“First antioxidant probiotic”: Lallemand’s Lafti L10 lands sports nutrition claims approval

17 Jun 2021 --- Lallemand Health Solutions’ probiotic ingredient Expert’Biotic L. helveticus Lafti L10 has been recognized for its antioxidant properties – particularly for athletes – by Health Canada. The ingredient has shown the ability to promote gastrointestinal comfort in athletes and to boost natural defenses in physically active adults. 

Speaking to NutritionInsight, Lallemand Health Solutions’ product manager Lucie Lingrand, responsible for the company’s sports nutrition portfolio, explains that Lafti L10 was the first probiotic clinically studied in athletes’ immunity that demonstrates significant support to their natural defenses. 

“This trial contributes to the growing body of evidence of this specific probiotic antioxidant potential which is innovative and emerging,” she says. 

“To put it simply, this is the first time a probiotic strain has been granted health claims as an antioxidant.”

The two new claims, titled: “Source of antioxidant probiotic” and “Source of antioxidant probiotic in elite athletes” join previously approved indications by Health Canada for Lafti L10.

The company says this is the first time a probiotic strain has been granted health claims as an antioxidant.Oxidative stress 
Lingrand says that while the ingredient and newly approved claims focus on oxidative stress common to professional athletes, it is also a health issue relevant to everyday consumers. 

“Oxidative stress is common in our daily life, mainly triggered by stress. The findings of this study are of interest to all active people.”

“Strenuous exercise leads to the increased generation of free radicals, which can cause oxidative damage to proteins, lipids and nucleic acids and consequently result in a detrimental impact on an individual’s health. Antioxidants are of high interest for this specific population,” she says. 

The new claims are supported by a 2018 post-hoc research paper in which a statistical analysis focused on male participants and looked at both pro-oxidative parameters and antioxidative parameters to assess the general oxidative stress. 

The findings showed participants consuming Lafti L10 had significant attenuation of the markers of oxidative stress (MDA) and levels of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), as well as an increase in the marker of defense against oxidative stress (SOD) when compared to a placebo group. 

Targeting athletes 
Lingrand says that communicating the results of scientific studies and resulting health claims will become ever more important in the future. 

“As the sports nutrition sector grows, companies will take a more scientific approach to marketing. Active consumers face torrents of information, some misleading, and most who scroll through social media don’t think to vet claims or read clinical trials,” she says. 

The International Society for Sport Nutrition (ISSN) recommends probiotics for athletes looking to optimize their well-being. ISSN also emphasizes that probiotic supplements are not part of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) list, which makes them a viable choice for sportspeople to add to their diet.

“Both ingredient suppliers and consumer brands must be prepared to provide their audiences with clear, credible, transparent information about sports probiotics.”

Lallemand Health Solutions is also combining Lafti L10 with additional probiotic strains and vitamins to create complementary effects, says the company. 

By Louis Gore-Langton