Each of the five research teams across the Asia-Pacific region will receive €50,000 (USD52,749) to support 18 months of research, aiming to advance scientific understanding of gut health in a region with diverse microbiome profiles.
This is an initiative of the Nutrition Research Grant by dsm-firmenich, which the company said was launched to fill critical gaps in Asia-Pacific nutrition science.
The inaugural grant was initiated based on gaps in two key areas, according to Dr Ek Kai Lin, head of Scientific and External Affairs, Health, Nutrition & Care (HNC) APAC at dsm-firmenich.
Firstly, there is a lack of microbiome data specific to Asian populations.
“The nutrition research available today is largely western-centric, limiting its applicability to Asian populations due to genetic, dietary, and environmental differences. For example, a recent article published in Nature Reviews Microbiology compiled data from 18 population-level microbiome cohort studies, but only three were conducted in Asian populations – two in China and one in Japan.
“While our grant projects aren’t large cohort studies, the €250,000 (USD263,495) award will support targeted research on biotic innovations for Asian populations. These studies will enhance our understanding of how nutrition impacts the gut microbiome and other health determinants,” said Dr Ek.
Secondly, there are knowledge gaps on the impact of gut microbiome at critical life milestones.
For instance, the first 1,000 days of life and the role of human breast milk on the gut microbiome continue to be studied for their long-term impact on children, which could also affect them in adulthood.
Similarly, there are gaps in understanding the microbiome’s role during puberty, menopause, and ageing, all of which are “crucial but tricky areas to explore”, according to Dr Ek.
Such insights are crucial for developing microbiome-based solutions that are appropriately tailored to each population.
Targeted solutions needed for varied Asian gut microbiome
Public interest in gut health is growing, but misconceptions about the efficacy and optimal use of microbiome solutions remain.
“There’s a lot of talk about gut health, but the specifics often aren’t clear. For example, people often assume that ‘the more, the better,’ but that’s not necessarily the case. Consumer messaging could be further sharpened, and that’s one of the gaps we aim to address with this grant.
“We want to understand individual variations, although that’s a complex challenge. We’re starting by focusing on population differences, examining how gut microbiome profiles and their responses to interventions vary between different populations and ethnicities,” said Dr Ek.
For example, there can be significant variation even among populations within the same country.
Dr Ek cited a recent study in China, which showed substantial microbiome variability within different provinces, highlighting the influence of geographical location on gut composition.
This phenomenon could be attributed to the different rates of industrialisation across regions, as industrialised locations tend to be more sterile with less ecological influences.
“We expect to see similar patterns in larger countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, where industrialised areas tend to have lower microbiome diversity and higher rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
“Conversely, non-industrialised communities often have higher microbiome diversity, which is associated with lower NCD rates, but they face greater risks of infectious diseases,” said Dr Ek.
This variability makes it difficult to develop universally effective solutions. Therefore, understanding the complexities of the gut microbiome among and between different populations is an essential first step, which will be taken by funding Asian-centric studies.
Why focus on HMOs and postbiotics
Despite having a pipeline of vitamin and omega-3 innovations, dsm-firmenich has chosen to spotlight HMOs and postbiotics for its inaugural grant due to their pivotal roles in gut health, which is a rising interest in the region.
The grant’s theme is “Health from the gut across the human lifespan”.
“We envision this grant as an ongoing programme, with each year focusing on different health themes relevant to the Asia-Pacific population. If we determine that there’s still a need to explore gut health and the microbiome, we’ll continue with another round of funding in this area,” said Dr Ek.
The company has already commercialised eight types of HMOs. While there are more than 200 HMO structures, the eight commercialised HMOs account for around 50% of HMO profiles found in human breastmilk, so there is still room for exploration.
Postbiotics are also gaining traction due to their enhanced stability compared to probiotics. These inanimate cells or their metabolites offer versatile application formats beyond traditional pills, such as gummies or ready-to-drink products, making them particularly appealing for children and elderly consumers who may have difficulty with conventional supplements.
To investigate the impact of HMOs, probiotics, and postbiotics on human health, five research projects were selected to receive grants, with each addressing different nutrition concerns.
Assistant Professor Bahrul Fikri from Hasanuddin University in Indonesia will conduct an observational study examining the relationship between HMOs in breastmilk, gut Bifidobacterium, vitamin D, and immune modulation in infants.
In Malaysia, Associate Professor Chong Chun Wie from Monash University is leading a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to assess the combined effects of HMOs and probiotics on overweight individuals.
Associate Professor Jeremy Lim from the National University of Singapore is focusing on pre-clinical research to identify postbiotics and HMOs that enhance gut microbiome and host health in Asian adults.
Meanwhile, Professor Ji-Yeon Kim from Seoul National University of Science & Technology is exploring how postbiotics and HMOs can modulate cellular senescence and improve gut barrier function in animal models.
Finally, Professor Yongsoon Park from Hanyang University in South Korea is conducting an RCT to investigate the impact of postbiotics on mood disorders in Korean adults.
