Gut microflora and obesity

Modifying the population of bacteria in the gut may improve the regulation of glycemic control and reverse the insulin resistance that occurs with obesity, suggests a new study from the Nestlé Research Center.

An enhancement of oral glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity was observed in obese, diabetic animals following administration of antibiotics to modify the gut microflora, according to results published in the FASEB Journal. The results, building on earlier reports from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri, suggest a potential role for food-based approaches to modify gut microflora in obese people.

"Our results strongly support the idea that modulating gut microbiota could be beneficial for improving glycemic control and insulin sensitivity," said Dr. Chieh Jason Chou from Nestlé Research. "The next questions for Nestlé Research to answer are: Is there a gut microbiota profile that lowers the risk of obesity and diabetes development? And can we modulate gut microbiota accordingly, with food-based interventions, to improve metabolic regulation and glucose control?"

Initial breakthrough

A breakthrough paper published in Nature in December 2006 reported that microbial populations in the gut are different between obese and lean people, and that when the obese people lost weight their microflora reverted back to that observed in a lean person, suggesting that obesity may have a microbial component. At a recent scientific symposium organised by the Beneo Group, Dr. Kieran Touhy from the University of Reading noted that obese animals have significantly lower bifidobacteria levels than their lean counterparts, which suggests potential for prebiotic fibres since the growth of these bacteria is selectively promoted by inulin and fructooligosaccharides.

Dr. Nathalie Delzenne from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium and Dr. Robert Welch from the University of Ulster presented results from animal and human studies, respectively, which indicated the potential of prebiotic supplementation to regulated food intake. The new study, involving scientists from Nestle, the Catholic University of Louvain, and the Institute of Molecular Medicine Rangueil in Toulouse, adds and expands this knowledge base, showing that direct modulation of the gut microflora could directly affect metabolism, as well as influencing the maintenance of whole body glucose equilibrium, independent of food intake or obesity.

Study details

The researchers tested the influence of gut microflora modification in genetically (ob/ob) and diet-induced (DIO) obese mice. The animals were given broad ranging antibiotics (norfloxacin and ampicillin, at a dose of 1g/L) for two weeks. At the end of the study, a significant improvement in fasting glucose levels and oral glucose tolerance in both ob/ob and DIO mice was observed. Moreover, this was correlated with a reduction in the levels of triglycerides in the liver and an increase in levels of glycogen in the liver.

"Our results support the idea that modulating gut microbiota could be beneficial for improving glycemic control," wrote the authors. "However, more work has to be done in order to prove that gut microbiota modulation is a safe and effective therapeutic strategy in treating or managing type 2 diabetes in humans," they concluded.

Source: FASEB Journal
Published online ahead of print, 7 March 2008, doi:10.1096/fj.07-102723
"Gut microbiota modulation with norfloxacin and ampicillin enhances glucose tolerance in mice"
Authors: M. Membrez, F. Blancher, M. Jaquet, R. Bibiloni, P.D. Cani, R.G. Burcelin, I. Corthesy, K. Mace, C.J. Chou

Coffee may slash breast cancer risk: study

Drinking at least two to three cups of coffee a day may reduce a woman's risk of developing breast cancer or delay the onset of cancer, depending on her genes, suggests a new study.

Researchers from Lund University and Malmo University in Sweden looked at the coffee-drinking habits of about 460 breast cancer patients, and found that the potential protective effects of the beverage were dependent on variations in a gene called CYP1A2, which codes for an enzyme that metabolises both oestrogen and coffee. Half of the women had a variant called A/A, while the others had either A/C or C/C.

"This study is the first to report an association between coffee consumption, CYP1A2 genotype, and breast cancer characteristics, and our results warrants confirmation," wrote the researchers in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

"Because coffee is widely consumed and the CYP1A2 A/A genotype is present in half of the population, our findings may have important implications with regard to breast cancer given that coffee consumption is a potentially modifiable factor."

Coffee, one of the world's largest traded commodities produced in more than 60 countries and generating more than $70bn in retail sales a year, continues to spawn research and interest, and has been linked to a range of health benefits, including a reduced risk of diabetes, improved liver health, and potential protection against ovarian and liver cancer.

New data

The women completed questionnaires in order to assess their coffee consumption habits. The average age of the participants at diagnosis was 59.6, while their average BMI was 24.5 kg per sq. m.

Lead researcher Helena Jernstrom said: "Those women who had one of the C variants, and who had drunk at least three cups of coffee a day, developed breast cancer considerably more seldom than women with the A/A variant with the same coffee consumption. Their cancer risk was only two thirds of that of the other women.

"A/A women who had drunk two or more cups of coffee a day received more ambiguous help from their coffee consumption. On the one hand, their cancer appeared considerably later than among women who had seldom or never drunk coffee at a mean age of 58 years instead of 48 years, unless they had taken hormone replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms," she added.

The researchers related the effects to the female sex hormones, oestrogens. Jernstrom and co-workers noted that certain metabolic products of these hormones are known to be carcinogenic, and components of coffee improve the configuration of various oestrogens. Moreover, the caffeine content may also hamper the growth of cancer cells. Jernstrom stressed, however, that dietary recommendations regarding coffee consumption were not possible based on these preliminary results.

"This is new information that needs to be corroborated in other studies before we can issue any recommendations. If coffee does in fact provide some protection against breast cancer, then women in such a coffee-drinking country as Sweden ought to have fewer cases of cancer than other countries. This is also the case, at least compared with the U.S. There the proportion of breast cancer cases in the population is considerably higher, and there people drink both more decaffeinated coffee and less coffee in general," she said.

Over one million women worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, with the highest incidences in the US and the Netherlands. China has the lowest incidence and mortality rate of the disease. Hormone-sensitive oestrogen-receptor (ER) positive and progesterone-receptor (PR) positive tumours are said to be the most common type diagnosed among breast cancer patients in the US.

Source: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
2008, Volume 17, Pages 895-901
"Coffee Consumption and CYP1A2*1F Genotype Modify Age at Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Estrogen Receptor Status"
Authors: E. Bageman, C. Ingvar, C. Rose, H. Jernstrom

Calcium and multivitamins drive US market

Calcium was the most popular dietary supplement product in the United States in 2006, followed closely by glucosamine, according to market data recently presented to industry members.

Pooled from Euromonitor, Datamonitor, Mintel and Nutrition Business Journal, the data was gathered by Capsugel's global business development manager for dietary supplements Peter Zambetti. Within the scope of an overview of the global nutraceuticals market, Zambetti also pinpointed the types of dietary supplement and vitamin products that US consumers most commonly purchase. He identified products that are fast gaining popularity, as well as other products that are on the way out.

Zambetti, who is also in the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Association's (IADSA) global market affairs department, was addressing attendees at the recent Supply Side East trade show in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Dietary supplement preferences

The aging US population was a major driver for supplement sales, according to Zambetti.

"Around 50 percent of all dietary supplement products sold in the United States are age-related products for baby boomers," he said.

Sales of supplements in 2006 - the latest available year of comprehensive figures - were led by calcium, which saw sales of over $1bn. Glucosamine, which is used to support joint health, was the next most popular dietary supplement, recording sales of over $800m. Minerals were third in line, with sales of over $750m, followed by fish oil (sales over $400m), Co-Enzyme Q10 (just under $400m), probiotics (just under $300m), and noni (over $200m). Other popular dietary supplements included garlic, Echinacea, eye health products, Ginkgo Biloba and Sam-E.

Vitamin preferences

Multivitamins were by far the most popular products in the vitamin category, accounting for around 60 percent of the total vitamin market.

"There were sales of $4bn in multivitamins alone - because if people don't know what to take they'll take a multi," said Zambetti.

Multivitamins are predicted to grow by 7.5 percent in constant value between 2003 and 2008.B vitamins were the next popular vitamin product, with a market worth $1bn in 2006. Vitamin C was next, with over half a billion in sales, followed by vitamins E, D and A, all with sales under half a billion.

Falling supplements

Zambetti also provided an overview of the dietary supplement products that saw sales falling in the period. These included Vitamin E, Ginkgo Biloba, Echinacea, garlic, evening primrose oil and ginseng. According to Zambetti, in today's market these products are all considered "yesterday". Vitamin E was the hardest hit of all of these products, due to the negative publicity it received following publication of a controversial meta-analysis in 2005. Sales of this vitamin fell some $102m, said Zambetti.

According to Zambetti, the day after the negative vitamin E report came out, 20 percent of US consumers taking vitamin E supplements stopped taking them. EU consumers did not react quite as strongly, he said, primarily because the US consumer is more "fickle" and more easilty affected by negative media reports. Ginkgo Biloba sales were down $8.4m, Echinacea and garlic sales both fell $6m, evening primrose oil sales feel $4.2m, and ginseng sales were down $1.4m.

Supplements on the up

Supplements that are fast picking up steam in the US market include fish oil, Co-Enzyme Q-10, probiotics, glucosamine, noni, eye health products, and Sam-E. Fish oil was the fastest growing product, according to Zambetti: "The only thing fish oil can't do is start your car in the morning!" he said. Sales for the product increased $119m.CoQ10 was the next fastest growing supplement product, with sales increasing $67m, he said.

Probiotics were next, with sales up $64m. "We really need to thank Dannon on their education efforts for people to understand the benefits of probiotics," he told industry members. Glucosamine was the next fastest growing supplement in the US, with sales increasing $52m.Noni - which "ten years ago didn't exist" - was up $28m, while sales of eye health products increased $13m. Sam-E is also considered a fast growing supplement, with the market now considered to be worth around $100m. Other categories in the dietary supplement industry that Zambetti highlighted as up-and-coming include phytosterol Esters, resveratrol, nutrigenomics and nanotechnology.

US overview

Zambetti said that sales in the dietary supplement industry will be driven by specific supplements that help support body functions as consumers age, including eye, joint and heart health. In addition, Zambetti said that the supplement market will continue to grow as consumers turn to drug 'alternatives'.

"Blends of vitamins and dietary supplements are expected to perform strongly over the next three years as consumers increasingly turn to them to treat specific health conditions as they continue to question traditional drug therapy," he said.

Sports nutrition products were also popular in 2006, growing some 23 percent. According to Zambetti, this market is expected to top $12.7bn by 2011. Weight and glucose management will continue to be a priority for consumers, with more industry innovation occurring in these areas in order to meet consumer demand.

By Lorraine Heller, 5 May 2008, Foodnavigator.com

East needs education on healthy concepts: Beneo Orafti

Central and Eastern Europe represents good opportunities for healthy ingredients, but there is still a need to educate both at industry and consumer level, says Beneo Orafti.

Beneo Orafti, part of the Sudzucker group, has been present in the CEE market for more than 13 years, said Sander Van Vugt, sales manager, Northern and Eastern Europe. But it is expecting more sales in the CEE region as more companies invest in setting up factories here, more people become educated about the benefits of prebiotics and local producers also start to show more interest in health foods. However Van Vugt told NutraIngredients.com that in this market there is a need to raise more awareness about the benefits of healthy ingredients.

Inulin education

"People know what inulin is in Western Europe," he said. "Here you have to explain what it is."

Van Vugt gave a presentation at the FiCEE trade show this week to introduce the concept of inulin and oligofructose as nutritional dietary fibres to visitors, drawing on benefits such as aiding calcium absorption, potential as fat and sugar replacers, and ability to boost satiety. In the prebiotic/gut health arena Beneo Orafti has received a strong helping hand in the CEE market thanks to Dannone's advertising around its Activia product.

Beneo is now able to move "in its slipstream", he said. There is also scope to "copy and paste" product concepts using inulin from Western to Eastern Europe. Products already on the market using Beneo inulin include Swisslion Juvitana biscuits in Serbia, which are marketed for calcium absorption and balanced digestion; DM-Snacks SunChine breakfast cereals in Poland for calcium absorption; and Lotus Fruit ice cream in Czech Republic, for health and balance of the digestive system and natural defences.

Premiumisation

Van Vugt did not agree that, as inulin becomes better known, it is likely to be used in more mass market products made by local producers.

"We are always going after the premium price," he said. But while big companies have the marketing budgets to develop new markets and categories, smaller companies be they local or not - who can be more conservative and often have restricted commerical budgets - can develop sub-niches and move in afterwards.

Beneo Orafti said countries in the region showing the most promise and prebiotic awareness were the Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia and Slovenia. Van Vugt said there is huge potential at the moment in Poland, with growth of between 10 and 20 per cent. This rate is, in fact, in parallel with the growth rate presently seen on a worldwide basis.

By Jess Halliday in Warsaw, 25 Apr 2008, Foodproductiondaily.com