Probiotics meet top consumer trends

ANY follower of consumer trends will have observed that digestive health has become an enduring concern and, at the same time, that many consumers are declaring a preference for foods with a natural image.

Both naturalness and digestive health feature in the 10 Key Trends in Food, Nutrition & Health 2013 report published by New Nutrition Business, which points out the strong link between the two – and the opportunities to support the two trends through the use of well-documented probiotic cultures.

The link lies in consumer perceptions. As the top trend in this year’s report, naturalness is widely seen as synonymous with health. So, for manufacturers of products that offer a natural health benefit, the chances of market success are good.

Relief for digestive ailments

Probiotics fit these trends hand in glove. Comprising live micro-organisms, they supplement the natural microflora present in the human gut and clinical trials suggest alleviation of mild bowel disorders like occasional diarrhoea or constipation, bloating and abdominal pain. Whilst as many as two-thirds of the
population experience one or more of these disorders, particularly women and seniors, 75% of them never seek medical care.  By simply making probiotics part of their everyday diet, however, consumers could potentially impact their digestive well-being positively.

Most probiotics are either bifidobacteria or lactobacilli. First discovered in 1899 in the faeces of breast-fed infants, bifidobacteria are believed to be important for the infants’ higher level of disease resistance compared to formula-fed. Bifidobacteria  are, in addition, a major component of the intestinal microflora in adults. Lactobacilli, on the other hand, have played a role in food fermentation since ancient times and are used as starter cultures in fresh fermented dairy products, salami and pickled vegetables. They are also a part of the normal gut microflora and have been shown to impact bowel function as well as certain immune parameters.

Effect on gut stress

New studies continue to bolster the weight of scientific evidence behind the probiotic cultures currently  on the market.  Most recently, DuPont Nutrition & Health conducted a clinical trial with its probiotic formulation for use in connection with antibiotic therapy. The trial pre-empted the launch of a new, effective probiotic fomulation – HOWARU Restore II, part of the DuPont Danisco range.

A combination of selected strains, HOWARU Restore II addresses the gut stress that affects one in five antibiotic users and can also be a symptom of travel, a poor diet and a generally hectic lifestyle. The Lactobacillus strains L. acidophilus NCFM and L. paracasei Lpc-37 in the formulation restore a balanced microflora in the upper intestine. From the Bifidobacterium species, the formulation contains B. lactis Bi-07? and B. lactis Bl-04, adapted to the lower intestine.

To document the benefits, the clinical trial followed a strict study protocol, being randomised, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled and ranging in dose. Healthy adult volunteers requiring antibiotic therapy were recruited and categorised according to their age (30-49 and 50-70 years), sex and the duration of antibiotic treatment (3-8 and 9-14 days). All subjects received a supplement containing HOWARU Restore II or a placebo from the start of therapy until seven days after its cessation.

Scientific evidences showed that supplementing with HOWARU Restore II significantly reduced the incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea; the duration of diarrhoea and number of liquid stools; and related symptoms, such as feNike Air Max 98