Today’s consumer recognises the term probiotic — defined by the World Health Organisation as 'live micro-organisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the host' — and associates it with a health benefit.
Innovation in probiotic technology is allowing manufacturers to offer a myriad of products beyond dairy that include hot and cold beverages such as coffee, tea and juice, baked goods, confectionery and frozen items. One such strain of beneficial bacteria, Bacillius coagulans GBI-30, 6086, is behind these innovative product offerings.
Spore-forming probiotics
Although Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains are among the most common probiotics to appear in food products, advances in research and technology are making use of spore-forming bacteria that are becoming increasingly popular in the marketplace because of their high resistance to heat, drying and freezing processes.
One spore forming probiotic strain with a thorough safety record and peer-reviewed research that is currently available in more than 100 products is Bacillius coagulans GBI-30, 6086. With more than 17 peer-reviewed studies demonstrating its benefits, including digestion, immunity and nutrient absorption, GBI-30 offers manufacturers a safe, effective probiotic strain that can withstand the tough environments that other probiotics can’t.
GBI-30 offers many of the same health benefits associated with traditional probiotics and is changing the marketplace by offering probiotics in foods beyond dairy
GBI-30 has a different structure compared with other probiotic strains. It has a naturally occurring layer of organic material, similar to a shell, which protects the genetic core of the bacteria. Other probiotics, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, are unable to form this protective layer, making them more vulnerable to manufacturing conditions. It is GBI-30’s protective shell that enables the bacteria to survive harsh manufacturing processes, product shelf-life and, finally, the journey through the digestive system. GBI-30 offers many of the same health benefits associated with traditional probiotics and is changing the marketplace by offering probiotics in foods beyond dairy already being consumed, such as:
- cereal
- tea
- bars
- cold-pressed juices
- popsicles and other frozen novelties
- baked goods
This growing range of probiotic-boosted products gives consumers many more options for where they can obtain their probiotics. For consumers who don’t want to, or can’t, take pills, fortified foods such as tea and cereal offer an easy way to get probiotics on a daily basis. GBI-30, which is non-GMO and has US FDA GRAS status, is a game changer for probiotic products. This strain is allowing manufacturers to offer a very wide range of products with the nutritional edge of added probiotics.
Consumers want functional foods and beverages
As the notion that what we put into our bodies directly affects our health takes hold, more consumers than ever are food shopping with an eye to health. As a result, the functional foods and beverage market is experiencing consistent growth, now accounting 5% of the overall global food markets, according to market research firm Euromonitor.
Products with a health advantage stand out compared with other options. In 2013, 'ingredients added for special health benefits' was a top attribute that made a food product good for health and wellness, according to the Hartman research group. Clearly, when confronted with the choice of a healthier food option, consumers are opting for that product. This bodes well for the probiotics market and, particularly, shelf-stable strains such as GBI-30 that can be sold in a wide variety of products throughout the grocery store.
GBI-30’s health benefits
Digestive benefits: Perhaps the most important aspect of gut health and probiotics is survivability; for a probiotic to be effective, it needs to survive the transit through the gastric environment to reach the intestines, where it has a benefit. Using several validated gut models, GBI-30 has been shown to survive, germinate and populate the intestines. Many probiotic strains simply cannot survive the harsh conditions of the stomach and intestinal transit.
When consumed daily, GBI-30 has been shown in multiple studies to have a positive effect on the digestive system
Once in the intestines, GBI-30 offers a variety of health benefits. When consumed daily, GBI-30 has been shown in multiple studies to have a positive effect on the digestive system, decreasing abdominal pain and bloating, and reducing the number of daily bowel movements. Additionally, early research has shown that the strain may limit the effects of Clostridium difficile, a typical cause of diarrhoeal disease seen in hospitals and nursing facilities that’s associated with significant morbidity and, too often, mortality.
Immune benefits: In addition to digestive health benefits, GBI-30 has also demonstrated an improved immune system response. Given that the digestive and immune systems of the human body are closely linked — 70% of the immune system is located in the intestine — it is no surprise that probiotics have been shown to have a beneficial impact on immune functions. It has been demonstrated that GBI-30 enhanced the T-cell response to a flu strain. Additional studies show that the strain demonstrated increased levels for several other cytokines.
As the strain is effective in supporting immune function against external factors, daily use could also benefit those with autoimmune disorders
As the strain is effective in supporting immune function against external factors, daily use could also benefit those with autoimmune disorders. Although many health professionals believe that probiotics can help people with specific health conditions, there has been controversy surrounding the benefits of probiotics in healthy people. This research supports the idea that probiotics can indeed benefit those who are healthy.
Protein absorption benefits: Beyond digestive and immune benefits, research has demonstrated that GBI-30 may improve protein absorption. Data from a recent study demonstrated that in just two weeks, combining one billion colony forming units (CFUs) of GBI-30 with one serving of protein per day increases the absorption of 23 important amino acids compared with protein absorption without the strain. The results are particularly important to food manufacturers that target the sports nutrition and active adults markets and feature protein as a key ingredient.
Safety
The issue of safety cannot be overlooked when considering the use of any food ingredient. GBI-30 has many studies and government approval affirming it safety for use in food. GBI-30 has US Food and Drug Administration GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status, which means that it has met all of the requirements to establish itself as a safe ingredient for use in food and beverages as recommended by the FDA’s Department of Health and Human Services; it’s the 'gold' standard for safety in the United States. GBI-30 is currently the only spore-forming probiotic to be GRAS.
Additionally, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has added the species to its Qualified Presumption of Safety list. With consumer awareness and demand for probiotics at an all time high, Bacillius coagulans GBI-30, 6086, sold under its trade name of GanedenBC30, offers manufacturers a safe and effective ingredient to add to foods and beverages that appeal to everyone.