibers, enhances gut microbiome diversity and can promote digestive, cardiovascular and metabolic health, the company states. A diet rich in dietary fiber can support normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels, both known risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which is one of the largest causes of death globally. Chromium is a trace mineral with a key role in macronutrient metabolism, it improves insulin resistance and helps maintain normal blood glucose levels. 

WellBiome contains a blend of fibers and a trace mineral. These include: 

• Chicory Root: A functional prebiotic fiber, which is a favorite nutrient source for the billions of health positive bacteria living in the human gut. Feeding the health positive bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli has been shown to provide a range of health benefits by promoting the diversity of the gut microbiome.
• Glucomannan: A functional dietary fiber that enhances the activity of bacterial groups (such as Bacteroides, Christensenella). These molecules play an essential role in regulating appetite and metabolism.
• Chromium: A trace mineral that is essential for human health. It promotes enzymes that are involved in metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. It has also been shown to regulate the insulin response to help maintain blood glucose levels.

“Of course, these ingredients each have their own separate mechanisms that help to support different areas of health,” asserts Narbel. 

The fiber space is ripe for innovation and many of its staple trends such as organic, clean label, gut health, as well as sugar reduction, are enjoying renewed popularity due to COVID-19 leading wellness demands. Previously, an expert roundtable, spoke to NutritionInsight about the future trends expected to influence the functional fibers sphere.

The gut microbiome is an area with high interest, particularly due to ardent consumer focus on health and well-being.WellBiome provides a solution that supports products entering into or extending its value proposition to the Health and Wellness market, the company supports. It is a scientifically backed, clinically tested ingredient with proven benefits. The functional fibers and trace minerals in WellBiome work in synergy supporting digestive, heart and metabolic health to fully harness the health promoting potential of the gut microbiome. 

“The inclusion of functional fibers promotes gut microbiome diversity. There are no probiotics involved in this blend, but the nature of the blend provides the nutrients to feed the health positive bacteria. This then enhances the abundance of health positive bacterial groups such as acetate to help battle potentially harmful bacteria,” Narbel further highlights.

“The gut microbiome is an area with high interest, particularly due to ardent consumer focus on health and well-being. Supported by European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claims and scientific studies, WellBiome helps to improve key biomarkers for health and well-being of which several have recently been brought to light as needing renewed focus. In addition, our patented blend has been developed by key opinion leaders on the gut microbiome and functional food ingredients, enabling it to stand out among other blends on the market,” he concludes.

Previously Optibiotix’s Commercial Director of ProBiotix Health, Mikkel Hvid-Hansen, told NutritionInsight that heart health needs to be “more accessible, more understandable, more convenient and easier to keep in balance for consumers globally.” Tapping into the lucrative probiotics market, the wholly owned subsidiary of OptiBiotix Health entered into a non-exclusive distribution agreement with Cambridge Commodities for the UK distribution of heart health-targeting probiotic ingredients and products, respectively. Lastly, Stephen O’Hara, OptiBiotix CEO, also noted that there is an emerging research on prebiotics and probiotics synergies and the rising role they will have in the food and nutraceuticals industry.

By Kristiana Lalou