The global nutraceutical market has grown exponentially in the last few years, partly due to an expanding probiotics market. The growing interest in fitness has increased awareness of nutraceuticals, which in turn, has grown acceptance of probiotic products among global consumers.
Oral probiotics are living microorganisms that deliver digestive tract health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Probiotic health claims are natural defenses, immune function, digestive health, intestinal transit, gut integrity and balanced micro biota during antibiotic treatment.
Probiotics have proven successful in combating lifestyle-related disorders and degenerative diseases such as stress, food intolerance, type 2 diabetes, obesity, kidney failure, and oral and skin health disorders.
Lactobacillus and the Bifidobacterium species are among the more common probiotic bacteria. The Bifodbacterium is a carbohydrate not digested by humans that reaches the large intestine and serves as a substrate for growth of certain beneficial intestinal microbes.
Recently, DuPont unveiled an
innovative probiotic formula for use in supplements that can reduce waist circumference in overweight adults using Bifidobacterium.
The formula, called HOWARU Shape, contains a high level of Bifidobacterium lactis B420 and is said to reduce waist circumference by up to one inch over six months, according to company trials. In combination with one of its prebiotic ingredients, Litesse Ultra, DuPont said it also reduced body mass and trunk fat. Litesse Ultra is a low calorie, low glycemic, specialty carbohydrate with prebiotic properties. This product is widely recognized as a fiber.
Dupont claims that probiotic strain B420 has been demonstrated in-vitro to increase epithelial integrity, a key function of the digestive tract. Litesse Ultra prebiotic fiber has been shown in clinical studies to reduce energy intake, increase satiety and decrease after-meal feelings of hunger. Separately, and in combination, the probiotic strain B420 and Litesse Ultra demonstrate health benefits, says the company.
“In 2016, the global weight loss supplement market was an almost $5 billion category and growing, and we know these consumers are not just interested in dieting, they want overall health and wellness, which includes looking good,” says Anders Gron Norager, director, Global Probiotics at DuPont.
DuPont’s trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical intervention in which overweight and obese adults were administered 10 billion CFU (colony forming units) Bifidobacterium lactis B420 combined with 12g Litesse Ultra prebiotic fiber. Versus placebo, the HOWARU Shape in combination with Litesse Ultra resulted in a 4.5% reduction in total body fat mass, 6.7% reduction in trunk fat and a 1-inch (2.6cm) reduction in waist circumference.
“This study shows consistent results towards an improvement in weight management -related parameters in the probiotic and synbiotic groups, including total body fat mass, trunk fat mass, waist circumference, and energy intake in the per protocol population,” the study authors wrote.
According to DuPont, the study also presented results on biomarkers associated with gut barrier function, reduced inflammatory tone and intestinal microbiota metabolism, suggesting a potential mechanism of action for B420 and LU + B420 in reducing body fat mass.
Study results were
published in ebiomedicine.com.
In recent years, studies such as DuPont’s and others continue to raise interest in the link between gut microbes and obesity, which has fueled growth in the nutraceuticals global market, especially in the probiotics segments of the market.
BCC Research estimates the Asia-Pacific probiotics market to reach $14.2 billion by 2021, growing at a CAGR of 9.8% from 2016 to 2021. Meanwhile, the North American probiotics market, estimated at $6.7 billion in 2015, is expected to reach $11.5 billion by 2021, growing closely in line with Europe at a 9.8% CAGR.
