Unilever and FrieslandCampina each shine light on sleep-gut connection

19 Mar 2021 --- Taking place today, this year’s World Sleep Day is shining a spotlight on the link between quality rest and the microbiome. 

Unilever is partnering with Microba Life Sciences to uncover the link between sleep and the human gut in a project set to last around a year. 

Meanwhile, FrieslandCampina’s Friso formula milk brand is promoting a “Good Sleep, Good Poop” campaign in Singapore with kidswear label Maison Q.

A two-way street?
The gut produces 95 percent of the body’s serotonin – a key hormone that helps regulate emotions and sleep. According to FrieslandCampina, children are able to sleep better when they have good digestive health. Research also indicates that this relationship is a two-way street.

“Good sleep has proven to be positively correlated with a more diverse gut microbiome,” says Dr. Petrina Wong, consultant pediatrician. 

These microorganisms play an important role in digestive, metabolic and immune functions, which in turn helps young children better regulate their sleep. 

“By combining natural dietary choices with good lifestyle habits, parents can improve their children’s digestive health and overall well-being,” Wong highlights.Microba’s database cross-references diet, lifestyle and sleep habits.

Harnessing Microba’s database
Unilever hopes to apply the results of its Microba collaboration to its food and refreshments portfolio in the future.

The company can use Microba’s database, which cross-references diet, lifestyle and sleep habits, to discover associations that could help improve sleep.

Microba’s dataset features de-identified gut microbiome metagenomic data, which provides insight into the role of the microbiome in human disease.

The companies’ hypothesis is that sleep duration and quality may be determined by metabolites produced by gut bacteria.

They detail that what people eat can lead to the production of certain metabolites, which have been shown to impact health in a positive way. 

Dr. Kylie Ellis, research manager at Microba, says that the project would advance research in the links between the gut microbiome and human physiology for the promotion of sleep and other gut-brain axis functions.

This project is part of Unilever’s recently announced Future Food ambition. The company has committed to doubling the number of products delivering positive nutrition globally by 2025.The FRISO x Maison Q limited-edition sleepwear is available with the purchase of Friso products under certain conditions. 

A tongue-in-cheek campaign
Friso’s collaboration with Maison Q is launching limited-edition sleepwear, aimed at helping parents start a conversation with their children about the importance of good gut health.

“Good poop is the most obvious indicator of good gut health in young children. By empowering Singaporean parents with the right knowledge, Friso hopes to help more children achieve good poop via good nutrition and lifestyle habits,” says David Naidu, general manager at FrieslandCampina Singapore.

“When Friso invited us to translate this in a fun and tongue-in-cheek manner, we were more than happy to get on board. In creating this print, we put a lot of thought into what would make it easy for parents to have open conversations about poop and why it matters,” adds Suhana Ab, founder and creative director at Maison Q. 

She adds that fashion and design can make things simpler to understand while also making them “aesthetically beautiful.” 

The Friso Good Poop Advisory Panel – first introduced last year – is also returning. The panelists, which include Naidu, Ab and Wong, will advocate for a holistic, informed approach in managing children’s digestive health – from educating parents on understanding food sources to helping them make the right lifestyle choices.

NPD booms
Over the last year, gut-friendly ingredients – often derived from dairy – to tackle sleep issues have been a recurring theme. 

According to Innova Market Insights, F&B launches with both digestive health and sleep positionings have seen a CAGR of 21 percent (Global, 2016-2020). The top category is Baby & Toddlers, followed by Hot Drinks and Sports Nutrition. 

In October, FrieslandCampina Ingredients launched Biotis SleepWell, its first concept that touts brain health benefits within the company’s Biotis brand. The company has also been vocal in underlining the way that the gut-brain axis can impact sleep.

By Katherine Durrell