Pre- and postbiotics evolve into syn- and psychobiotics while sports and personalization proliferate

03 Aug 2023 --- The demand for fiber and protein is at its highest, with food formulators being inventive in incorporating this type of carbohydrate into products. Another significant development in the biotics space is the evolution into synbiotics, postbiotics and psychobiotics, while sports nutrition and personalized nutrition are poised for upgrades.

ADM, Lonza, Kerry and Univar Solutions give Nutrition Insight a taste of what suppliers prioritize and a peek into their R&D strategies.

“Prebiotic fiber also continues to be an important piece of the microbiome puzzle. Today’s consumers have shown an increased interest in adding more fiber to their diet to support wellness factors such as digestion and satiety,” says Vaughn DuBow, global director of marketing, microbiome solutions at ADM.

Aligned with this trend, ADM/Matsutani LLC’s Fibersol is an innovative dietary fiber solution that promotes the growth of gut microbes positively associated with health.

Synbiotics, postbiotics and psychobiotics
Intelligence, innovation and R&D in the world of biotics have evolved into more detailed fields such as synbiotics, a combination of pre- and probiotics and even deeper into the emerging specializations of postbiotics and psychobiotics.

“When it comes to understanding the role of biotics, there is an immeasurable amount of research to unlock in this space. Both postbiotics and psychobiotics are emerging fields attracting attention,” notes Sarah Gonçalves, technical business development manager, nutraceuticals, Univar Solutions. 

Postbiotics, defined by the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) as the preparation of inanimate microorganisms and their components that confers a health benefit on the host, such as short-chain fatty acids offer health benefits but without the need for live bacteria as with probiotics.Sports nutrition with digestive health benefits are sought after. 

Psychobiotics formulations, on the other hand, aim to positively influence mental health and cognitive function through the gut microbiota. These biotics are sought after for stress reduction, anxiety management and potential support for depression.

Fiber and protein tweaking
Studies also demonstrate that Fibersol is well-tolerated at total intakes of up to 68 g per day, which makes it significantly more tolerable than other fibers, such as inulin. 

“Because it ferments more slowly in the large intestine, it results in less gastric discomfort than dietary fibers that ferment more rapidly,” explains DuBow.

A clinical study found that Fibersol helps nourish the intestinal flora and support the intestinal tract environment at 3.75 g a serving.

Kerry has prioritized protein absorption from plant-based sources. Clinical research has recently evidenced the ability of BC30 to improve protein absorption from plant-based sources.

“It should also reassure those concerned about the quality and bioavailability of plant proteins, such as athletes. The new study follows from another recent clinical trial indicating BC30’s ability to increase protein absorption from dairy sources,” says John Menton, senior director of probiotics at Kerry.

 “Given the growing trends for plant-based and high-protein products, this is excellent news for manufacturers who want to offer a point of difference.” 

The studies may also be relevant to cohorts who struggle to maintain adequate protein intake, such as seniors, whose ability to eat enough protein is typically lower than in younger age groups, and people with gastrointestinal disease or who have had bariatric (weight loss) surgery. 

Boon in sports nutrition
Sports nutrition consumers increasingly seek probiotics with digestive health benefits. “This surge comes as awareness of the role that probiotics can play in supporting exercise and endurance grows,” says Emily Navarro, global marketing manager of Lonza Capsules & Health Ingredients. 

“Our TWK10 sports probiotic is the first probiotic clinically proven to support exercise performance, enhancing exercise endurance by up to 75%, modulating the gut microbiota.”  

The product is sourced from Taiwanese kimchi and substantiates plant-based and clean label solutions for energy and endurance. It also improves body composition and reduces muscle fatigue.

The L. plantarum strain used in TWK10 has multiple active nutrition benefits in a single 100 mg dose, making it ideal for performance-focused consumers. “In our search for TWK10, we evaluated and tested more than 300 probiotic strains,” says Navarro. 

Hankering for personalized solutions
According to ADM, microbiome-supporting solutions such as postbiotics and spore-forming probiotics are the next frontier in formulating personalized products. This is “due to their ability to survive harsh formulation environments across food, beverage and dietary supplement categories.”Probiotics are becoming more personalized.

“When developing functional products, manufacturers should consider what ingredients can withstand various processing conditions, including high heat and high water activity, commonly used in highly sought-after formats like gummies,” notes DuBow. 

The company’s heat-treated ES1 and BPL1 postbiotics and its spore-forming probiotic DE111 support the next generation of tailored offerings due to its robustness and formulation versatility. 

Univar Solutions offers Fossence, a short-chain fructo-oligosaccharide (sc-FOS) prebiotic. “What sets Fossence apart is its composition of shorter chains, which translates to easier fermentation by beneficial gut bacteria, compared to traditional FOS,” says Gonçalves. 

Studies reveal daily consumption of Fossence improves the activity of essential gut microbiota, particularly Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria, which play a pivotal role in producing short-chain fatty acids that support the microbiome. 

“This, in turn, supports digestive function, improves nutrient absorption and boosts immune function,” says Gonçalves. 

“Emerging research highlights the significance of the gut microbiota to other health aspects including cognition, cardiovascular health, weight management and more through direct and parallel interactions with gut metabolites produced by consumption of prebiotics,” she notes.

Fossence can also be used for sugar reduction and replacements due to its sweet taste and humectant properties. 

Multi-ingredient differentiators
Probiotics featuring multi-ingredient formulations have become “powerful differentiators” in the industry, catering to the holistic health needs of consumers. 

“Synbiotics (combination of pre-and probiotics) have the potential to surpass expectations by incorporating complementary ingredients that enhance overall gut health,” says Gonçalves.

A good example is the integration of probiotics, prebiotics, antioxidants and minerals, supporting a targeted health demand. “As consumers become more knowledgeable about gut health, they comprehend that achieving a robust microbiome requires a holistic approach, focusing not just on two ingredients, but a multitude of factors,” she says. 

This includes musculoskeletal, gut, immune-enhancing and cognitive health demands.

Immune health for infants
Kerry is leveraging LC40, a patented probiotic strain with proven efficacy for protecting the immune health of babies through intestinal colonization. Three randomized clinical studies demonstrated reductions in the incidence of respiratory infections and diarrhea in babies fed formula supplemented with LC40. 

A 2022 study in Frontiers in Pediatrics also found it reduced gastrointestinal infections in babies born by cesarean section by up to 73%. “This was almost twice the significant 46% reduction in gastrointestinal infections for all babies highlighted in a previous meta-analysis,” says Menton.Mental health is one of the main driving factors of innovation in biotics.

“This suggests LC40’s protective effect may even be more relevant for those delivered by C-section, who have a higher risk for infectious diseases during their first year.” 

The LC40 strain is also used in Hereditum LC40 Breastcare, which can support breast health during lactation because the strain has been shown to reduce the premature cessation of breastfeeding due to mastitis. This painful inflammatory breast condition makes nursing mothers unwell.

Formats for function
According to Lonza, plant-based nutraceuticals continue to gain popularity. About 40% of supplement users cite the importance of “vegan” as a purchasing factor. “We’ve seen a 25% growth in supplement users who state that ‘plant-based’ is important to them when making a purchase,” notes Navarro.

Consumers favor convenient dosage forms that fit into busy routines. “When it comes to delivering on convenience, capsules remain king. Proprietary research from Lonza shows that capsules are preferred by 44% of consumers globally.” 

“Since probiotics are acid-sensitive ingredients, they need protection as they pass through the stomach,” says Navarro. 

“They’re also prone to absorbing moisture from the air and need a dosage form that protects from humidity during storage. Capsugel DRcaps HPMC designed-release capsules protect acid-sensitive ingredients, promoting the survival of sensitive probiotics as they pass through the acidic conditions of the stomach for greater efficacy.”

Navarro notes that capsule-in-capsule technology enables up to 46 times better delivery of live, viable probiotics. 

According to ADM, portable solutions, such as bars, supplement shots and gummies, are becoming consumer-preferred when seeking convenient, tailored nutrition products.

By Inga de Jong