Microbiome Movement summit spotlights nutritional solutions for gut & overall health

09 Nov 2021 --- The ongoing 5th Microbiome Movement – Human Nutrition Summit (November 8 to 10) is exploring new scientifically-validated nutritional interventions that promote human health and reduce disease risk through the microbiome.

The three days will allow industry players to share insights into the challenges of R&D, marketing strategy and commercialization of microbiome-targeted nutritional interventions. This information will enable brands and companies to advance product efficacy further.

Advances in microbiome science
Japan-based Morinaga Milk Industry is among the event’s participating brands.

“The Microbiome Movement – Human Nutrition Summit is an opportunity to explore recent advances in microbiome science and its association with human health and well-being,” Chyn Boon Wong, lead research associate at Morinaga Milk Industry, tells NutritionInsight.

“As consumers demand a natural approach to support the gut microbiome increases, especially with the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, Morinaga Milk Industry will share some insights into the science behind the probiotics human-residential bifidobacteria (HRB), which are the natural inhabitants of the human gut that play prominent roles in maintaining human health.”

Essential bacteria strains for infants
Morinaga Milk Industry was inspired to focus its research on the study of HRB due to the fact that bifidobacteria are the predominant bacteria residing in the intestines of breast-fed infants.

“We conduct fundamental research to elucidate how this specific group of beneficial bacteria interact with the human host and perform clinical studies to validate the beneficial effects of specific HRB strains on various health aspects at different life stages,” explains Wong.

The HRB species, including B. longum, B. breve and B. infantis, are the natural gut inhabitants that originated from the gut and are dedicated to our health, details Wong.The Microbiome Movement summit provides key insights into gut microbiome research and its implications on human health.

They retain the genetic elements and enzymatic armory to exert various distinctive metabolic activities.

“Also, HRM is superior at degrading different types of diet-derived or host-derived carbohydrates such as HMOs, plant-based carbohydrates and mucin and producing key metabolites such as folate and aromatic lactic acid that may, in turn, interact with the gut microbiota and result in beneficial effects on human health,” Wong details.

“Our research on HRB will help shed light on the roles of one of the most important human commensal bacteria,” she continues.

“The important genetic attributes and core physiological traits of these bacteria may explain their adaptive advantages, ecological fitness and competitiveness in the human gut.”

Overall the research provides a better understanding when selecting bifidobacterial strains for the development of new probiotics, Wong underscores.Morinaga Milk Industry will discuss their latest research on the human-residential bifidobacteria at the 5th Microbiome Movement.

Microbiome-targeted nutritional interventions
The Microbiome Movement event takes place when breakthroughs in microbiome science are beginning to understand microbiome composition and its fundamental role in human health and well-being.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are becoming more aware of the importance of gut health and immunity.

Innova Market Insights data echoes this as it reveals six in ten consumers are looking for F&B products that support their immune health.

“The gut microbiome research has been a hotspot in recent years. Many research studies suggest the gut microbiome is an important component of the human body that is closely related to human health and disease,” says Wong.

Therefore, consumers are turning to probiotics to support their gut microbiome, she notes.

“As consumers are increasingly well-educated, it requires strong scientific evidence to support the beneficial effects of probiotics on human health. Morinaga Milk Industry continues its efforts in researching the HRB to explore their contribution to human health across the lifespan,” Wong concludes.

By Nicole Kerr