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IPA review: ‘Increasingly the evidence shows that the microbiome can have an impact on viral disease outcomes’ By Stephen Daniells A new review from experts at the International Probiotics Association and some its member companies explores current understanding around how the microbiome may protect against invasive viruses and discusses where the science stands for probiotics to have a positive impact.
Interest in how the microbiome and probiotics can support immune function and response has never been higher, with scientific studies reporting a potential role of the gut microbiota in the severity and duration of COVID-19. Such links led prominent scientists like Professor Glenn Gibson and Dr Gemma Walton from the University of Reading and Dr Kirsty Hunter from Nottingham Trent University to ask the UK’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock to assess the role of the gut microbiome in coronavirus�
A new clinical study published in the journal
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies investigated the effects of a curcumin extract on gastrointestinal symptoms, mood, and overall quality of life in adults with digestive complaints.
While previous research suggests curcumin can alleviate digestive symptoms, past trials included curcumin as a component of multi-herbal combinations.
In the most recent study, the curcumin extract branded as Curcugen by DolCas was evaluated as a stand-alone botanical intervention.
The study
The 8-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, led by Adrian Lopresti, PhD, was conducted on 78 adult volunteers with self-reported digestive complaints. Participants were recruited and randomized to receive either a placebo or 500 mg Curcugen.
Inulin prebiotic shows anti-inflammatory potential in obese people: RCT Three months of consuming chicory inulin led to significant decreases in fecal markers of inflammation in obese people, according to data from the Food4Gut randomized placebo-controlled trial.
Data published in the
European Journal of Nutrition indicated that 16 grams per day of Cosucra’s native inulin led to increases in Bifidobacteria levels, as could be expected for this prebiotic.
Of particular interest, however, was that levels of calprotectin in the feces decreased after inulin intake. Fecal calprotectin is a marker of gut inflammation.
The researchers, led by Nathalie Delzenne from Université catholique de Louvain in Belgium, also reported that, while no significant changes to fecal short chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels were observed, the inulin group did exhibit increases in fecal rumenic acid, described by the researchers as a
This free whitepaper from Lumina Intelligence examines how the pandemic has impacted post-purchase consumer engagement with probiotics, the role of probiotics in defending against infections and opportunities in the market.
Researchers dig up secrets of gut microbiomes from thousands of years ago What do you get when an archeologist and a gut microbiome researcher collaborate? Ancient poop.
An international research team was able to analyze DNA from 50,000-year-old fecal sediments sampled at the archaeological site of El Salt, near Alicante, Spain, a location where Neanderthals lived before they disappeared from the scene. The fecal material the oldest available to date was excavated by an archeologist from the University of La Laguna, Campus de Guajara, Spain, and then sent to the University of Bologna for the analysis.
The study, published in the journal