IRELEND – International leader in taste & nutrition company, Kerry Group, has teamed up with researchers from APC Microbiome Ireland (APC), University College Cork to explore how diet can support cognitive health.
The Ireland-based partners will focus on biotic technologies to develop novel solutions focused on the gut-brain axis to provide health benefits around stress, anxiety and mood.
The new products will be added to Kerry’s existing ProActive Health portfolio, which includes a range of clinically validated, branded ingredients for the food, beverage and supplements industries.
The new partnership will combine APC’s 20 years of microbiome research expertise with Kerry’s experience in commercializing science-backed ingredients in global markets.
This is not the first time the Kerry and APC have partnered in research and development of gut-brain interaction products.
Kerry Group has in pipeline a cognitive and immune health focused postbiotic concept.The research was conducted by a team of researchers from Kerry, Trinity College Dublin and APC Microbiome Ireland.
The researchers concluded that Wellmune works on the inflammatory and antimicrobial behavior of monocytes and macrophages—cells that are a critical part of the innate immune system.
Its Stressless Immune summer fruit gummy included the firm’s Wellmune Adapt, a proprietary baker’s yeast beta glucan postbiotic for immune system support, paired with vitamin C and Sensoril ashwagandha, to tap into the fact the immune system is heavily influenced by stress.
“This is based on the concept that putting an immune ingredient and stress ingredient together in one gummy will produce better efficacy,” explained Elizabeth Horvath, vice president of marketing at Kerry.
The mechanism of action behind the Wellmune ingredient was studied, with published results in iScience indicating it acts as a trainer of the innate immune system.
APC carries out pioneering microbiome research, so far producing more than 3,000 peer-reviewed scientific publications.
The institute has been particularly successful in collaborating with industry to develop science-based probiotics and other products, with more than €72 million in research funding secured from industry.
APC researchers recently showed that patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD) have a different microbiota composition than age-matched healthy controls (HC).
They also completed research revealing the gut microbiota play a role in the heightened social fear response tied SAD.
“Our study shows that the microbiota in SAD is capable of driving symptoms characteristic of the disorder,” said Prof John Cryan, vice president for research and innovation at UCC and lead author on the study.
“This makes for exciting possibilities in the effort to develop therapeutics for patients suffering with SAD.”
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