Weekly Digest: Probiotics reduce bone loss in older women, Optibiotix expands reach in Italy

22 Jun 2018 --- This week in nutrition, Australian Whole Grain Week launched a new diet database in the hope to enhance healthy diets across the country. In research news, UK scientists warn that the normalization of plus-size body shapes may undermine obesity reduction efforts, while probiotics were found to have a significant protective effect for the bones of older women, and further research found that four cups of coffee seemed to protect the heart. Optimum Nutrition and Faber embarked on a campaign to improve American travel snacking habits and Optibiotix and Alfasigma partnered to commercialize Optibiotix's probiotic supplement in Italy. Lastly, this year’s Institute of Food Technologist (IFT18) in Chicago, US, will see NZMP launching a new milk protein ingredient and Lycored delivering some excitement on the floor with “culinary art.”

In brief: Ingredient and product launches
Australian Whole Grain Week has launched a new diet database, run by the Grains and Legumes Nutrition Council, in the hope to spread knowledge about the critical health benefits of whole grain foods among Australians. The database will list the health qualities of different whole grains and suggest beneficial diet swaps, e.g., swap white rice for brown, black or red.

In brief: Research studies
Research from the University of East Anglia warns that the normalization of “plus-size” body shapes may be leading to an increasing number of people underestimating their weight, and thereby undermining efforts to tackle England’s growing obesity rates. Analysis of data from almost 23,460 overweight citizens revealed that weight misperception has increased in England – from 48 percent to 57 percent – with men and lower-educated individuals most likely to underestimate their weight status and consequently, less likely to try to lose weight. Researchers suggest that plus-size normalization has come in the form retailers capitalizing on the huge potential of the plus-size fashion market, for example.

Probiotics have been found to halve the amount of bone loss experienced among older women, according to a study published in Journal of Internal Medicine. Research has shown that intestinal bacteria affect the skeleton in mice, but this is the first study in which probiotics were used to reduce bone loss in older people. The discovery could have significant implications for the future: “Older women are the group in society most at risk of osteoporosis and fractures. The fact that we have been able to show that treatment with probiotics can affect bone loss represents a paradigm shift. Treatment with probiotics can be an effective and safe way to prevent the onset of osteoporosis in many older people in the future,” says Mattias Lorentzon, Chief Physician and Professor of Geriatrics at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.

A new study has found that caffeine promotes the movement of a regulatory protein into mitochondria, enhancing their function and protecting cardiovascular cells from damage. The protective effect was reached at a concentration equivalent to the consumption of four cups of coffee, suggesting the effect may be physiologically relevant. The results hold potential for developing strategies for protecting the heart muscle from damage, the Heinrich-Heine-University researchers say.

In brief: Expansion and partnerships
Optimum Nutrition, sports nutrition supplier, has partnered with Faber International, retail company present at airports and train terminals, to launch a “Better On-The-Go” campaign to address the issue of unhealthy eating while traveling. The new partnership will expand the convenient snack options at 40 mass transit locations in the US. Products include ON Cake Bites in Birthday Cake and Chocolate Frosted Donut flavors, ON Protein Crisp Bars in Vanilla and Toffee Pretzel flavors and ON Protein Almonds in Dark Chocolate Truffle and Cinnamon Bun flavors.

Optibiotix, life sciences company, has entered into a license agreement with one of Italy’s largest pharmaceutical companies, Alfasigma. Expanding the commercial reach of Optibiotix’s blood pressure and cholesterol reducing bacterial strain, LPLD, this 10-year deal grants Alfasigma an exclusive license to commercialize food supplements containing LPLDL for cardiovascular health throughout Italy. The move hopes to place Optibiotix firmly in the “largest and fastest growing” probiotic market – Italy – which is suggested to exceed US$500 million with a per annum growth of 25 percent forecast to 2021, according to the company.

In brief: Tradeshows
This year’s Institute of Food Technologist (IFT18) in Chicago, US, will see NZMP, Fonterra’s global ingredients brand, launching a new fast digesting milk protein, SureProtein, ingredient for American food and beverage manufacturers, targeting the sports and active lifestyle consumer market.

Furthermore, Lycored will be partnering with “culinology pioneer” Charlie Baggs at IFT18. The former Purdue University professor has developed new recipe concepts that showcase Lycored’s tomato-based flavor enhancer, Sante, and CTC, its Clear Tomato Concentrate. They demonstrate the power of the products to make recipes healthier, the company describe, while also creating “craveability” by enhancing natural umami and kokumi characteristics. SANTE and CTC are part of Lycored’s range of real ingredients from tomatoes. Both have non-GMO certification and can be declared as either ‘tomato concentrate’ or ‘natural flavor’ (depending on local regulations).

By Laxmi Haigh