From gut health to athletic performance: Industry leaders explore the latest biotics innovations

The nutrition space is rapidly changing with pre-, post- and probiotic advancements increasingly focused on specific health issues and targeted health benefits. Industry pioneers are seeking to provide precise health solutions and customized nutritional offerings that are personalized and effective for consumers.

Nutrition Insight sits down with biotic producers FrieslandCampina Ingredients and Iprona to discuss their latest biotic solutions.

“The science behind biotics and their numerous health benefits is evolving rapidly,” says Sophie Zillinger Molenaar, the global marketing lead at FrieslandCampina Ingredients. “While we’ve long known these ingredients support gut health, new research is now uncovering just how far-reaching an impact they can have on overall well-being.”

“Take the gut-brain axis for example, which links gut health to cognitive function, or the gut-muscle axis, highlighting the connection between gut microbiota, muscle function, body composition and athletic performance.”

Dr. Stephan Plattner, the scientific director of health and nutrition ingredients at Iprona-Lana, reveals that the company’s primary focus is exploring polyphenols as novel prebiotics, with an emphasis on those recognized by the International Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) and the Global Prebiotic Association (GPA).

He notes that polyphenols offer nutraceutical brands opportunities to create scientifically-backed prebiotic products that are supported by expansive research.

“At Iprona, we are committed to advancing research into the role of polyphenols as prebiotics,” Plattner reveals. “By delving deeper into their potential, we aim to help our customers develop naturally nourishing gut health supplements.”

“Looking ahead, randomized controlled clinical trials hold the promise of shedding light on the mechanisms of action and health benefits of polyphenols, paving the way for science-backed applications that meet the growing demand for effective gut health solutions.”

Science-backed biotic benefits

According to the companies, consumers and customers seek ingredients that provide proven health effects that can address specific needs. Additionally, FrieslandCampina Ingredients and Iprona agree that research is the key to meeting this demand and aids in the creation of in-demand offerings.

“At FrieslandCampina Ingredients, we use these new insights to elevate our galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) portfolio — Biotis GOS,” Molenaar explains. “For example, building on exciting new research about the gut-muscle axis, we recently explored the combination of GOS, whey protein and probiotic cultures to create Biotis Fermentis.”Sophie Zillinger Molenaar, the global marketing lead at FrieslandCampina Ingredients.

“By fermenting these ingredients together, we developed a health-boosting ingredient that helps modulate the gut microbiota composition, enhances muscle support and promotes holistic wellness, ultimately boosting athletic performance. By incorporating Biotis Fermentis into their next product innovation, manufacturers can tap into the growing demand for sports and active nutrition, helping athletes and fitness lovers to perform at their best and feel good about it.”

Iprona points out clinical research backing anthocyanin polyphenols possesses significant potential in promoting gut health.

“Research shows that supplementation with the anthocyanin-rich extract of European black elderberries (Sambucus nigra) — a botanical long valued in traditional remedies for colds and flu — can increase the abundance of the beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome,” Plattner underscores.

“While research is still ongoing, the evidence supporting polyphenols’ prebiotic effect continues to grow, as does their potential to emerge as the next must-have nutraceutical ingredient.”

Harnessing the gut axes

FrieslandCampina Ingredients highlights that its Biotis portfolio centers on gut health but encompasses a wide array of health benefits to enhance overall well-being. This includes everything from digestive comfort to cognitive and athletic performance enhancements. 

Moreover, Molenaar says that its Biotis GOS ingredient is recognized as the world’s most researched prebiotic, with demonstrated impacts on gut health and mental well-being.Dr. Stephan Plattner, the scientific director of health and nutrition ingredients at Iprona-Lana.

She points out that, for producers looking to boost cognitive health products, Biotis Brain Health solutions provide proven benefits for sleep and mood. The Biotis SleepWell application concept lets brands leverage ingredients to create products that engage the gut-brain axis and facilitate better sleep.

This formula integrates Biotis GOS prebiotic with milk-derived amino acids like tryptophan and cysteine, plus essential vitamins and minerals and offers a natural solution for improving sleep quality.

“The gut-muscle axis is another key area we’re targeting with new ingredients and scientific studies to prove their efficacy,” she emphasizes. “We recently conducted research to test the benefits of our Biotis Fermentis, surveying 150 recreational athletes between 20–50 years of age.” 

“Results showed that after three weeks of taking Biotis Fermentis, 80% of consumers self-reported improved satisfaction with their physical well-being and 60% reported significantly reduced bloating compared to the baseline levels.”

Future focuses

According to Iprona, while non-digestible carbohydrates have traditionally dominated prebiotic ingredient discussions, recently recognized ‘novel prebiotics’ such as polyphenols are now being explored. 

Plattner states that supplementation with the extract of European black elderberries can increase beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome.Plattner states that the health benefits of polyphenols were previously underestimated because of their perceived low bioavailability. Current understanding, however, reveals that once metabolized by the microbiota, polyphenols become more bioavailable and potentially more beneficial, enhancing their health-promoting effects and directly modulating the microbiome.

“These effects include supporting the immune function of the mucosal epithelial barrier, reducing oxidative stress and promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome,” Plattner underscores. “For example, anthocyanin-rich European black elderberry has been shown to increase the abundance of Akkermansia, Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli species. 

“What’s more, in a recent study involving elderberry extract, the relative abundance of Akkermansia spp. continues to increase even beyond the supplementation period.”

Molannar at FrieslandCampina Ingredients states that the company will conduct more scientific research to illustrate the health advantages of Biotis GOS across specific consumer groups, like women, athletes and older adults.

“We’re seeing a shift in consumers looking for supplements that support their health goals at their specific life stage, so scientific studies exploring how biotic supplements affect people at different life stages will be crucial,” Molenaar concludes. “This is particularly true for women’s health as women are still underrepresented in clinical studies.”

“We will also be sharing new application inspiration to support manufacturers tapping into the food as medicine trend.”