Kemin beta-glucan postbiotic ingredient deemed safe for use by EU food safety watchdog

07 Jun 2023 --- Kemin Industries reveals that the European Food Safety Authority (ESFA) has issued a positive opinion on the company’s algae-based immunity and gut-supporting postbiotic ingredient, BetaVia Pure. The ESFA also granted Kemin exclusivity in the market, which means the ingredient can now be used throughout the EU for a period of five years.

The opinion confirms that the ingredient is considered safe for use in food products, supplements for weight control and diet replacements.

NutritionInsight sits down with Filipa Quintela, the marketing manager EMEA and Chris Sadewasser, global product manager at Kemin Human Nutrition and Health, to discuss the health benefits of paramylon and the implications of the ESFA’s ruling.

“Kemin Human Nutrition and Health’s proprietary BetaVia ingredients line is derived from the Euglena gracilis algae, grown through an optimized, vertically integrated, and patented fermentation process to provide beta-glucan at concentrations of greater than 50% or greater than 95%,” they tell us.The postbiotic can be used as dietary fiber by people with gastrointestinal sensitivities.

“Receiving the second EFSA positive opinion on BetaVia allows us to bring our full algae beta-1,3-glucan product line to the European market. This critical recognition is the result of EFSA’s meticulous evaluation of the data from Kemin’s dossier, which demonstrates the safety of our BetaVia ingredient in its more concentrated form, BetaVia Pure.”

Fiber boosts for the GI-distressed
The company highlights that the ingredient’s “unique molecular structure” means it can boost immune and gut health.

“This special alga has the capacity of storing energy in free floating granules called paramylon, exclusively made of beta 1,3 glucans making BetaVia ingredients minimally processed,” Quintela and Sadewasser elaborate. “BetaVia Pure is the highest purity of beta-glucan currently available on the market, with greater than 95% beta 1,3 glucans.”

Additionally, the company emphasizes that the postbiotic can be used in supplements and functional foods by those whose GI tracts may be sensitive to other types of fiber and stress and are fiber deficient as a result.

“The rising interest in products offering both immune and gut support, combined with consumers’ desire for quality ingredients with proven safety and efficacy, makes the BetaVia ingredient line the solution for a new generation of formulas that meet these needs.”

A gut health and immunity “triple-threat”
Quintela and Sadewasser further highlight that the ingredient offers triple mechanisms to support the immune system and gut health by shaping the microbiome, protecting intestinal barrier integrity and priming critical immune cells.Kemin spotlights the ingredients “triple mechanisms of action” of supporting gut health and immunity.

“Insoluble beta 1,3 glucans are part of a class of molecules known as pathogen-associated molecular patterns that work as ‘non-self’ alert signals to the immune cells,” they explain. “The preponderance of science along with Kemin’s preclinical studies on BetaVia show that beta 1,3 glucans reach the small intestine undigested and are recognized by innate immune cells – this recognition primes and recruits immune cells, leading to both local and whole-body immune benefits.”

Additionally, they emphasize that Kemin’s research shows BetaVia promotes a healthy immune-gut balance by supporting the health and function of the intestinal barrier, which they say “plays an essential role in modulating the interaction between the body and the environment acting as a gatekeeper on what stays ‘in’ and ‘out’ of the body.”

“Insults to the intestinal barrier can lead to the intestinal gates becoming more permeable, allowing food particles, bacteria, and toxins to enter our bodies consequently impacting our health. Interestingly, recent clinical results showed that BetaVia can modulate a key biomarker of intestinal barrier health called Zonulin, suggesting that BetaVia supports immune health by supporting intestinal barrier function and promoting gastrointestinal comfort.”

Modulating the microbiome
Quintela and Sadewasser also spotlight the ingredient’s ability to impact the gut microbiome.

Both preclinical and clinical research suggests that BetaVia can positively impact the gut microbiota,” they conclude. 

“The gut houses most of our immune cells, therefore, it is not surprising that BetaVia can shape the gut microbiome through either direct interaction with gut bacteria as well as through priming immunity and supporting the integrity of the intestinal lining.”

By William Bradford Nichols