The World Gastroenterology Organisation has updated its 2008 practice guideline for probiotics and prebiotics. Of special interest are the updated Tables 8 and 9, which summarize the probiotic or prebiotic, dose and grading of evidence for a number of GI clinical conditions for which there is evidence. The table is global in focus, and the document – available now in English – will be available in other languages soon. WGO Practice Guideline – Probiotics and Prebiotics – 2011.
New book written for the generalist covers fundamental microbiological concepts of bacterial evolution and behavior and provides perspective on their constructive and destructive activities. Bacteria. The Benign, the Bad, and the Beautiful, by Trudy Wassenaar is now available from Wiley-Blackwell.
2011 update of Inventory of Microbial Food Cultures considered safe for use in foods. An International Dairy Federation (IDF) taskforce has updated a 2002 inventory of safe microbial species including some probiotic species. Paper.
Jeffrey Gordon interview with National Public Radio about findings from a study on the impact of probiotic yogurt consumption on gut microbiota, microbiome expression and urinary metabolites [McNulty et al. ScienceTranslational Medicine, Vol 3(106)].
ISAPP is focus of article in Dairy Foods, “Looking Out for Probiotics.”
Public Comment is solicited for NIH Common Fund Initiatives by September 14th, 2011. One of the proposed projects, Microbiome, Part 2, includes probiotics. Potential impact of Common Fund investment: Systems biology-derived “designer” probiotics may offer an inexpensive, holistic approach to disease prevention and treatment, although much research is necessary to realize this potential. It should be noted that probiotics have been used for decades, but systematic analyses of their efficacy and safety have not been conducted.
The publisher for the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council announced that PDF versions of 4,000 books (including topics of food, nutrition, health, and Reference Dietary Intakes) will be downloadable to anyone free of charge from its website. PDF versions can be obtained on the book’s page and clicking the “Download Free PDF” button.
Professor Seppo Salminen, University of Turku, Finland, announced the development of a website where a book covering Terminology for Functional Foods (including probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, health claims, sensory evaluation of foods, and molecular gastronomy) is available in English, Portuguese and Italian. Download for free.
ISAPP Board of Directors publishes letter to editor of British Journal of Nutrition, “Probiotic and prebiotic claims in Europe: seeking a clear roadmap.”
ISAPP Past-President Gregor Reid traveled to Eastern Europe to attend the International Scientific Conference on Probiotics and Prebiotics in Kosice, Slovakia, as well as other events, and filed these personal reflections. Report.
Former ISAPP secretary, James Versolovic, authored an editorial for the latest edition of Probiotics Watch, a quarterly report sponsored by Danone Research that reviews recent scientific publications on probiotics.
The much anticipated review of probiotic safety, conducted by the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Advancing Excellence in Health Care, and jointly sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), the NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), has been published. Safety of Probiotics to Reduce Risk and Prevent or Treat Disease.
Notice of registration deadline for FASEB Summer Research Conference “Probiotics, Intestinal Microbiota and the Host: Physiological and Clinical Implications”, Carefree Resort, Carefree, Arizona, USA. The conference will be held July 24-29, 2011. Early registration deadline is June 1, 2011.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released a final technical report from a stakeholders’ meeting December 2, 2010 meeting in Amsterdam. Titled “Outcome of a public consultation on the Draft Opinion of the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition, and Allergies (NDA) on a guidance on the scientific requirements for health claims related to gut and immune function,” this report includes a summary of comments received from the public on the draft guidance on gut and immune claims and the NDA panel’s response to those comments. Report. Updated guidance on gut and immune claim substantiation.
ISAPP Past-President Gregor Reid was honored by Massey University with their Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. While in New Zealand accepting this award, Dr. Reid also was interviewed about probiotics for a radio show. This is a great discussion of basic probiotic information.
Open letter to ISAPP membership from President, Glenn Gibson. ISAPP’s 10th anniversary approaches and Glenn discusses vision for ISAPP’s next 10 years.
New Video from Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) examining probiotics launched today. “Germs with a Positive Attitude” features ISAPP Board members, Drs. Todd Klaenhammer and Mary Ellen Sanders. Press release. YouTube video link. CAST.
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) will be hosting a presentation by Dr. Justin Sonnenburg of Stanford University on March 9, 2011 at 11:00 am EST titled “Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Small Molecules: Manipulating Host Biology Via the Intestinal Microbiota.” To connect to the seminar via webinar, contact Cindy Lentino at ODS: lentinoc@nullod.nih.gov.
The International Probiotics Association is hosting a free access webinar series “Pre & Probiotics 2011” 8:00 am New York time, March 29, 2011.
Probiotics European Scientific League (PESL) proposes independent logo to differentiate probiotic supplements that meet quality standards. The PESL will conduct testing and certification of products. Interview with Dr Jean-Pol Warzée, the general secretary and executive director of PESL, and Professor Bruno Pot, Pasteur Institute in Lille, France.
“Microwarriors. The Power of Probiotics.” The trailer for this recently launched documentary on probiotics is available on YouTube. www.microwarriorsmovie.com
Regulatory issues that impact the probiotic and prebiotic fields seem to be an overriding concern of late. In Europe, EFSA’s NDA panel continues to reject all probiotic/prebiotic health claims, including claims submitted by Danone that Actimel can help with antibiotic-associated diarrhea and Yakult that its product can help defend against pathogens of the upper respiratory tract. Evidence provided by Danone included a human trial published in the British Medical Journal. Evidence provided by Yakult included a recent human study being submitted for publication conducted at Loughborough University, UK (NUTRA ingredients-usa.com report). European prebiotic and probiotic researchers expressed disagreement with the EU health claim approval process, registering their dissatisfaction on a website http://www.gut-health.eu/ designed to tally likeminded scientists on this issue (NUTRA ingredients-usa.com report). In the USA, the FTC settled with Dannon over what claims it considers substantiated. Dannon agreed to some wording changes and qualifications on servings needed for gut regularity claim, but the settlement leaves Dannon able to continue making claims on immune support for DanActive and on digestive comfort and regularity for its Activia product (NUTRA ingredients-usa.com report). The FDA Centers for Biologic Evaluation and Research and Drug Evaluation and Research (CBER and CDER, respectively) published a draft guidance document on when researchers must file an Investigational New Drug application when doing human research. In ISAPP’s opinion, this guidance did not adequately address the lawful conduct of human research on foods in the US without the need for an IND. ISAPP filed comments January 11 outlining its concerns with the draft guidance as written.
Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research announced. Young investigators committed to basic research on gastrointestinal microbiota, probiotics and their role in health and wellness should apply. Application deadline: February 15, 2011. Two grants made available by Danone and Yakult in the amount of $50,000 are available. www.probioticsresearch.com
FDA Law Blog produced by Hyman, Phelps & McNamara law firm, recently noted an article (originally published in Food Chemical News) titled “The Cost of Inadequate Substantiation”, which provides perspective by two US food law attorneys on FDA inaction and FTC action on allegedly false or misleading health benefit advertising claims on foods in the USA.
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