OptiBiotix weight management SlimBiome product gets regulatory approval by Health Canada
28 Oct 2021 --- SlimBiome, an OptiBiotix weight management product, has received regulatory approval by Health Canada, as the company says this gives it a rubber stamp of approval and plans to expand growth into Asia.
“Across the world, there are different regulatory bodies. Health Canada is one of the most rigorous bodies in the world. Getting approval from them means they’ve validated your science,” the company’s chief executive Stephen O’Hara tells NutritionInsight.
Launched around two years ago, the UK-based company develops compounds that modulate the microbiome to tackle metabolic syndrome, systemic low-grade inflammation, obesity and diabetes. 
Research on the microbiome has quickly accelerated over the past few years.
Growth of the microbiome
Over the last three to four years, there has been far more research and understanding on the microbiome of humans, which has highlighted the impact on human physiology and metabolism, O’Hara notes.
“We can use it to target a range of human illnesses ranging from cancer to mental health. Our company uses it for weight management.”
SlimBiome purports to lower cholesterol levels by reducing cholesterol absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, help maintain normal blood glucose levels, prevent chromium deficiency, help the body metabolize nutrients, support a feeling of fullness and be a source of fiber and prebiotics.
The approval by Health Canada “is a significant achievement and brings further international recognition to SlimBiome as a scientifically backed and proven weight management ingredient,” René Kamminga, CEO of OptiBiotix, says.
Jumping on the healthy snacks trend
Healthy snacks are a growing trend across the industry, O’Hara notes and focusing on this area is one of the key aims for OptiBiotix.
Research by Glanbia Nutritionals suggests that 51% of global consumers switched from traditional snack products like chocolate to high protein or low sugar alternatives, largely affected by COVID-19.
“We want to take SlimBiome and put it into a range of applications. We already have breakfast cereals such as muesli and porridge, as well as gummies, but we are now looking to expand this into more snacks, such as chips.”
Better-for-you snacks are appealing to health-conscious people seeking alternatives to traditional salt- and fat-laden offerings as functional snacks increase in popularity. 
Healthy snacking is a growing trend among health-conscious consumers.
Global growth
Currently, OptiBiotix products are available in about 80 countries across the world, O’Hara says, including parts of the US, Canada and sold at Holland & Barrett stores in the UK.
“We want a greater presence in the west, but we are looking at Asia, specifically India, which is a growing market and China.”
The company is also aiming to work with large companies that can bring scale, O’Hara adds.
Earlier this year, the company announced it was funding research for the “next generation” of mood supplements, exploring how microbiome modulation technologies could affect sleep, stress and anxiety.
Industry experts previously told NutritionInsight that a holistic approach to weight management is an accelerating trend and is no longer “just about weight loss” but overall health and well-being.
By Andria Kades
