DuPont: Study shows benefits of high dose multi-strain probiotics

Published: 27-Mar-2019

Results of clinical trial suggest link between higher dose probiotic formulations and better colonisation

Researchers, affiliated with the University of Milan, have published results of a clinical trial that investigated the effect bacterial count has on colonisation in the human intestinal tract. Findings suggest that ingesting higher doses of multispecies probiotic formulations may permit higher, earlier and longer recovery of probiotics in the guts of healthy adults.

The scientific team had healthy adults ingest a blend of four probiotic strains in a single formulation commercialised by DuPont Nutrition & Health.

The Italian team selected four DuPont strains for the investigation:

  • Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04
  • Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14
  • Lactobacillus plantarum SDZ-11
  • Lactobacillus paracasei SDZ-22

The study compared the formulation at two different doses; 7 billion and 70 billion colony forming units (CFU).

Due to the small sample size, the researchers characterised the study as a “microbiological pilot.”

Healthy gut

One way to assess the resilience of probiotic strains, the microorganisms that bestow health benefits to the human host, is by quantifying and isolating a specific probiotic strain in faeces after oral administration.

Previous studies have shown that higher doses of probiotics result in higher levels of probiotic recovery. However, the new findings proved that a higher dose also leads to earlier and longer detection of the consumed probiotics; suggesting a more stable ‘colonisation’.

"This begs the question if a higher probiotic dose also leads to earlier and more reliable health benefits,” commented Arthur Ouwehand, Ph.D., Technical Fellow, DuPont Nutrition & Health.

Study design

In the study, 40 healthy adults of both genders aged between 18 and 60 were randomly divided into two equal groups.

A single-blind, two-arm parallel microbiological pilot study was then conducted in which the volunteers, depending on which group they were assigned to, consumed either the 7 billion or 70 billion CFU formulation daily for two weeks.

They were then monitored for a follow-up period of an additional two weeks. For the duration of the study, the volunteers were instructed to follow their usual diet (without the intake of any other probiotic products) and to collect 19 samples in total, in accordance with the study design. These samples were then tested for probiotic recovery.

Valerie Delahaye, Global Leader of Dietary Supplements for DuPont Nutrition & Health, commented: "Since we are experiencing a clear trend toward multi-strain and higher potency probiotic formulations in many markets around the world, it is encouraging to see study results which may assist in better understanding the benefits of these formulations from a consumer perspective.”

The study, published in the journal Nutrients (Taverniti et al. Nutrients 11(2):285, 2019) is available online.

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