The science behind HOWARU®;

1. General information about probiotics

1.1. Introduction

A growing awareness of the relationship between diet and health has led to an increasing demand for food products and dietary supplements that enhance health as well as provide basic nutrition. Scientific studies have shown that ingestion of specific strains of friendly bacteria - probiotics - enhances several physiological functions, particularly the body’s natural defence system and intestinal well-being.

The human gastrointestinal tract contains ten times more bacterial cells than the number of human cells in the body. Many of these bacteria are beneficial, others potentially detrimental and, in many cases, it is not known what role they play in our intestine. Most probiotics are either lactobacilli or bifidobacteria. In particular, bifidobacteria constitute a major part of the beneficial microflora naturally present in the intestinal tract of humans and animals. A balanced intestinal microflora is highly important to keeping the body in healthy working order.

1.2. Bifidobacteria

Bifidobacteria are of particular interest to scientists as they are often the most abundant bacteria found in the faeces of breast-fed infants. There is general consensus that they are the primary reason for the infants’ greater resistance to disease compared to formula-fed infants. In adults, bifidobacteria also remain a major component of the intestinal microflora.

Depending on the food consumed and other conditions, the levels of bifidobacteria in the intestine remain relatively stable throughout adult life. Maintaining sufficient levels of bifidobacteria is considered beneficial to health.

1.3. Lactobacilli

Lactobacilli have been used unwittingly for food fermentation since ancient times. Today the microbial nature of lactic acid fermentation is well known, and lactobacilli are used as starter cultures for the fermentation of food products such as yogurt, buttermilk, salami and pickled vegetables. In addition to their presence in fermented foods, lactobacilli are part of the natural microflora in the gut and urogenital tract. Studies have shown that ingestion of specific probiotic lactobacilli can help strengthen the immune system and reduce intestinal disorders. As with bifidobacteria, the consumption of probiotic lactobacilli can contribute to consumer health and well-being.

2. Science behind…

2.1. HOWARU® studies and main results

Numerous studies have been conducted investigating the health benefits of probiotics. Work continues to identify probiotic organisms that provide significant health benefits, improve our understanding of how they work and find new and better health and technological applications.

For years, internationally renowned research institutes have conducted research on the impact of probiotic consumption on immune modulation and intestinal health. HOWARU® probiotic strains have also been thoroughly investigated for years in these specific areas.

Proven efficacy via a unique screening and research process

2.1.1 Survival and colonisation

For improved functionality in the intestinal tract, probiotics must be able to survive passage through the acidic environment of the stomach, resist the bile present in the small intestine and achieve transient colonisation of the gastro-intestinal tract. These are key requirements for a bacterium to be considered probiotic.

• remarkably high tolerance towards the low pH of the stomach
• high resistance to bile salts
• the ability to survive the hostile gastro-intestinal environment
• high adherence to intestinal cells

In this way HOWARU® can transiently colonise the gastro-intestinal tract

Stool analysis shows that HOWARU® probiotics survive in the gastro-intestinal tract of humans and can be detected for up to two weeks after the consumption of products containing HOWARU®.

Prasad, J., H. Gill, J. Smart, and P. K. Gopal. 1998. Selection and characterisation of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains for use as probiotics. Int. Dairy J. 8:993-1002.

2.1.2. Immune modulation

A well-functioning immune system provides important protection against infections and diseases. This may be due to the stimulation of the gut immune system, modulation of immune cell production and function, or both.

HOWARU® Bifido and HOWARU® Rhamnosus have been specifically selected for their immune-modulating properties, which have been confirmed in multi-centre human studies.

Protection from disease

A recent study involving more than 600 one to three-year-old children has indicated that a year’s consumption of HOWARU® Bifido, in combination with a prebiotic, reduced the incidence and prevalence of dysentery. In addition, it reduced the number of days of severe illness or fever and the incidence of middle ear infection. Blood iron levels and growth were also improved.

Modulation of the immune system

HOWARU® Bifido and HOWARU® Rhamnosus have been seen to enhance natural immunity in clinical trials performed in three countries. The trial results showed that the strains enhanced the activity of natural killer cells and the phagocytic activity of peripheral blood mononucleocytes.

These combined results give a strong indication that HOWARU® Bifido and Rhamnosus have a beneficial modulating effect on immune system functions. This means they may be particularly useful to strengthen the body’s natural defences.

Gill, H., K. J. Rutherfurd, M. L. Cross, and P. K. Gopal. 2001. Enhancement of immunity in the elderly by dietary supplementation with the probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis HN019. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 74:833-839

Gill, H. S. and K. J. Rutherfurd. 2001. Probiotic supplementation to enhance natural immunity in the elderly: effects of a newly characterized immunostimulatory strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 (DR20™) on leucocyte phagocytosis. Nutr. Res. 21:183-189.

Sazawal, S., U. Dhingra, A. Sarkar, P. Dhingra, S. Deb, D. Marwah, V. P. Menon, J. Kumar, and R. E. Black. 2004. Efficacy of milk fortified with a probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis (DR-10™)and prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides in prevention of morbidity and on nutritional status. Asia Pac. J. Clin. Nutr. 13:S28.

2.1.3. Intestinal health

The importance of intestinal health is often not appreciated - despite the fact that intestinal problems are one of the major reasons for visiting the doctor. Intestinal health covers a wide range of ailments, from diarrhea to irritable bowel syndrome and from lactose intolerance to bacterial overgrowth. HOWARU® Dophilus has been specifically selected for its intestinal health-promoting properties, which have been observed in animal studies and confirmed in human studies.

Reduction of lactose intolerance symptoms

Lactose intolerance is a common state where adults lack the necessary enzyme to digest lactose. Ingestion of dairy products can then lead to a number of unpleasant intestinal problems. HOWARU® Dophilus has been shown to bring about a dramatic reduction in the intestinal discomfort suffered by lactose intolerant consumers following milk consumption.

Intestinal microflora modulation

Many intestinal diseases are caused by destabilisation of the composition and/or activity of the intestinal microflora. Consumption of HOWARU® Dophilus increases the level of intestinal lactobacilli and improves the activity of the intestinal microflora; reducing the level of toxic amines and carcinogen-activating enzymes.

These and other results strongly indicate that HOWARU® Dophilus can modify the intestinal microflora and improve intestinal health.

Goldin, B.R. and Gorbach, S.L. 1988. The effect of milk and Lactobacillus feeding on human intestinal bacterial enzyme activity. Am J. Clin. Nutr. 39:756-761

Montes, R. G., T. M. Bayless, J. M. Saavedra, and J. A. Perman. 1995. Effect of milks inoculated with Lactobacillus acidophilus or a yogurt starter culture in lactose-maldigesting children. J. Dairy Sci. 78:1657-1664.

Sui, J., S. Leighton, F. Busta, and L. Brady. 2002. 16S ribosomal DNA analysis of the faecal lactobacilli composition of human subjects consuming a probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM^(R). J. Appl. Microbiol. 93:907-912.

2.1.4. Safety

Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria are generally regarded as safe because of their long history of use in fermented dairy products, their ubiquitous presence in the human intestine and urogenital tract and their rare involvement in disease.

The HOWARU® strains have been extensively tested for their safety and no risk factors have been identified. What’s more, millions of consumers have eaten products containing these strains for many years without any known adverse effects. The use of HOWARU® strains in human studies has also been reviewed and approved by many ethical committees, illustrating the confidence medical and scientific experts have in their safety.