New science advances probiotics, milk fats and herbs

Nutrition science is the foundation of the nutritional ingredients space that feeds the supplements industry. Here’s the latest research from suppliers in the veins of probiotics, milk fats and botanicals.

Todd Runestad, Content Director, SupplySideSJ.com

September 27, 2023

4 Min Read

At a Glance

  • Probiotic strain produces GABA, folate.
  • Milk phospholipids reduce stress.
  • Ginger, chastetree for fast joint pain relief.

Nutrition science is the foundation of the nutritional ingredients space that feeds the supplements industry. The frontiers of research are always continuing, with ingredient suppliers at the forefront of conducting basic and applied science that validates the safety and efficacy of functional ingredients. Here’s the latest from suppliers in the veins of probiotics, milk fats and botanicals.

Probiotic strain shows new benies

A genomic evaluation of Bifidobacterium adolescentis iVS-1, followed by subsequent in vitro testing, has revealed that iVS-1 produces both gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and folate (vitamin B9). Both benefits are complementary to the strain’s known attributes, representing an enhanced value proposition for iVS-1.

The strain is developed by Synbiotic Health, founded in Wisconsin by four microbiome research scientists who have developed a line of Ecologically Advanced Probiotics. The company is now based in Nebraska.

iVS-1 has previously been shown to proliferate and persist at high levels in the human gut, promote a bifidogenic response and promote healthy gut-barrier function at low levels of supplementation (1 billion CFU/dose).

GABA is a neurotransmitter with stress-reducing and sleep-enhancing effects via interaction at the gut/brain barrier. GABA can positively modulate mood and sleep, increase spatial and temporal memory, and reduce hypertension.

Related:Joint health opportunity broadens to younger market and more – spotlight

Folate has heart health benefits and is essential during pregnancy to support normal growth and development of the fetus. Folate is required for DNA replication, repair and methylation. In trials, iVS-1 produced three times more folate than other strains analyzed and was found to produce a more bioavailable form of folate.

Milking the stress angle

A new study affirmed that broad-spectrum milk phospholipids found naturally in milk fat globule membranes (MFGM) help reduce general stress symptoms.

The new study was derived from Nutiani, a spinoff from Fonterra, a dairy co-op based in New Zealand.

The 12-week study found a statistically significant 45% reduction in mean stress scores, compared to 21% in the placebo group.

“These findings are consistent with previous work demonstrating that supplementation with broad-spectrum phospholipids improve the response to a stressful situation,” said lead researcher Maher Fuad, Ph.D., who added that there was also a suggestion that supplementation of broad-spectrum phospholipids can reduce anxiety from day one, though further testing is required.

Unlike single phospholipid sources, Nutiani Phospholipids are broad-spectrum phospholipids, containing a range of fats including phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, hosphatidylinositol and sphingomyelin. Each of these is present in a similar proportion to that in the human brain.

Related:Menopause supplements are innovating briskly

Researchers examined adults between 25 to 60 years old residing in New Zealand. Participants received either 300 mg or 600 mg Nutiani Phospholipids (Fonterra's MFGM-rich powder) or a maltodextrin placebo. They consumed one serving every day for 12 weeks mixed into drinks like smoothies, milk or water, or sprinkled over breakfast cereal.

Participants who took a higher dose containing 600 mg MFGM had significantly lower stress scores after six weeks but not 12. This signals there may be an optimal dose of MFGM and to reduce stress symptoms, which will be further explored in future studies.

Herbs deliver joint pain relief in 4 hours

A single dose of a proprietary combination of two botanicals, ginger (Zingiber officinale) and Chinese chastetree (Vitex negundo), was found in a study to provide a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in exercise-induced knee joint discomfort within 4 hours of administration.

The ingredient formulation, branded Muvz by ENovate Biolife, was administered to 40 physically active men and women aged 20-60 years with no or minimal pain at rest. However, they had a history of knee pain on physical stress (e.g., walking, running, cycling). After receiving 200 mg Muvz twice daily, or placebo, for five days, with post-exertion pain scores measured at 4 hours and again at day 5, nearly one-third of participants achieved meaningful pain relief (MPR)—defined as at least a 40% reduction in pain—in an average of 3.38 hours. None of the placebo group achieved MPR.

“Overall, (the herbal combination) significantly improved the exercise-induced acute knee joint pain at 2 hours which continued till 4 hours after a single dose of 200 mg,” concluded the researchers. “This pain relief was considered meaningful by the participants.

Also, 95% of participants in the Muvz group achieved some degree of pain relief within 2 hours, compared to 37.5% in the placebo group.

Muvz was found to be safe in the study, with adverse events reported and the vitals of blood pressure and pulse rate were stable for all participants.

About the Author

Todd Runestad

Content Director, SupplySideSJ.com, SupplySide Supplement Journal

Todd Runestad has been writing on nutrition science news since 1997. He is content director for SupplySide Supplement Journal and its digital magazines. Other incarnations: content director for Natural Products Insider (now rebranded to SupplySide Supplement Journal), supplements editor for NewHope.com, Delicious Living!, and Natural Foods Merchandiser. Former editor-in-chief of Functional Ingredients magazine and still covers raw material innovations and ingredient science.

Connect with me here on LinkedIn.

Specialty

Todd writes about nutrition science news such as this story on mitochondrial nutrients, innovative ingredients such as this story about 12 trendy new ingredient launches from SupplySide West 2023, and is a judge for the NEXTY awards honoring innovation, integrity and inspiration in natural products including his specialty — dietary supplements. He extensively covered the rise and rise and rise and fall of cannabis hemp CBD. He helps produce in-person events at SupplySide West and SupplySide East trade shows and conferences, including the wildly popular Ingredient Idol game show, as well as Natural Products Expo West and Natural Products Expo East and the NBJ Summit. He was a board member for the Hemp Industries Association.

Education / Past Lives

In previous lives Todd was on the other side of nature from natural products — natural history — as managing editor at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. He's sojourned to Burning Man and Mount Everest. He graduated many moons ago from the State University of New York College at Oneonta.

Quotes

"There is not a colds-and-flu season. There is a vitamin D-deficiency season."

"There is no such thing as inclement weather. Only improper attire."

Link answers question, "When taking magnesium, should you also take vitamin D3 2,000 IU?"

"Cannabis is nature's most nearly perfect plant."

Subscribe for the latest consumer trends, trade news, nutrition science and regulatory updates in the supplement industry!
Join 37,000+ members. Yes, it's completely free.

You May Also Like