Nutramedic &Cosmetics
What Makes Synbiotics such an Exciting Prospect? Synbiotics represent a growing area in the quest for better gut health, with an 8.2% projected annual growth rate. The gut-brain axis may open opportunities for synbiotics to support cognitive health, making it a core commercial opportunity for health and nutrition brands and formulators. AUTHOR:
Per Rehné, Clasado Biosciences, CEO
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he future of health and nutrition is undoub tedly intertwined with the gut microbiome, a complex community of microbes residing in our digestive system. As scientific understanding deepens and the gut health field advances, we are understanding more about how this intricate ecosystem of bacteria, vi ruses, and fungi not only influences digestive health but also plays a pivotal role in overall well-being. Certain types of bacteria in the gut microbiome, known as beneficial bacteria or more colloquially as ‘good’ gut bacteria, are known to have particular health benefits to the host. Through gut bacteria’s interplay with the body, the benefits of a well-supported gut in addition to digestive health - include supporting the body’s natural defences in the immune system, and interestingly, cognition and mental health. We are fast approaching an industry tipping point in consumer awareness of the gut microbiome's im portance, and the demand for better gut health sup port in the form of nutraceuticals is on the rise. So, what do health and nutrition formulators need to look out for? One rapidly category is synbiotics, and it’s a clear area of opportunity. The category is poised to further advance gut health support by combining the benefits of prebiotics and probiotics in a single formulation. Prebiotics play an important role in the future of health and nutrition and com bining them into Synbiotics futher leverages the po tential benefits, so let’s explore what they are, their potential, and the opportunities they present for health and nutrition formulators.
The evolving nature of synbiotics
The term 'synbiotic' originates from the Latin words 'syn' and 'biotic,' meaning united or combined and re ferring to biological material, specifically bacteria. The current definition of a synbiotic, according to ISAPP (International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics), is a combination of prebiotics and probi otics in one product, designed to confer a specific health benefit to the host. Interestingly, this defini tion could expand in the future, to also cover the in clusion of other elements, such as postbiotics. These combinations harness the scientific bene fits of both prebiotics and probiotics in one product, increasing the population of beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome and nourishing them at the same time,
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ultimately supporting overall wellbeing. At present, there are two acknowledged types of synbiotics - syn ergistic synbiotics and complementary synbiotics. Synergistic synbiotics involve live probiotics and co-administered prebiotic substrates, working to gether to provide targeted benefits. Conversely, com plementary synbiotics have each component work ing independently, with the prebiotic supporting re sident beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Synbiotics: an industry tipping point
For health and nutrition formulators, the market has to be available and ready; it’s no use harnessing the latest in gut health science if it can’t directly meet the needs of a proactive health audience. The synbiotic category shines and is set for rapid expan sion globally. While both prebiotic and probiotic products are proving successful in their own right, synbiotics of fer a unique opportunity to combine multiple empiri cally proven products into one convenient supple ment for consumers. By combining scientifically sub stantiated pre and probitics and testing the combi nation, formulators can produce a finished product that can be scientifially substantiated and which may confer additional benefits. Indicating the scale of the opportunity, research firm Mordor Intelligence predicts a robust 8.2% com pound annual growth rate (CAGR) for synbiotics un til 2027, suggesting the ideal time for formulators to explore this category is now.
Evidence meets convenience
Key to unlocking the potential of synbiotics is un derstanding the evolving needs of today's health- conscious consumers. With increasingly busy life styles, consumers seek convenience and simplicity in product delivery methods, underpinned by clear scientific evidence. Multivitamins, for example, have been successful in providing consumers with a com prehensive solution to meet their daily nutritional requirements without the hassle of taking multiple supplements individually. In the same vein, synbiotics offer a holistic ap proach to gut health by addressing both the reple nishment of beneficial bacteria and the nourishment of existing gut flora. This convergence of conve nience-seeking consumers and growing gut health
