At this exhibition, DSM-Firmenich will focus on intestinal health and showcase its intestinal health portfolio, including post-biological agents, human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) ingredients, probiotics and enzymes. In addition, DSM-Firmich will launch a “proprietary strain portfolio” called Humiome PostLB, which includes fermented L.fermentum and L.delbrueckii. It is reported that this ingredient is manufactured using Adare Biome’s […]
Articles
Obesity and the Gut Microbiome: Current Insights
Obesity has reached epidemic levels, leading to a global crisis characterized by myriad health issues, premature mortality, and significant economic burdens. The historical approach to weight loss has been fraught with challenges. While lifestyle changes, drugs, and surgery are options that can be effective in the short term, many people fail to keep the weight […]
Probiota Global 2024
Probiota was once again the sold-out, microbiome event of the year in 2023! Brought to you by NutraIngredients, Probiota returns from 7 to 9 February 2024 in Milan, Italy and is now open for delegate bookings. The key themes running through the event will include Gut-liver axis, Marketing insights, Personalisation, Improving skin health, Innovation with next-gen and Regulatory developments, […]
Supply Side West 2023
What an incredible week it was at Supply Side West 2023! The IPA has revealed its new look as we have rebranded to include our new scope. We also hosted our annual General Assembly, to network with our members and discuss our plans for 2024. It was an absolute pleasure spending time with our valued members. […]
Microbiome-Based Strategies for Preventing Hospital-Acquired Infections in Critical Care
Nosocomial infections (NI)—meaning hospital-acquired— are common complications and the leading cause of mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalized patients with serious illness. Severe trauma, complex surgery, antibiotic use, and mechanical ventilation are a few events that make hospitalized patients more susceptible to infections. Moreover, critically ill patients admitted to the ICU demonstrate significant and […]
Microplastics and Nanoplastics: Effects on Gut Microbiota?
Three times the size of France, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch —a mass of plastic debris— floats in the ocean. Due to limited recycling (less than 5%) and ubiquity across industry and packaging, plastics — and their degradation products— have contaminated the earth’s waters, land, and atmosphere. Humans are exposed to smaller breakdown products including […]
HPA (China) News – September 2023
September 2023
The Market and Regulatory Environment for Pet Supplements in Canada An article by Lauren Carde, VP Operations and Regulatory Affairs at Paul Dick & Associates Ltd. The pet supplement market is large and seeing substantial annual growth, largely due to increased pet ownership, enhanced pet owner attitudes towards the health and longevity of their pets […]
Potential of Probiotics to Prevent Dental Caries
Strong teeth are even more vital to health now that average lifespans are stretched in old age. With regular check-ups, cleanings, flossing, and fluoride treatments, we try to protect our teeth. But it is not enough. Dental caries, commonly known as cavities, pose a mounting global health concern with increasing prevalence. Much research confirms that […]
The Microbiome & Probiotics in Space Travelers’ Health
Space travel subjects astronauts to a harsh environment. Microgravity, cosmic radiation, confinement, and other challenges lead to many health risks. Disorders may include reduced immunity, increased infections of the genitourinary tract, reactivation of viruses, bacterial resistance, cardiovascular issues, cancers, cognitive decline, bone loss, muscle atrophy, and mental health concerns. Dysbiotic changes in the gut, nose, […]
Probiotics May Lessen Adverse Effects of Bowel Prep in Colonoscopy
The widespread adoption of colonoscopy screenings has led to rapid decreases in colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality in the last 20 years. Early detection and prevention with colonoscopies are more effective than other tests such as sigmoidoscopy, guaiac-based fecal occult blood testing, and fecal immunochemical tests. Nevertheless, CRC is still the second leading cause of cancer […]
Age-related Macular Degeneration & the Gut Microbiome
About 200 million people worldwide are afflicted by age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness. As populations skew older, numbers are predicted to grow. Although treatments do exist for this complex disease, some patients show poor response. Researchers are now exploring the involvement of the intestinal microbiome in AMD, potentially offering a new […]
Potential of Postbiotics in Iron Deficiency
Nearly 25% of people worldwide are impacted by iron deficiency, resulting in anemia and the inability to maintain sufficient tissue oxygenation, among other negative consequences. Studies have demonstrated that the gut microbiota significantly impacts iron absorption and metabolism, and vice versa. Further, probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics have been explored for their potential role in the […]
Potential of Probiotics in Iron Deficiency
More than two billion people across the globe — primarily pregnant women and young children in developing countries—are deficient in iron, an essential trace mineral. Deficiency can lead to anemia, resulting in the failure to sustain suitable tissue oxygenation and body homeostasis. According to research, the gut microbiota (GM) influences both the absorption and metabolism […]
IPA Response to Recent Washington Post Article
Thank you to our critical response team at the IPA SC for their contribution to the Washington Post article published yesterday. Attached is the final document [also below in full text] that our critical response team worked on which will be disseminated on our platforms and in the media. Please share this within your companies internally as needed and […]
Targeting Gut Microbes in Type 2 Diabetes Shows Promise
The worldwide diabetic crisis is becoming more severe, affecting over 537 million adults, which is nearly 10% of the adult population globally. Most diabetics were not born with faulty blood sugar control. Nearly 95% have Type 2 diabetes (T2DM), a complex condition that develops gradually and has various underlying causes. In recent years, the gut microbiome […]
Probiotic Short Chain Fatty Acid Production and Colon Cancer
The colon microbiota is an important player in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC), which caused 935,000 deaths in 2020 (the second most deadly cancer worldwide). During carcinogenesis, the colon microbiota composition changes from a normal profile to dysbiosis, interfering with the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which have anti-cancer effects. In addition […]
Microbes for Mental Health
By Maile Combs, MS, and David Despain, MS Gut bacteria can influence how you think, feel, or handle stress. Scientists are now exploring how these microbes can affect mood and mental health. In any given year or at some point during their lifetime, nearly one in five U.S. adults and children are affected by mental […]
IPA Updates from our Board of Directors
The International Probiotics Association (IPA) and Probiota Congress culminated after three days of great conferences and networking sessions with 470 industry peers: a sold-out event! The IPA closed out our work with the IPA’s Board of Directors (IPA BoD) meeting on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, from 2 to 6 PM. New Scope Expansion: Probiotics + […]
Probiotic-Based Vaccines: Are We There Yet?
Vaccines elicit variable immune responses in different people. A multitude of reasons can make a vaccine less effective against disease, a consequence that can be dangerous or even fatal. Correlations between microbiota and immune response to vaccination are recognized as a factor associated with vaccine failures. Unfortunately, evidence supporting the benefit of probiotics to modulate […]
Preterm Birth: A Role for Probiotics?
As eager as one may be to greet a newborn, an early arrival is never good. Preterm birth (PTB) — when an infant is born before 37 weeks of gestation — is a serious problem across the globe. With an estimated 15 million cases annually, spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) is the leading cause of death […]
Probiotics Show Promise in Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease causing neuropathological changes and a severe decline in cognitive function. The most common cause of dementia, AD has no known cure. Although some medications may delay the loss of cognition and memory, definitive interventions are elusive. Recent research has focused on the role of the human microbiome […]
Bariatric Surgery: A Role for Probiotics?
Bariatric surgery improves metabolism and inflammation in severe obesity and is associated with gut microbiota modifications. However, the role of the gut microbiota in inducing these beneficial changes is controversial in part because the surgery may not fully restore microbial balance. Recent research has attempted to disentangle the complex relationship as well as elucidate a […]
A Role for Probiotics in Mastitis?
Despite the considerable health benefits of breastfeeding, initiation and duration rates continue to fall short of international guidelines. Acute mastitis is one of the main reasons why women stop breastfeeding. While antibiotics are frequently prescribed for this painful breast condition, their safety during lactation is a concern, as is the problem of antibiotic resistance. A […]
Individual Response to Prebiotics Varies
By the current definition, a prebiotic is “a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit.” A fiber-rich diet —containing non-digestible carbohydrates and other substrates such as polyphenols — as well as supplements containing such compounds are thought to provide much of our prebiotic needs. FYI: For a concise overview of […]
Prebiotics in a Nutshell
Throughout human history, beneficial microbes have adapted to thrive on specific substances in the food we eat. Yet only in the past few decades have scientists homed in on which substrates —and underlying mechanisms of action—are used to best nourish them. The concept of “prebiotics” has since expanded into a new category with heightened importance […]
Can Probiotics Affect Decision-Making?
Following your gut instincts is one way of making decisions. Now emerging research suggests that the gut may be more involved in decision-making than previously thought. Choices may be influenced by microbial mechanisms in the gut. Whether or not those decisions are prudent may actually depend partly on gut microbiota. The proper ecological balance of […]
Traumatic Brain Injury & Gut Microbes
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global public health issue affecting many millions each year. Management requires an understanding of both the primary brain injury and the secondary sequelae that affect peripheral organs, including the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The gut-brain axis is composed of bidirectional pathways between the gut and brain, hence TBI-induced neuroinflammation and […]
Gut Microbiota & Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorders
The health benefits of surgical interventions are undeniable; with the development of safer methods to administer and monitor general anesthesia over the past century, they have saved countless lives from cancer, heart disease, and other serious conditions. The patient’s health overall and the complexity of the procedure are factors that may predict how well a […]
Part 2: Microbes & Breast Cancer Treatments
Breast cancer treatments developed over the last decades have greatly improved survivorship as well as return to a cancer-free life for many. Even so, 650,000 women globally died from the disease in 2020. As described in the previous blog, dysbiosis emerged as a key player that may influence breast cancer development and prognosis through diverse […]
Part 1: Microbes & Breast Cancer
In 2020, 2.3 million women worldwide were diagnosed with breast cancer. The most frequently identified female cancer, breast cancer has links to changes in the gut and mammary microbiota. The microbiota at these sites appear to influence breast cancer risk, response to treatment, and recurrence. Since the early 2000s, the role of the human gut/ […]
Natural Products Expo West Returns Live
Natural Products Expo West returns live to Anaheim, California on March 8-12, 2022 after a pandemic pause. Highlights of Expo West 2022 include Climate Day, the annual State of Natural & Organic session, Pitch Slam, Fresh Ideas Organic Marketplace, a JEDI Community Happy Hour, and Evenings on the Plaza with live music. “New Hope is […]
Endometrial Cancer: Role of the Microbiome
Sometimes called uterine cancer, endometrial cancer begins in the layer of cells lining the uterus. Due to emerging evidence that the uterus is not a sterile cavity, researchers have begun to investigate the endometrial microbiome and its possible role in endometrial cancer. Endometrial cancer, in brief The endometrium is dynamic tissue, responding to estrogen and […]
Taxonomy – What is the Big Deal?
The IPA Scientific Committee wrote a blog about this when Lactobacillus decided it didn’t want to be such a huge genus any longer. Published in 2020 was the research on the how and why this name change was needed. A taxonomic note on the genus Lactobacillus. Just to clarify that the real purpose of naming […]
Probiotics: A Role in Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases worldwide, affecting about 50 million people. Most live in low to middle-income countries where prevention and treatment can be lacking. Head injury, stroke, infections, and congenital abnormalities can all lead to epilepsy. The disease can diminish quality of life and cause premature death. Epilepsy, in brief […]
Our Biology has been Shaped by Bacteria
by Ines Martinez,Head of Probiotic R&D team – SACCO Bacteria have inhabited our planet for 3.5 billion years, this was a long time before eukaryotic life emerged in our planet approximately 2.7 billion years ago. In short, we have evolved in a bacterial world, thus every aspect of our biology has been shaped in the […]
Seeking Clarity on Postbiotics
Postbiotics are emerging as potent forces for health, just as with probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics. But unlike these related substances, the term postbiotic continues to cause no small amount of confusion. Postbiotics, an evolving definition Researchers working with probiotics observed that at times isolated factors produced by the probiotic activity elicited the desired response. They […]
Can Probiotics Reduce Harms of Phthalates?
First introduced in the 1920s, phthalates are commercial chemicals used in a vast array of consumer products: plastic and vinyl, medical supplies, flooring, wall coverings, cosmetics, personal care products and toys. Their usefulness in industry is undeniable but researchers have observed harmful effects on endocrine, metabolic and neurological systems in the human body. Although elimination […]
Microbiome Modulation to Improve Sleep: Webinar Recap
Proper sleep is vital for a healthy body and mind. Amassing research is drilling down on the role of the microbiome in the complicated matter of sleep rhythms and harmful impacts of deprivation and/or disruption from jet lag, night shift work, and sleep apnea. On December 9, Nutraingredients-USA presented a free one-hour webinar titled Microbiome […]
“Probiowhatics”: New Webinar from IPA & The Gut Stuff
The International Probiotics Association, in special collaboration with The Gut Stuff, recently hosted “Probiowhatics?” — a webinar with a panel of probiotic experts and influencers. Lisa MacFarlane, co-founder with her twin sister Alana Macfarlane Kempner of The Gut Stuff, introduced the sessions with George Paraskevakos, Executive Director of IPA. “Probiowhatics” speakers Anthony Thomas, Ph.D., Director […]
Can Probiotics Improve Memory?
While some things in life are best forgotten, our memories build the framework of intelligence — cognitive, emotional, and social — enabling a rich existence. Memory is required to learn a language, drive a car, write computer code, keep a friend and, of course, remember where you put the keys. Decades of research have revealed […]
Probiotics to Prevent Antibiotic Resistance: the Time is Now
By Kristine Koppelhus MSc Nutrition, BioGaia What is antibiotic resistance? Drug-resistant bacteria that have adapted and acquired the ability to survive in the presence of the drugs intended to kill them. The result is that our pool of effective drugs is shrinking as antibiotics are becoming less effective at treating diseases. Overuse and misuse of […]
Cesarean Section & Food Allergy: A Role for Probiotics?
A peanut butter sandwich may seem innocuous, but for a growing number of children, it may be harmful or even life-threatening. Food allergies to peanuts, tree nuts and shellfish cause the most severe reactions but eggs, milk, wheat and soy are also on the list of potential antigens. Food allergies in children are becoming more […]
7 Things Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus Is Good For
Meet Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus: The Happy Wanderer ____________________________________________________________________________ The way these friendly microbes travel is fascinating! Meet Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, who we like to call the Happy Wanderers among your microbiota. Science geeks would describe Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus as rod-shaped, gram-positive anaerobic cells found in chains, but we like to think of them as smiling groups of helpful […]
Bowel Prep for Colonoscopies Disrupts Gut Microbes
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths —after lung cancer —worldwide. The World Health Organization reported 1,930,000 new cases and 935,000 deaths in 2020. In the United States, early detection and prevention have contributed to rapid decreases in CRC incidence and mortality in the last 20 years. Reductions are thought to […]
Probiotics Sales Lead Supplement Category at Amazon
Probiotic supplements sales grew 48% in 2020 from the year before, topping the category at Amazon online. Fantastic news — and a key takeaway from a free webinar “What’s Driving Probiotics Sales Growth on Amazon?” offered recently by International Probiotics Association (IPA) in partnership with ClearCut Analytics. Dan Harari who leads business development for the […]
Enterococcus faecium: A Probiotic that Sparks the Importance of Safety Testing
Meet Enterococcus faecium – An Ammunition Expert When facing adversaries, having an ally who can supply you with good ammunition is really helpful, such as the probiotic, Enterococcus faecium. But, what’s truly mind-blowing is how closely related this ally is to pathogenic species. Reading that might spark judgement, but you can’t judge a book by […]
Interplay of Viruses, the Microbiome and Probiotics
Viral infections — such as SARS-CoV-2 causing this pandemic — have long threatened life on earth, most likely for billions of years. In the 21st century, respiratory tract infections, HIV and infectious gastroenteritis are some of the leading causes of premature death across the world. Because few solutions have been developed to combat viral infections, […]
Probiotic Supplements: Six-Part Series
Choosing a probiotic isn’t getting any easier. As new offers flood the market, the different types, doses and delivery systems of probiotics offer abundant choices. But the sheer number of different probiotic supplements can be overwhelming In a series of blogs, IPA tackled a few of the most common areas of confusion and misinformation regarding […]
Probiotic Supplements: Take with Antibiotics?
Antibiotics kill off pathogens, saving untold numbers of lives every year. Unfortunately, the 20th century wonder drugs also destroy a lot of beneficial bacteria along the way. The ensuing disturbances in gut microbiota communities can lead to diarrhea and other displays of dysbiosis. Antibiotics disrupt gut microbiota When antibiotics are administered, dysbiosis may occur rapidly, […]
Probiotic Supplements: Refrigerate or Not?
Many people keep probiotic supplements in the refrigerator, often wedged between bottles of kombucha and cartons of yogurt. But it can get crowded. Could probiotic supplements be stored in a cupboard near vitamins and fish oil capsules? In other words, do probiotic supplements require refrigeration? Brief background As “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate […]
Probiotic Supplements: Does Time of Day Matter?
After deciding which probiotic supplement offers the beneficial strains that meet your health goals, you may consider what time of day to take it. Is a probiotic supplement best taken on an empty stomach? Or perhaps it should be taken with food? Various health sites and blogs offer advice on those very questions. Unfortunately, the […]
Probiotic Supplements: Delivery Formats
Once a consumer or practitioner decides which probiotic strain may benefit a specific health target, they must choose from a vast array of formats such as pills, capsules, powders, gummies, suppositories and liquids. Note: Fermented foods and beverages such as yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, and kombucha are more difficult to assess quantitatively as a probiotic for […]
IPA World Congress + Probiota Americas Digital Summit: June 15-17, 2021
In its 6th year, IPA World Congress + Probiota Americas presents a pivotal experience linking top experts from across the globe to connect the business and science of the microbiome. The 2021 Digital Summit will take place from June 15 through June 1. Mark your calendars; you won’t want to miss this provocative event filled with […]
Probiotic Supplements: What is an Adequate Dosage?
In the past decade, probiotic supplement dosages have rocketed from millions to billions of CFUs, with some boasting as many as 200 billion. While more may be better when it comes to love and money, this is not necessarily —but can be — the case with probiotics. CFUs or colony forming units: a unit of […]
Saccharomyces boulardii
The Best Microbial Travel Buddy in Your Gut One of the only probiotic yeasts, Saccharomyces boulardii, can be described as the best travel buddy in your gut. A resilient traveler, who is always moving to find the next best place to visit, this budding, digestion-helping, pathogen-eliminating yeast is not your regular bread yeast. Saccharomyces boulardii […]
Health Professionals’ Knowledge on Probiotics
Patients often rely on health professionals to guide them on probiotics. Questions abound: which conditions may benefit, which probiotic, what dosage and a multitude of others. Sorting through all the data and information available may cause confusion — not only in patients but also for the very people trusted to give advice. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, […]
Diversity Matters in Microbiota
Diversity enriches our global ecosystems. It appears to be no different for many sites of the human body hosting microbial populations — albeit with at least one striking exception. For example, vaginal microbiota is distinct in that greater bacterial diversity is seen in women with bacterial vaginosis, which goes against the assumption that higher diversity […]
Probiota 2021 Summit, An Excerpt
As promised, Probiota 2021 Summit in February offered expert speakers and vigorous panels who engaged on key issues affecting the business of the microbiome: IPA has been dipping back into the webinar. First up was a presentation from Ruairi Robertson PhD at Queen Mary University in London on what the future may hold for microbiome […]
Severe Acute Malnutrition & Probiotics
Heartbreakingly, malnutrition is responsible for 35% of deaths among children under five globally. And for survivors of early undernutrition, the long-term consequences may include increased risk of stunting, impaired neurodevelopment and negative social and economic impacts. Recent research indicates that gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis may be involved in development or maintenance of acute malnutrition, opening […]
Probiotics and Human Papillomavirus: A Look at the Research
Each year, more than half a million women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and the disease leads to more than 300,000 deaths worldwide. High-risk subtypes of the human papilloma virus (HPV) are the cause of the disease in most cases. HPV is not shy. A woman’s lifetime risk of acquiring HPV exceeds 80% but the majority […]
CRISPR for Next-Gen Probiotics
“You may be a surprised,” said Rodolphe Barrangou, PhD, “but we already live arguably in a post-CRISPR world where some people afflicted with genetic disease have already been treated with and cured with genome-editing based gene therapies.” For those of us still living in a pre-CRISPR world, Dr. Barrangou presented “Implementing the CRISPR craze in […]
IPA Statement Concerning Tragic Death of a Premature Infant who received a Probiotic Product.
As you may already know, there has been a statement issued by the FDA as a warning regarding the use of probiotics in premature infants. Our critical response team was activated immediately at the beginning of October. The team analyzed the situation and determined that at the time, there was not enough information to comment […]