The battle between good and evil is a concept most people can grasp, which is one reason why probiotics have enjoyed increasing popularity in the past five to 10 years. With digestive systems struggling to keep up with modern diets and lifestyles, the beneficial bacteria that work to preserve certain areas of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract have taken the stage as the next big thing in the nutrition and health markets.
Whether they knew it or not, the yogurt-eating populations were the early adopters of probiotic health; and it was yogurt that kicked started the focus on functional probiotic foods, as well as the use of specific or proprietary strains for either health or marketing benefits. Sure, probiotic supplements wet around, but that market was always niche until more recently. According to BCC Research, of the $21.6 billion in global sales of probiotic ingredients and finished products in 2010, probiotic foods accounted for a dominating 91 percent ($19.6B), and supplements, at 6.4 percent ($1.3B), accounted for the next biggest chunk. The firm predicts 2015 global probiotics sales will reach $31.1 billion, a 7.8-percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR)—a 7.5-percent CAGR is expected for functional products, and a 9.6-percent CAGR for supplements.
This is not to say that probiotics have outgrown their niche moniker, but the potential has been teasing at the edge of stardom, if only research would catch up. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has lead the way in probiotic claims resistance, essentially claiming a lack of sufficient research to prove claims for digestive and other health benefits. Notably, Dannon and Nestle were mad to remove claims that consumption of their probiotic functional foods would confer immune benefits, especially involving colds and the flu.
While the industry and supporting scientists—who have published numerous research results in peer-reviewed journals—have ramped up the pressure to get some kind of digestive claim approved, it appears there will not be a claim for digestive, immune or any other health benefit from probiotic consumption approved anytime soon. For now, the industry continues to focus on filling research gaps relative to these health benefits.
“It’s true that probiotics have long been studied for digestive health, and that continued research supports their efficacy in this area,” said Peggy Steele, global business director for Danisco Health and Nutrition, who noted the researchers at Danisco’s dedicated health and nutrition center are bringing consistency and repeatability to the science in order to further establish the benefits. “In addition, we are bringing the same methodological approach to immune health benefits, which have been made difficult with the regulatory interpretations of the available science.” She assured Danisco continues to publish the results of clinical trials in respected, peer-reviewed journals, including several publications in the last few years; more have been accepted this year and are awaiting publication, and additional studies are currently underway. “Newer areas where probiotics may provide a benefit—including oral health, urinary tract health and vaginal health—are also being evaluated.”
Isabelle Champié, global marketing director for Institut Rosell-Lallemand, agreed oral care and women’s health are burgeoning areas for probiotics, as are stress management, atopic dermatitis and general wellness. “There is a variable level of scientific documentation published for these conditions,” she said. “Immunity and stress by far have the most supportive scientific documentation, while the other health areas are more emerging, but research is growing quickly in those fields.”
