Culturelle expands range with Metabolism + Weight Management product

22-Jul-2021 - Last updated on 22-Jul-2021 at 21:06 GMT

Culturelle, the world’s number one-selling probiotic brand, has expanded is probiotic portfolio with its first product targeting metabolic health and weight management.

The product is formulated with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (formerly Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) along with ADM’s Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BPL1 (CECT 8145) strain. BPL1 is supported by a portfolio of pre-clinical and clinical evidence demonstrating its potential metabolic health and weight management benefits.

Among the studies supporting the strains efficacy is a three-month randomized, parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that was published in 2019 in the International Journal of Obesity. The study, which included 126 obese adults, found that supplementation with either live or heat-killed BPL1 led to significant reductions in waist circumference (-1.75 cm in the live and -1.84 cm heat-killed groups) and the live bacterium produced statistically significant reductions in BMI versus both its baseline levels and the placebo group.

“As this is the first Culturelle product to target metabolic health and weight management, we’re proud to say it’s formulated with BPL1 and highlight the robust science that supports it. This has been possible thanks to our strong partnership with ADM, and we’re looking forward to exploring further opportunities together,” said Eric Bianco, Brand Lead – North America at Culturelle.

The Culturelle Metabolism + Weight Management product is currently available in the United States and Canada.

Mechanism of action

Commenting on the specifics of how the strain’s effects, June Lin, Global Vice President, Marketing, Health & Wellness, ADM, told NutraIngredients-USA that three years of work by an interdisciplinary team of 12 ADM scientists identified lipoteichoic acid (LTA) as the compound responsible for BPL1’s functionality.

“BPL1-derived lipoteichoic acid is a complex compound comprised of amino acids, sugars and alcohols that is found in the cell walls of the bacteria,” she said. “Its unique composition was shown to effect reduction of fat deposition in pre-clinical model systems. BPL1 has also been studied in two clinical trials, which both demonstrated positive effects on measures of adiposity.”

Consumer demand

According to recent ADM research, almost one third of consumers have become more conscious about their weight – compared to just 21% prior to the pandemic. Indeed, additional data from the Hartman Group showed that of the 38% of U.S. consumers who have changed their views on health and wellness in the last year, 32% cited a change in weight as the reason why.

“With nearly half of U.S. consumers agreeing that good digestive health is important for overall well-being, many are also becoming aware of the gut microbiome and its link in supporting weight management,” added ADM’s Lin. “With that, consumers are seeking out microbiome-supporting solutions like probiotics to help meet their weight goals. In fact, 47% of U.S. consumers think probiotics help with weight management.

“Plus, 80% of U.S. consumers believe probiotics support gut health and 71% think they are beneficial to general health. There is also an uptick in shopper interest for the ingredient with 72% of U.S. consumers not currently using probiotics state that they would be interested in buying probiotic products in the future.”