Practitioner-only brand Designs for Health preparing for Australia launch with aggressive NPD and new tech focus
US-headquartered practitioner-only brand Designs for Health is gearing up for its official launch in Australia, with former Blackmores, Vitaco and Mr Vitamins exec Peter Barraket at the helm.
The firm has recently held some 'soft launch' breakfast events, with the major unveiling set for early December.
Speaking to NutraIngredients-Asia, Barraket said the firm would launch with a portfolio of 22 products, largely focusing on digestive, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health.
"After this, we are planning on having a very aggressive NPD pipeline as the US business has a large pool of products to choose from," he said. "But we do have to temper this with the fact that all products are being made in Australia, so many of the US formulations will need adjusting," he added.
Designs for Health was formed in the US by Jonathan and Linda Lizotte in 1989.
Earlier this year, it appointed Nathan Cheong, the former boss of FIT-BioCeuticals — the practitioner-only retail firm owned by Blackmores — as managing director, based in Florida.
Danone study outlines possible mechanisms behind gut-brain axis in infants
The mechanisms behind the gut-brain axis in infants should be further explored and better understood, so possible nutritional interventions can be explored to support healthy brain development, according to a Danone-led study.
The first two to three years of life are when the gut microbiota of infants grows in diversity and richness. It is understood that disruptions in the evolving gut microbiota during such a critical period can affect cognitive development, which can in turn lead to complications that last well into adulthood.
While scientists have determined that communication between the microbiota, gut and brain is driven by neural and hormonal regulation, as well as metabolic and immune pathways, the underlying parallel developments of this communication are still unclear.
Based on this, the researchers reviewed the known associations between gut microbiota and brain development and function in early life, assessed the potential mechanisms involved, and reported on how nutritional intervention could further modulate the microbiota and, by extension, cognitive function and development.
Life-Space CEO exclusive: How Australia has become a probiotics pioneer in Asia
Australia's innovation culture and stringent regulatory system are among the reasons Australian companies are thriving in Asia, according to the boss of Life-Space, China's leading probiotic brand.
Craig Silbery, the CEO at Evolution Health — which produces popular probiotics brand Life-Space — spoke at Probiota Asia, organised by NutraIngredients-Asia last week.
The reputation that Australian supplement brands have built up over the years could be attributed to "an innovation culture and very entrepreneurial (spirit) for product development," Silbery said when describing the Australian supplements industry.
A regulatory framework that prioritises product quality and stability has also contributed to the credibility of Australian supplements.
"Probably about eight to 10 years ago, the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) moved their focus (for probiotics regulations) from brands of products to manufacturers of products, so the responsibility for compliance and stability programmes became a responsibility of the contract manufacturer. These contract manufacturers then have a risk of losing licence if their client wasn't following stability protocols," he said.
Resveratrol and propolis: Two promising targets to boost gut microbiota
Recent studies have revealed how polyphenols can alter gut microbes, suggesting they are worthy of further examination alongside probiotics to boost health outcomes.
However, better delivery systems and stability solutions will need to be found to maximise their potential.
Dr Michael Conlon, a senior research scientist at Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), pointed out the above concept while speaking at the Probiota Asia Summit.
Resveratrol, which is found in the skin of berries, is an example of a dietary polyphenol that is capable of altering microbial activity in the gut. Conlon said that a 2016 study showed that consumption of resveratrol increased the levels of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium in the gut.
In turn, these microbes inhibited the production of trimethyl-N-oxide (TMAO) – a known risk factor for artherosclerosis.
Propolis, a substance collected by honeybees from plants, is another polyphenol that can alter the gut microbes. A study conducted by the Bee Research Institute at Beijing-CSIRO showed that propolis could reduce the number of bacteroides, which in turn alleviates colitis, a condition where the inner lining of the colon is inflamed.
The Great Wall of…gut health? Aussie brand targets China with novel probiotic supplement
Australian firm Clinical Advantage is targeting the China market with its new digestive health brand, Biotik, using a novel delivery system and maximum bioavailability to appeal to consumers.
Partnering with Italian probiotics specialist SOFAR, Biotik uses the company's proprietary probiotic strain, LP-DG (Lactobacillus paracasei CNCM I-1572), and its patented technology to provide a convenient method of ingesting its supplement.
Biotik comes in 10ml single-serve bottles, each containing what is termed a 'micro shot' of probiotic-rich liquid.
Fresh probiotics are encapsulated in the lid, and released into the flavoured syrup below through a simple 'press and shake' system — a press-down mechanism in the bottle top is used to break the foil seal containing the live probiotics.
The user must then shake the bottle to mix the probiotics with the syrup before consuming the bottle's contents.
The product is sold in cartons of 12, and is available in two variations: the mango-flavoured Biotik Digestion contains eight billion units of LP-DG and is suitable for children aged four and above, as well as adults, while the strawberry-flavoured Biotik Children's contains one billion units of LP-DG and is suitable for children between three and 12 years old.