General Health News
Parental dummy sucking may protect infants from allergy
Posted 6 days ago by Lou in General Health News
It is quite a common occurrence for parents to clean their baby’s dummy by sucking on it - and recent research has found that this simple act may actually help to prevent childhood asthma and eczema. Read on to find out more. The stu...
Certain type of bacteria found to aid weight loss
Posted 7 days ago by Soraya in General Health News
BBC News has reported this morning a story about Akkermansia muciniphila, a bacteria found to dramatically alter the health of obese mice. This species of bacteria seemingly has the potential to reverse obesity and Type-2 diabetes. &n...
Maternal gut bacteria may transfer straight to newborn
Posted 20 days ago by Lou in General Health News
It is well known that certain maternal characteristics are passed onto the newborn, and new research supports the inclusion of bacteria passing from mother to newborn baby. Presented at the 7th International Yakult Symposium, the ...
Roller derby gives insight into transfer of microbes
Posted 21 days ago by Soraya in General Health News
Who knew that roller derby players could provide us with such insight into the way in which bacteria passes from person to person! A study from the University of Oregon and published last month in a peer review journal, set out to exa...
Gut bacteria linked to obesity & bad breath
Posted 1 month ago by Lou in General Health News
Ever wondered what your breath really says about you? Well, according to some very recent research, the characteristics of a person’s breath may reveal how susceptible they are to gaining weight. Analysing the breath of 792 participa...
6 myths about probiotics explained
Posted 1 month ago by Lou in General Health News
There are so many probiotic supplements on the market today that it can be very difficult to find the best product to suit your individual needs. Below is a discussion on how best to debunk some of the most common misconceptions regarding p...
Probiotics may combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens
Posted 2 months ago by Lou in General Health News
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are becoming an increasingly large problem, and according to Professor Dame Sally Davies (the government’s chief medical officer in England), this danger should be added to the list of potential threats t...
Seaweed bacteria nasal spray?
Posted 2 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
A bacterial species commonly found on seaweed may soon be utilised in nasal sprays to treat blocked sinuses and sinusitis. Bacillus licheniformis has been found to destroy the biofilms of bacteria that can form in blocked sinuses....
Saccharomyces boulardii alleviates symptoms of diarrhoea
Posted 2 months ago by Lou in General Health News
The therapeutic use of Saccharomyces boulardii in the treatment of diarrhoea has been researched and validated in a number of scientific studies, and a recent human trial has released results that further strengthen this...
C-section babies at higher risk of allergies
Posted 2 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
The health benefits of a natural birth for newborn babies is starting to become more apparent, as new research reveals that Caesarean born babies are at higher risk of developing allergies in later life. A natural vaginal birth exposes bab...
Faecal transplants fight C.diff
Posted 3 months ago by Lou in General Health News
The results of a new study from the Netherlands support the idea that faecal transplants in humans are significantly more effective at treating C. difficile infections than antibiotics. Recurrent C. diff infections are notoriously hard to t...
Could gut bacteria contribute to colic?
Posted 3 months ago by Lou in General Health News
The exact factors which cause colic in babies remain unknown, but recent research suggests that gut bacteria may play a key role.The new study involved looking at the stools of 24 infants over the first 100 days of their life to determine c...
Could prebiotics help to tackle obesity?
Posted 3 months ago by Soraya in General Health News
Prebiotics, the non-digestible fibres which feed the body's good bacteria, could help to rectify dysbiosis; a common condition amongst overweight and obese people. A review published in the British Journal of Nutrition agreed with pr...
Gut bacteria may influence autoimmunity
Posted 3 months ago by Lou in General Health News
According to new research, early exposure to sex hormones and certain types of gut bacteria may have strong effects on the development of autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, which are particularly...
Coffee and Probiotics - the Low Down.
Posted 4 months ago by Soraya in General Health News
For those of you who follow closely tweets about probiotics (can't just be me... can it?) you'll know that coffee has been the latest buzz word to grace probiotic tweeters' keyboards. Why? Well, mainly because a company in the US has come o...
Gut bacteria may protect against stroke
Posted 4 months ago by Lou in General Health News
Some recent research has found that there may be an association between altered gut bacteria and the occurrence of atherosclerosis and stroke. Researchers compared a group of healthy subjects with a group of stroke patients and found some ...
How to detox this new year
Posted 4 months ago by Lou in General Health News
It is that time of the year again when we have all enjoyed the festive season a bit more than we should have (Yes too much of a good thing can be bad for us unfortunately). Many of us have woken with a fuzzy head, a bloated belly and a case...
Beat the January Blues
Posted 4 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
Going back to work after the festive period, when the days are cold and short, can be testing for us all. Here’s some good friendly advice on how to boost your mood and serotonin levels the healthy way and beat those January blues. D...
Understanding worldwide C.difficile spread
Posted 5 months ago by Lou in General Health News
C. difficile epidemics have emerged as a leading cause of worldwide antibiotic- associated diarrhoea in the past ten years. The present study aimed to identify and track the genetic code of C.difficile strains taken from hospital ...
Probiotics may help reduce eczema
Posted 5 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
Researchers from South Korea believe that the daily supplementation of probiotics may help to reduce eczema in children. Eczema, also known atopic dermatitis, is a common inflammatory skin condition believed to effect approximately 10-20% o...
Probiotics may increase fat loss
Posted 5 months ago by Soraya in General Health News
Some exciting new research has found that daily consumption of yogurt for six weeks containing probiotic strains of Lactobacillus amylovorus or Lactobacillus fermentum, has been associated with a significant reduction in body fat mass. The...
Probiotics prevent C. difficile diarrhoea
Posted 6 months ago by Soraya in General Health News
Some encouraging new research has found that patients at risk of Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea (CDAD), have a 66% lower rate of infection when receiving prophylactic, or preventative probiotic treatment. A meta- analysis ...
Antibiotic Awareness Day - 18th November
Posted 6 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
This Sunday marks Antibiotic Awareness Day. This pan-European public health initiative has been designed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to encourage the responsible use of antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance is an...
For daily wellbeing EXTRA Strength strains reduce side effects of antibiotic use
Posted 6 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
A new study, yet to be fully published, has revealed that four of the strains found in For daily wellbeing EXTRA Strength, including Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM®, Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04, Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07, and L...
Probiotics may help reduce cholesterol
Posted 6 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
New research has revealed that probiotic supplementation may reduce cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and minimise cholesterol carrying molecules in the bloodstream. Researchers from the McGill University Faculty of Medicine wanted to understand ...
Faecal transplants may eradicate C. difficile
Posted 6 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
Researchers have identified a combination of six probiotic bacteria that may help to eradicate Clostridium difficile, a common noscomial infection causing diarrhoea and in 2011 C. difficile contributed to more than 2,000 deaths in the U.K. ...
Probiotics may reduce constipation during pregnancy
Posted 6 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
Constipation is a common complaint for pregnant women with as many as 40% suffering with the condition according to NHS statistics. However, a new pilot study undertaken by the University of Amsterdam, has revealed that probiotic supplement...
Prebiotics may help Short Bowel Syndrome
Posted 7 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
New research suggests that a combination of prebiotics and probiotics could help sufferers of Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS). The new study, published in the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, investigated whether the supplementation ...
Probiotics and natural immunity
Posted 7 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
Winter is now on the horizon which means a heightened period of activity for all of our immune systems as we try to cope with the cold and flu season. But can probiotics help with boosting our natural immunity? US researchers certainly thi...
Boosting babies microbiota with breast milk
Posted 7 months ago by Soraya in General Health News
According to new research, babies which consume breast milk rather than infant formulas have a different and more beneficial set of gut bacteria. Dr Parker and his associates explored how the way in which infants were fed may affect the dev...
Gut microbiota and diabetes could be linked
Posted 7 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
New research has revealed a strong correlation between the composition of a person’s gut microbiota and type 2 diabetes. Meta-genomic data from a study carried out by European and Chinese scientists has revealed that people with type ...
Probiotics may improve athlete's gut health
Posted 7 months ago by Soraya in General Health News
There is some exciting new research which suggests that probiotics may have significant effects on boosting gut health in athletes. Many athletes, especially those doing endurance sports, show a high prevalence of digestive complaints such ...
Bacteria used to create synthetic human milk
Posted 7 months ago by Jacob in General Health News, in Competitions
Prebiotic fibres known as oligosaccharides, which are prevalent in breast milk, are fundamental in developing a baby’s gut microbiota and strengthening their immunity. Currently, not much is known about the hundreds of different human...
Gut bacteria and fat absorption may be linked
Posted 8 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
New research has revealed that gut microbiota may play a significant role in calorie and fat absorption. A discovery that may have huge implications in how we treat malnutrition and obesity, as well as other metabolic diseases. Researchers,...
Antibiotic treatment at a young age may affect weight in later life
Posted 9 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
US researchers have discovered that infants under six months of age who receive antibiotic treatment are more likely to be heavier in later life. The researchers, from the New York University School of Medicine, studied 11,532 infants to a...
Bifidobacteria may help babies digest breast milk better
Posted 9 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
New research, carried out at the University of California, has revealed that specific strains of probiotic bacteria may help babies extract more nutrition from breast milk than previously understood. Breast milk is amazingly intricate, not...
OptiBac Probiotics Vegetarian Society Approved
Posted 9 months ago by Jacob in News from Head Office, in General Health News
We're very happy to announce that the Vegetarian Society have approved our entire probiotic range as suitable for vegetarians. The Vegetarian Society is an independent and educational charity who work constructively, with businesses, gove...
S boulardii may reduce duration of acute infectious diarrhoea
Posted 9 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
Acute infectious diarrhoea is a worldwide health problem, often a common cause of death in developing countries and one of the highest causes of infant mortality worldwide. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of the use o...
Are babies born with a gutful of bacteria?
Posted 9 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
New and groundbreaking evidence suggests that the development of a child's gut microbiota may actually begin in the womb. Previously, it was believed that the womb was a sterile environment and that a child’s first contact with bacter...
Pharmaceuticals 62,000 times more lethal than Food Supplements.
Posted 10 months ago by Soraya in General Health News
A new report from the Alliance for Natural Health International (ANH-Intl) has found that adverse reactions to pharmaceutical drugs are 62,000 more likely to kill a UK citizen than adverse reactions to consuming a food supplement. Th...
Nature publishes results of $173 million study into human microbes
Posted 11 months ago by Soraya in General Health News
The highly respected and influential journal, Nature yesterday published the results of a vast study into the microbes (bacteria, fungi and viruses) found in and upon the human body. The Human Microbiome Project analysed an impressiv...
Early gut bacteria linked to happiness in adulthood
Posted 11 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
Scientists from the University College Cork (UCC) have discovered a link between brain levels of serotonin, the “happy” hormone responsible for the regulation of mood and emotion, and the amount of bacteria in the gut during ear...
Gut bacteria linked to arthritis
Posted 11 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
New research from the U.S has found that rheumatoid arthritis, and other auto-immune diseases, may be triggered by certain bacterial changes in our gut. The team of researchers from Mayo Clinic and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champ...
B vitamins may reduce the risk of stroke
Posted 11 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
A large meta-analysis involving 47,921 people has revealed that supplementation of B vitamins may reduce the risk of stroke. B vitamins are believed to reduce levels of homocysteine in the blood, an amino acid reported to increase the risk ...
Caesarean-born children more likely to be obese
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
Children delivered via Caesarean section have been found to be twice as likely to become obese than children delivered naturally.1 A team of American researchers, from the Children's Hospital Boston, Massachusetts, believe that the gut...
Probiotics reduce risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea
Posted 1 year ago by Charlie in General Health News
A US based non-profit institution has just published, in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), their evidence for the positive effects of the consumption of probiotics against the risk of diarrhoea whilst on antibiotic tre...
Could probiotics make you sexier? Part 2
Posted 1 year ago by Soraya in News from Head Office, in General Health News
Following last week's controversial news (reported in the Daily Mail, ABC News and LiveScience.com ) that probiotics were found in a small study to make mice 'sexier', I thought I'd take a quick afternoon survey of some of the team at OptiB...
Could probiotics make you sexier?
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
Apparently so, if you’re a mouse. Last year, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T) devised a study to better understand the effects that probiotics may have in weight loss and obesity. A previous study publi...
Probiotics could cut costs for poultry industry
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
Probiotic supplementation in young chickens may help reduce lameness, a leading cause of mortality in broilers (young chickens) and a significant economic concern for the poultry industry. Researchers at the University of Arkansas have disc...
Prebiotics could aid mineral absorption
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
A new study, published in the Journal of Food Science, suggests that the supplementation of prebiotics can increase the absorption of calcium and magnesium, minerals that are vital to bone health. Researchers noted that a steadily aging glo...
Probiotics found to benefit honey bees
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
A new study, carried out by Wellesley College, has indentified that the healthiest and most productive honey bee colonies also harbour the most abundent and diverse probiotics in their digestive tracts. The researchers identified four diffe...
Nutrition & Health Claims Regulations Update
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in News from Head Office, in General Health News
The UK health foods industry is under threat, as is our freedom to circulate information about natural health. The Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee, made up of certain Members of the European Parliament (MEP...
New research suggest bacteria communicate by touch
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
A new study from researchers at the University of California Santa Barbara believe that bacteria are able to communicate to each other through touch. The research team studied a strain of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), which causes...
Antibiotics alleviate symptoms of schizophrenia
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
A chance discovery in Japan has revealed the potential of an antibiotic as a possible treatment for schizophrenia. Minocycline, an antibiotic regularly prescribed for acne, is to be tested in the U.K next month in an £1.9 millio...
Friendly bacteria levels drop at high altitude
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
Exposure to high-altitude conditions is often associated with gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation and lowered immunity. Scientists believe that these conditions are linked to changes in the balance of the intestinal microbiota. A...
Probiotic benefits last until 4 years of age in infants
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
A new study has revealed that infants exposed to probiotics from 35 weeks gestation up until 2 years of age had a significantly lower risk of developing eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis. The study, published in the journal for Clinical & ...
Probiotics could be used in astronaut nutrition
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
It goes without saying that space travel is fraught with danger, astronauts face numerous health challenges during long durations in space, including diminished immunity, bone loss and an increased risk of radiation-induced carcinogenesis. ...
Probiotics could lower the risk and severity of heart attacks
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
New research has suggested gut microbiota may play a role in determining the risk and severity of heart attacks. Dr John Baker and his team of researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin, USA, belIeve that the types and levels of bact...
Gut microbiota may play a role in obesity
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
Scientists have indentified a pattern in the composition of the gut microbiota in those with obesity. The new study may deepen our understanding of how the microbial content of our gut may interact with metabolism. The scientists used a com...
Autistic children have significantly different gut bacteria
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
Autism and gastrointestinal problems are often closely associated, for reasons unknown to medical science. A new study, conducted by Brent Williams and colleagues from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, has revealed...
Probiotic gum shown to reduce severity of bad breath
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
The use of probiotics for digestive health is becoming increasingly established in the mainstream, but a body of evidence is also growing for probiotics and oral health applications. New research, from a group of Danish scientis...
New research strengthens evidence of a link between bacteria and obesity
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
New research has revealed further evidence that the bacteria that lives in people's large intestine may play a role in obesity. Researchers believe that the bacteria of the large intestine may slow down the activity of the "good" kind of fa...
Scientific Review published on 'Lacidofil' Probiotic
Posted 1 year ago by Soraya in OptiBac in the Press, in General Health News
Probiotic formula 'Lacidofil' has been the focus of a comprehensive review[1] published this month in the Journal 'Beneficial Microbes'. As Natural Products Insider[2] reported yesterday, this review concluded immune health benefits from bo...
OptiBac Probiotics in the Daily Express
Posted 1 year ago by Soraya in OptiBac in the Press, in General Health News
We're delighted to see our 'For a flat stomach' Probiotic & Prebiotic in today's health section of the Daily Express. Our best-selling product is mentioned under 'Just the tonic...', where it states, "Poor digestion can cause a bl...
Superbug Clostridium difficile could be cured by faecal transplants
Posted 1 year ago by Soraya in General Health News
BBC News covered an article yesterday on a new procedure to combat Clostridium difficile disease. The thought of a faecal transplant may be shocking and hugely offputting, but it could turn out to be the answer to this deadly bacteria...
Our EXTRA Strength Probiotic in Top Sante for vaginal health
Posted 1 year ago by Soraya in OptiBac in the Press, in General Health News
The January issue of Top Sante magazine sees a mention of our premium probiotic in the Health Clinic section! Natural health expert and writer Jane Alexander answered a question about vaginal irritation experienced by a reader when she use...
Probiotic ice cream shows potential in lowering tooth decay
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
Giving children ice cream to prevent tooth decay may sound like an oxymoron but a new study has revealed that ice cream supplemented with probiotics may do just that. The study carried out at the College of Dental Sciences and Research in M...
Antibiotics overprescribed to meet patient's expectations
Posted 1 year ago by Soraya in General Health News
A large poll by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has found that half of patients visiting their doctor with respiratory infections still expect to be prescribed an antibiotic. It seems that GPs are all too often succumbing to pressu...
Probiotics Protect Intestine in Mice
Posted 1 year ago by Soraya in General Health News
A new study from the University of Washington School of Medicine suggests probiotics could be given prior to to radiation therapy, in order to protect the intestine from damage. Damage to the intestines is common in cancer patients re...
Our travel probiotic in Bodyfit magazine
Posted 1 year ago by Soraya in OptiBac in the Press, in General Health News
Our very own For travelling abroad is recommended in the brand new December issue of Bodyfit magazine! The magazine's Health Files section includes a feature piece entitled '6 things you never knew about your gut' by health write Alex Gazzo...
Calcium may enhance probiotic survivability and lower cholesterol
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
A new study with humans has revealed that a combination of calcium phosphate and Lactobacillus paracasei LPC37 - found in For daily wellbeing EXTRA Strength - may enhance the survivability and colonisation of the probiotic in the gut, as we...
Probiotics could influence your ability to break down carbohydrates
Posted 1 year ago by Soraya in General Health News
A new study published in 'Science Translational Medicine' found that mice given yoghurt containing 5 probiotic strains showed altered enzyme expression, in particular an increase in enzymes that metabolise carbohydrates in the body. T...
An army marches on its gut
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
Probiotics may soon be apart of Australian army ration packs in an attempt to modernise soldiers' diets on frontline operations. The redeveloped packs will offer eight different menus to soldiers including; Chicken Vindaloo and Spaghetti Bo...
Maybe not all sugar is so bad?
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
A potentially prebiotic sugar, extracted from buckwheat, may help control healthy blood sugar levels, Spanish researchers have revealed. The sugar called D-fagomine was associated with blunting blood sugar level spikes when ingested with su...
Certain vegetables & grains show prebiotic potential
Posted 1 year ago by Soraya in General Health News
A study has been prepublished in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, as part of an international team of researchers' efforts to investigate the potential 'prebiotic' effects of oligosaccharides extracted from certain vegetables...
Probiotics could be used to clean NHS Hospitals
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
Probiotic cleaning products have already started to appear on our supermarket shelves and now they could be heading to our hospitals. A new study has found that probiotic cleaning agents can reduce bad bacteria by 1,000 fold compared with...
Could probiotics reduce the risk of complications in pregnancy?
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
The regular consumption of probiotics has been linked in a large study to a reduced risk of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy. A new study undertaken by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health found that the regular consumption of milk-based ...
Prebiotic enhanced bread could soon be in your lunchbox
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
An awareness of the health benefits of prebiotics, such as FOS, is increasing amongst consumers and so too is the demand for more prebiotic enriched products, such as bread. Until now it has been a challenging task to incorporate prebiotic ...
For maintaining regularity probiotic shown to increase immunity
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in News from Head Office, in General Health News
A newly published trial in the British Journal of Nutrition has found that the supplementation of Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12®, found in For maintaining regularity, can increase the body's IgG3 antibody levels by 66%. The study, carrie...
Diet linked to individual gut microbiota
Posted 1 year ago by Soraya in General Health News
A study published online yesterday in the journal Science suggested that the foods one eats may well determine the types of bacteria living in the gut. Earlier this year researchers found that a person's gut microflora is dominated by one ...
Could probiotics reduce anxiety & depression?
Posted 1 year ago by Soraya in General Health News
A new placebo-controlled trial from University College Cork, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has shown the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus JB-1 to significantly reduce stress, anxiety and depression-relat...
For daily wellbeing EXTRA Strength in Health & Fitness Mag
Posted 1 year ago by Soraya in OptiBac in the Press, in General Health News
We are delighted to be mentioned in the very latest issue of Health & Fitness magazine! In a feature on 'Stress-proofing' your body, The Food Doctor Ian Marber recommended looking after your digestive system, which can come under ...
Probiotics may help lower cholesterol
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
New research published in the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine Journal, looked at the effects of two Lactobacilli strains on the metabolism and microbiota of rats that were fed high-cholesterol diets. The scientists wanted to stud...
Different probiotic strains trigger different immune responses
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
New research from a group of Dutch and Belgian scientists has found that the ability of probiotics to influence the immune system differs from strain to strain. The researchers looked at 19 different probiotic strains and observed how each ...
'Gut feeling' may be linked to mental wellbeing
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
Probiotics may not just benefit gastrointestinal health but also mental wellbeing, new research suggests that probiotic modification of the gut may influence the brain and affect mood. These are the findings of research from the Texas Tech ...
OptiBac Probiotic strain found to reduce common cold symptoms
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
The probiotic strain Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04, found in For daily wellbeing EXTRA Strength, has demonstrated the ability to reduce the incidence, duration and severity of upper respiratory tract illnesses, as well as significantly reduc...
Kangaroo gut microbiota may make cattle farming greener
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
Methane from farm animals, particularly cattle, account for a few percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and this statistic is forecast to double over the next fifty years. However, a solution for a more sustainable method of cattle fa...
Probiotic colonisation mechanism discovered
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
Researchers at the University College Cork, Ireland have discovered the genes in Bifidobacterium that are responsible for efficient colonisation of the gut. The team of scientists were able to sequence the DNA of Bifidobacterium breve UCC20...
Gut microbiota may be linked to weight gain, study shows
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
A new study has highlighted how gut microbiota may influence body weight through its harvesting of nutrients from the food we eat. Changes in diet may have rapid effects on the composition of the guts microbiota, as was found from the analy...
E. coli deaths still rising in Germany
Posted 1 year ago by Jacob in General Health News
The German E. coli outbreak claimed its 35th fatality at the weekend and health officials say that up to 100 people have severe kidney damage, needing either transplants or life-long dialysis. However, the rate of new infections has, thankf...
E. coli outbreak in cucumbers sees a rising death toll
Posted 2 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Sad news of a European outbreak in E. coli which has now killed 17 people, almost all in Germany. Thousands more are thought to be infected by enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). What is interesting is the repeated notion in the media that t...
Study shows prebiotic benefits at time of stress
Posted 2 years ago by Jacob in General Health News
Prebiotic supplementation at times of heightened stress may boost the immune system and digestive health. A study of American students, in their run up to examinations, showed that a daily supplementation of prebiotics reduced the amount of...
New research suggests bacteria may influence precipitation
Posted 2 years ago by Jacob in General Health News
The concept of 'bioprecipitation' - bacteria directly influencing rainfall - has been around since the 1980's but has yet to accumulate enough evidence to be proved more than just a theory. New research from the Montana State University, ho...
Study links mental health to gut microbiota
Posted 2 years ago by Jalal in General Health News
A research team from the McMasters University, Ontario believe they have evidence that the microbial composition of the gut directly influences behaviour & the biochemistry of the brain. The research team found that when the gut flora o...
Prebiotic pasta may help control blood sugar levels
Posted 2 years ago by Jacob in General Health News
Consuming prebiotic enhanced pasta may prolong the emptying of the stomach and consequently, ease the rise in blood sugar levels after meals. The study, appropriately, undertaken in Italy showed that the consumption of the inulin enhanced p...
Fewer gut bacteria linked to obesity
Posted 2 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Gut bacteria has once again been linked to obesity; an article in the Independent yesterday reported the growing evidence that the amount and types of beneficial bacteria in the human intestine can be linked back to the amount of weight a p...
Study says gut microflora falls into three categories
Posted 2 years ago by Jacob in General Health News
A group of international scientists have revealed that a person's gut is populated by one of three main types of microflora. Just as each of us belongs to one of the eight blood groups, the researchers also believe we each belong to one of ...
Probiotics helpful in reducing recurrent UTI's in women
Posted 2 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A new double-blind placebo-controlled study has revealed that probiotics can be helpful in reducing recurrent urinary tract infections in women. The study looked at 100 women with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections, who were ra...
Mangoes & grapes show prebiotic potential
Posted 2 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Researchers at the MACS-Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in India have identified the presence of prebiotics in mangoes and grapes, particularly in one type of Indian mango. Scientists at the ARI looked at 90 fruits and edible plants, over...
Probiotic strain effective in the treatment of ulcers
Posted 2 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A probiotic of the Bifidobacterium genus has been identified by Spanish researchers as being particularly effective in the treatment of ulcers. The strain B. bifidum CECT 7366 showed fantastic results from in vitro testing, exhibiting the i...
Probiotic research commitments made by US Government agency
Posted 2 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Probiotics, and other promising sciences, were highlighted for commited study in a five year plan by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) last Friday. NCCAM - a branch of the US National Institutes of Healt...
Probiotics linked to prevention of premature birth
Posted 2 years ago by Jacob in General Health News
New microbial research has found that an inflammatory response to certain strains of bacteria colonising the placenta may be responsible for some fetal injuries, complications & premature cases of labour. The research found that specifi...
L. acidophilus opens new avenues of treatment for IBD sufferers
Posted 2 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
New probiotic research has revealed the potential of a specific L. acidophilus strain in combating auto-immune diseases such as IBD and, possibly, colon cancer. A genetically tweaked strain of L. acidophilus was fed to mice with two differe...
New probiotic encapsulation technology opens the door to formulations
Posted 2 years ago by Jacob in General Health News
Probiotic manufacturer Vesale Pharma has applied for a microencapsulation technology patent with the European Patent Office. The new technology has the ability to close off probiotic strains from the outside world, making them more resisten...
Antibiotics increase risk of developing digestive problems in children
Posted 2 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
The importance of taking probiotics whilst on antibiotics has been highlighted in a new study, published in Gut journal; which looked at 580,000 children and their medical records & prescriptions over an 8 year period. It revealed that ...
Want healthy, glowing skin? Eat fruit and vegetables!
Posted 2 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have found that eating more fruit and vegetables can work wonders for the skin - resulting in a healthier glow than that obtained from the sun! The study, published in the Journal Evolution ...
Are weight loss probiotics the supplement of the future?
Posted 2 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Probiotics could reduce obesity; this is what a pioneering research group from the University of Cork, Ireland, have suggested. The researchers published a paper showing that a Lactobacillus probiotic strain containing a unique gene has the...
Prebiotic potential in Cocoa flavanols
Posted 2 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A new study from Mars and the University of Reading has found that cocoa flavanols could have a bifidogenic effect, meaning that they could work as a prebiotic and help to boost probiotics in the gut. The double-blind, randomised trial, pub...
New 'Ultimate Probiotic' used in treating Clostridium difficile
Posted 2 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Probiotics as we know them are often consumed via a capsule, powder or yoghurt drink but a new radical treatment for Clostridium difficile sufferers is emerging stateside. As antibiotics lose their effectiveness in fighting the superbug, pr...
Review shows Probiotics cut stomach upsets by a day
Posted 2 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Probiotics can cut diarrhoea, such as that from the infamous norovirus, by up to one day according to a large Cochrane review of probiotics & diarrhoea - looking at 63 studies including more than 8,000 people. Futhermore, the review sho...
Mainstream media reports on EFSA & Health Food Claims
Posted 2 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
BBC news this week wrote an article entitled 'EU health food claims law begins to bite', explaining the ongoing process with European regulations demanding that all health foods have a wealth of scientific evidence backing up any health cla...
Probiotics may help Weight Loss
Posted 2 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A new Japanese study assigned fermented milk with or without a Lactobacillus probiotic to 87 overweight people, for a period of 12 weeks. At the end of this double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial, the probiotic group showed a 4.6% ...
Effects of prebiotic inulin on metabolic rate
Posted 3 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A double blind cross-over study enrolled 22 healthy young male volunteers to consume either inulin-enriched or control pasta for a certain period time. The prebiotic-enriched pasta was found to improve lipidic and glicidic metabolism, as we...
Why are allergies increasing?
Posted 3 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Asthma, hayfever, eczema and hives are all becoming more prevalent in developed countries. Today, 30% of the Western population suffer from allergies, compared to just 10% in 1980. Dr Guy Delespesse, a professor at the University of Montrea...
Benefits of probiotics in allergic disorders?
Posted 3 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria are more commonly found in the intestinal microflora of nonallergenic children. Research is still growing in the domain of probiotics and allergies, yet the current evidence looks promising. Which probiotic ...
An apple a day keeps the doctor away!
Posted 3 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Researchers at the University of Denmark have been performing studies to discover just why “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Apples contain a large amount of pectin, a dietary fibre which may act as a prebiotic and stimula...
Preliminary studies show probiotics help with rheumatoid arthritis
Posted 3 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A trial conducted on 45 patients shows lactic acid producing probiotics (Lactobacilli probiotics) may be beneficial in alleviating symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. These probiotics have a regulatory and anti-inflammatory effect on the immu...
Pine Bark Extract helps to ease haemorrhoids
Posted 3 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A new randomised, placebo-controlled study conducted by researchers at the University of Munster in Germany reveals that Pine Bark Extract may help alleviate pain and control haemorrhoid bleeding. Pine Bark Extract is a natural antioxidant ...
Microbial colonisation of gut at early age influences adult microbial diversity and natural immune responses
Posted 3 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Recent population studies have stated that excessive hygiene during childhood is a significant risk factor for development of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Authors of this study hence looked at the probiotic & pathogenic bacte...
'No, probiotics aren't a waste of money - and here's why...'
Posted 3 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Angela Dowden begins with the contradicting news and reviews on probiotics, as well as their widespread consumption - (nearly 60% of UK households regularly buy probiotics.) Dowden's conclusion is that probiotics are surely worth their mone...
Experts map the body's bacteria
Posted 3 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Scientists are looking into the different types of bacteria (including probiotics and pathogens) that live in different areas of the body. Researchers at the University of Colorado examined 27 areas on the bodies of nine healthy volunteers,...
'It's what's inside that counts' - The Times looks into the gut
Posted 3 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Mark Henderson, Science Editor for the new Times magazine, Eureka, delves into the complex make-up of the human body, correctly stating that we humans "are mostly bacteria." Different people have unique gut microbiomes, which can affect pre...
'Tackling protozoal parasites: a guide to practitioners'
Posted 3 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Dr Brian McDonogh explains that parasitic infections such as Giardia lamblia or Entamoeba histolytica are far more common than we think. Last but not least on his list of recommendations for treatment are probiotics. McDonogh suggests recol...
Probiotics: Looking Underneath the Yogurt Label
Posted 3 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Tara Parker-Rope discusses the difficulty of knowing the right probiotic from the wrong one. To our delight, Parker-Rope quickly states that 'different probiotic species and strains confer different health benefits.' The article selected a ...
Probiotics are “Miracle Bugs” – from fighting colds to controlling your weight
Posted 4 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Jerome Burne opens by asking “Unimpressed by all the hype over ‘good’ bacteria…? So were the experts. But now there’s hard scientific evidence about the extraordinary powers of probiotics”. Pointing out ...
Synbiotics in For your child’s health may cut childhood infections: A study at the Institut Rosell
Posted 4 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A new study by the Institut Rosell found that the probiotics and prebiotics in OptiBac Probiotics For your child’s health could reduce infant infections by about 25%. This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in France r...
A probiotic yoghurt a day could help mothers shed baby fat
Posted 4 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Finnish researchers at the University of Turku discovered that pregnant women who took probiotic supplements found it easier to get their figure back after giving birth than women who did not supplement their levels of friendly bacteria. Th...
'Probiotic Beauty', in the Daily Mail
Posted 4 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Claire Coleman introduces the concept that probiotics and prebiotics can be beneficial for the skin, by balancing the skin ‘microflora’ or microbiota. Coleman cited research published in the British Journal of Dermatology sugges...
Probiotics ease chronic fatigue
Posted 4 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
This study was prompted by preceding research suggesting that people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) have alterations in their intestinal microbiota, and that gut bacteria could influence mood-related symptoms and even behaviour in huma...
Probiotics show potential for improving health in alcoholics
Posted 4 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
According to a pilot study from Russia and the US, supplementing with Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus plantarum could improve the health of an alcoholic’s liver. Irina Kirpich, lead author of the study, highlighted the enorm...
Grape Seed Extract can destroy leukaemia cells
Posted 4 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Researchers at the University of Kentucky found that within 24 hours of exposure to Grape Seed Extract, 76% of leukaemia cells died through a process of natural self-destruction called apoptosis. This research could possibly open doors for ...
Probiotics restore bowel flora and improve liver enzymes in human alcohol-induced liver injury
Posted 4 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
This pilot study carried out on 66 Russians with alcoholic psychosis and 24 healthy controls found that the alcoholic patients had significantly less Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli in their systems than the participants without alcohol-ind...
Exposed: Probiotic Supplements Vs. Probiotic Yogurt Drinks
Posted 4 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Dr Sarah Brewer delved into detail on the differences between probiotics in supplements and those in fermented dairy drinks. Yoghurt drinks contain live, fragile bacteria whose numbers fall whilst on the shelf, leaving sometimes only ...
Probiotic chewing gum counteracts bleeding gums
Posted 4 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A study by Professor Twetman at the University of Copenhagen found that a probiotic chewing gum containing a strain of Lactobacillus Reuteri reduced gingivitis, or inflamed gums. Of 42 participants with moderate gingivitis, subjects g...
Probiotics effective in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhoea
Posted 4 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A study at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine & published in American Family Physician found probiotic supplements to be useful in avoiding diarrhoea caused by antibiotics or by gastrointestinal viral or bacterial infections. ...
Diversity of bacteria in the gut and eczema in early life
Posted 4 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A small clinical trial at Harvard by Forno et al (2008) found that infants suffering from eczema had less diversity in their microflora and microfauna than babies without eczema. The findings furthermore concluded that diversity...
Bacteria ‘can ward off diabetes’
Posted 4 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
US scientists believe that bacteria can help to protect against insulin-dependent type I diabetes, by stopping the rogue immune response that triggers the disease. Researchers studied diabetic mice that had been genetically engineered...
A multistrain probiotic preparation significantly reduces symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in a double-blind placebo-control
Posted 4 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A Clinical trial by Williams E, et al. that treated 52 adults with two types of Lactobacillus and two types of Bifidobacteria for a period of 8 weeks found that the probiotic supplements made significant reductions in the severity of IBS sy...
Evaluation of the functional efficacy of an antioxidative probiotic in healthy volunteers
Posted 4 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
This Clinical trial by Songisepp et al noted a clear improvement of antioxidative defence system in healthy individuals who had consumed either Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3 goat milk or probiotic capsules with lactobacillus fermentum. ...
Green Tea Extract beneficial for the heart
Posted 4 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A small study from Greece found that regular consumption of Green Tea Extract could improve the function of the endothelial cells (cells that line the walls of blood vessels), boosting cardiovascular health. The study indicated the po...
Institut Rosell – Lallemand adds another probiotic strain to its range
Posted 5 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Rosell has developed a new strain, called Lactobacillus casei Rosell-215, chosen for its strong research to back its health benefits. The technology used by Rosell to provide resistance to heat and acid is called Probiocap, which has ...
Prebiotic health claims interest the Italians, and women
Posted 5 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Research by Leatherhead Food International and funded by French fibre specialist Syral looked at consumer responses to prebiotic health claims in Italy, the Netherlands, France, Germany and the UK. They found that the Dutch were the l...
ral probiotic and prevention of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections
Posted 5 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
This randomized, double blind pilot study in intensive care unit patients found significant delays in the recurrence of P.aeruginosa respiratory colonization and/or infection in patients who were orally administered with probiotics as oppos...
Lifelong prebiotic supplementation may extend lifespan by over 30%
Posted 5 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A French animal study at the Université Henri Poincare Nancy I that fed rats the prebiotics inulin and oligofructose (FOS) showed not only increased survival rates in the prebiotic group, but also lower body weight, cholesterol and p...
Probiotic supplements may help alcoholics
Posted 5 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A small study at the University College London which gave Lactobacillus casei to patients with alcoholic cirrhosis found probiotics to restore neutrophil (white blood cell) function in people with alcoholic cirrhosis. At the end of th...
Effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus probiotic supernatants on body weight and leptin expression in rats
Posted 5 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A study by Sousa et al at the University of Georgia, Athens, found that rats that had been given the probiotic acidophilus showed weight loss when compared to rats that had not been administered with the friendly bacteria. Administrat...
Probiotics may alleviate gut problems amongst people with HIV and AIDS
Posted 5 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
In the first, small study on benefits of probiotics on the quality of life for people with HIV/AIDS, Canadian and Nigerian researchers found that occurrence of diarrhoea, flatulence and nausea was resolved in all participants receiving prob...
Can probiotics ease stress-related gut problems?
Posted 5 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A double-blind study by leading probiotic firm, Institut Rosell Lallemand, randomly assigned either probiotics or placebos to 75 volunteers between the ages of 18 and 60. The group receiving the probiotics Lactobacillus acidophilus Ro...
Digestion products set to overtake products for heart health
Posted 5 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
An article in New Nutrition Business predicted that probiotics and antioxidants will see healthy new growth this year, but that the market for heart health has been and gone. Julian Mellentin described heart health as “one of th...
Probiotic and prebiotic combination can improve anti-oxidative activity
Posted 5 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A mixture of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium probiotics as well as oligofructose prebiotics was associated with a reduction in the oxidation of LDL, linked to the hardening of the arteries. Results from this EU and MicroFunction Pro...
The role of probiotics in paediatrics
Posted 5 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A conference on probiotics sponsored by Nestle told paediatricians to keep themselves informed of research on probiotics. Martin Martin MD, a paediatrics professor at the David Geffen University in Los Angeles highlighted the rise of allerg...
Probiotic and prebiotic supplements preventing eczema in infants
Posted 5 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Using data covering over 2,000 infants and 12 studies, Australian researchers reported that probiotics such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and the prebiotics GOS and FOS showed benefits for a range of allergic diseases and food reactions. ...
Prebiotics may help prevent adolescent weight gain
Posted 5 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A study at the Baylor College of Medicine and published in the Journal of Pediatrics found that during puberty especially, imbalance between energy intake and expenditure can cause weight gain and possible obesity. The study, involvin...
Probiotics reduce incidence of Salmonella in pigs, leading to safer pork products
Posted 5 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Researchers from the UK’s Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Weybridge used a special technique based on NASA space technology, growing pieces of pig gut in a 3D matrix to replicate the environment inside a pig’s gut. Follo...
The role of a probiotics mixture in the treatment of childhood constipation: a pilot study
Posted 5 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
This study by Bekkali et al examined the effects of probiotics such as Bifidobacteria bifidum, Bifidobacteria infantis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus in children aged 4-16 years with constipation. The study found an increase in frequency...
Probiotics could greatly improve the health of premature babies
Posted 6 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
An Australian meta-analysis including over 1000 infants and various probiotic supplements found a reduced risk of necrotising enterocolitis in children given probiotics, as well as a 53% reduction in the risk of mortality. Necrotising...
Probiotics: Are they worth taking?
Posted 6 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
An extensive study by Pamela Mason on the suggested benefits of probiotics began by stating the vital factors of a good probiotic product: the ability to resist gastric acidity, bile salts, and pancreatic enzymes; adhesion to the gut wall l...
Probiotics reducing Salmonella food poisoining
Posted 6 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Irish scientists found that probiotics led to improvements in both clinical and microbiological outcomes of Salmonella infection in pigs. The pigs were fed either milk supplemented with 5 strains of Lactobacillus, or regular milk for ...
Encapsulation of probiotics: the best way?
Posted 6 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
The dairy sector has often been the area where probiotics have boomed, yet more and more research has been focusing on the protection of probiotics; coating and encapsulating the friendly bacteria in order to increase stability and to impro...
Many consumers missing out on health benefits of probiotics
Posted 6 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Lisa Miles at the British Nutrition Foundation stated that probiotic products are looked at by consumers who closely follow the health market, and also those who are wealthier, due to the relatively high cost of these products. Howeve...
Synbiotics (both probiotics and prebiotics) reduce risk of colon cancer
Posted 6 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A large, EU sponsored study found that a mix of prebiotics and probiotics acutely altered the composition of colonic bacterial ecosystems, and could thereby decrease the numbers of cancer-promoting bacteria. The amount of Clostridium ...
Combination of probiotics and prebiotics (synbiotic) in infant formula = the future of infant formulas?
Posted 6 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A study sponsored by Nestle found formula containing the probiotic Bifidobacterium longum and prebiotics GOS and FOS to be completely safe, and beneficial to the health of infants. The study involved 138 infants who received either th...
Prebiotics could reduce artery hardening and boost heart health
Posted 6 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Researchers from the Auvergne Human Nutrition Research Centre reported that mice given prebiotics in the form of either long-chain inulin or an oligofructose-enriched inulin showed significantly reduced levels of triacylglycerol and 30 less...
Prebiotics in formula could cut infections in infants
Posted 6 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
Healthy infants given formula with the prebiotics GOS and FOS had 9.6% lower incidence of recurring infections than infants given formula without prebiotics. Researchers from Milan, Rotterdam and Germany reported that the infant...
Prebiotics reduce childhood infections and illness
Posted 6 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
A study at the Université René Descartes, Paris, recruited 35 healthy children and gave them either a supplement of the prebiotic oligofructose, or a maltodextrin placebo for 21 days. Children in the prebiotic group had ...
Health aspects of probiotics - a review by Arthur Ouwehand & Satu Vesterland
Posted 9 years ago by Soraya in General Health News
This review on the health benefits of probiotics in humans noted benefits in taking probiotic supplements, particularly to prevent or relieve diarrhoea; to relieve lactose intolerance; and to enhance the immune system. It stated that ...