Fiber-bound polyphenols for microbiome benefits

Organic NatureKnit, a patent-pending gut health ingredient from FutureCeuticals, demonstrated significant prebiotic activity in the human gut microbiome, according to a study published in Frontiers in Nutrition. The study, conducted in partnership with ProDigest in Ghent, Belgium, used ProDigest’s validated M-SHIME model to simulate the human gastrointestinal tract and microbiome. 

Findings: A 2.5-gram dose of Organic NatureKnit, which is a blend of organic fruit and vegetable fibers rich in naturally occurring bound polyphenols, induced a slow, gentle fermentation profile and a sustained, long-lasting prebiotic effect. Compared with commonly used purified organic fiber ingredients, Organic NatureKnit produced significantly greater effects at 48 hours, including higher total abundance of healthy gut bacteria, increased bacterial species richness, and higher total short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production.

According to Brendan Kesler, Innovation Director at FutureCeuticals and Postgraduate Researcher at The Rowett Institute, the findings highlight the ingredient’s differentiated performance. “Our NatureKnit portfolio represents an exciting fusion of our passion for creating natural, sustainable ingredients with state-of-the-art scientific research methods,” said Kesler. “This new research demonstrates that our patented blend of diverse fruit and vegetable fibers, along with naturally occurring fiber-bound polyphenols, delivers a greater and more sustained prebiotic effect compared to purified fibers within the human gut microbiome. It's an exciting development for the nutrition industry, because Organic NatureKnit goes beyond popular purified fibers to deliver several key attributes consumers are seeking in gut health products. It's fully organic and sustainable, gentle, and offers a comprehensive microbiome benefit much broader than purified fibers.” Learn more: The Natural View: New Study Focuses on Organic NatureKnit to Fill the Fiber Gap.

Magnesium L-threonate for cognitive health & sleep

Daily supplementation with 2g of Magtein (magnesium L-threonate) for six weeks is associated with improvements in cognitive performance and related outcomes, according to research published in Frontiers in Nutrition. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial included100 healthy adults aged 18 to 45 with self-reported dissatisfied sleep. Researchers found improvements in overall cognitive performance, working and episodic memory, reaction time, and a 7.5-year reduction in estimated brain cognitive age, and favorable changes in physiological stress markers, including reduced resting heart rate and increased heart rate variability.

The six-week study randomized participants to receive either 2 g/day of Magtein or placebo. Cognitive performance was assessed using the NIH Cognitive Toolbox, physiological stress markers were collected via Oura Ring wearable sleep tracking, sleep quality was measured using self-report tools including PROMIS Sleep, and reaction time and hand–eye coordination were evaluated with a digital aim trainer.

“This study adds meaningful clinical data to the growing body of evidence on Magtein," said Dr. Jennifer Gu, SVP of R&D at Magtein. "While earlier studies have demonstrated Magtein supports cognitive performance in older populations, this research suggests benefits may also extend to younger adults—along with additional outcomes related to cognitive function, sleep-related measures, and physiological markers such as heart rate variability, which is shown here for the first time.”

Dr. Gu added: “As additional ongoing and upcoming studies are completed, we look forward to further expanding the scientific understanding of Magtein and its role in formulations designed to support healthy brain cognitive aging, stress resilience, and sleep. As we look ahead, additional ongoing and upcoming studies will continue to expand our understanding of Magtein and its benefits. The growing body of evidence supports its use in formulations designed to support healthy brain cognitive aging, stress resilience, and sleep.”

Grape seed extract for gut-brain axis modulation

The researchers report:

• Supplementation with Biombalance upregulated the expression of antioxidant and homeostasis genes in the colon, ileum, and liver, accompanied by dose-dependent changes in the gut microbiota composition.
• Functional predictions indicated favourable modulation of microbial metabolic pathways, including those involved in antioxidant capacity and glutamate degradation.
• Biombalance positively influenced key gut–brain axis mediators, including GLP-1, the GLP-1 receptor, and NPY.

They concluded: "These findings highlight the potential of Biombalance to support health and gut–brain communication and to protect against oxidative and inflammatory stress in the gut."

Akkermansia muciniphila for weight management

Maypro shared the news of a placebo-controlled, eight-week clinical trial involving 130 overweight adults, in which both live and postbiotic forms of AKK PROBIO, a proprietary strain of Akkermansia muciniphila, demonstrated improvements in metabolic and emotional health, including increased GLP-1 production, influences on leptin production, greater reductions in body weight and fat mass, maintenance of healthy triglyceride levels, and improved mood, sleep quality and liver function. The live form of AKK PROBIO was shown to increased peptide YY (PYY) levels and support healthy total and LDL cholesterol.

The researchers concluded: "This study systematically evaluated the effects of viable A. muciniphila PROBIO and its postbiotics in overweight individuals, confirming their ability to improve overweight-related metabolic disorders through various mechanisms, including reducing lipid accumulation, modulating liver function, and reshaping gut microbiota. These findings provide a theoretical foundation and data support for developing products and clinical applications of A. muciniphila PROBIO in managing metabolic disorders such as overweight and obesity."

Maypro says the results confirm AKK PROBIO as a powerful tool for weight management and holistic wellness. 

Form of coenzyme Q10 for reproductive health

Research published in Nutrients highlights Ubiquinol, which produces Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) energy in the mitochondria, as a critical and potentially conditionally essential nutrient for both male and female fertility, particularly during reproductive years and with advancing age. The review synthesizes emerging evidence linking oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and declining reproductive outcomes, with a focus on egg quality, sperm quality, and reproductive aging.

The review positions Ubiquinol—the bioactive form of coenzyme Q10—as a pivotal intervention target due to its dual role in mitochondrial energy production and antioxidant defense, both essential for reproductive physiology. It also emphasizes an age-associated decline in endogenous Ubiquinol synthesis, suggesting that as reproductive demands increase, internal production may no longer meet cellular requirements, shifting Ubiquinol from a non-essential to a potentially conditionally essential nutrient and increasing reliance on dietary intake or supplementation.

Dr. Emma Derbyshire acts as an independent consultant for Kaneka Nutrients Europe. Commenting on the findings, Dr. Derbyshire said, “The review explains that Ubiquinol plays a dual role in reproductive physiology, driving mitochondrial bioenergetics and providing potent antioxidant support at the cellular level...These functions are critical for egg quality, sperm motility, morphology and density, oocyte competence and early embryo development, which are key determinants of successful conception.” 

Filip Van hulle, General Manager at Kaneka Nutrients Europe, sole global supplier of bioidentical, bioactive Ubiquinol, said, “The review provides a strong scientific rationale for fertility-focused formulations incorporating Ubiquinol as a differentiated, evidence-backed ingredient....It also positions Ubiquinol beyond general wellness and into targeted reproductive health solutions, for females and males.”

Dr. Derbyshire added: “For healthcare practitioners, the findings support the integration of Ubiquinol into evidence-informed nutritional strategies addressing both male and female infertility, including populations affected by reproductive aging and fertility preservation considerations.” 

Probiotic for sleep support

Findings: The Lp815 supplement group exhibited significantly lower insomnia severity index scores at six weeks compared to placebo. This result was clinically meaningful, with 77.3% of participants in the Lp815 cohort exhibiting improvement by 4+ points in their insomnia severity index at week six, compared to 57.8% in the placebo group. In addition, anxiety scores were significantly reduced compared to placebo, with a more pronounced effect among women. Subjective night sweat severity also decreased, and objective measures of sleep duration were increased in the Lp815 cohort compared to placebo. Finally, the Lp815 cohort exhibited an increase in urinary GABA compared to placebo during the first week of use, and urinary GABA was inversely correlated with insomnia and anxiety scores at week two. All adverse events potentially related to product use were mild.

Researchers concluded that a daily probiotic containing 5 billion CFU Lp815 significantly improved subjective symptoms of insomnia and anxiety, as well as objective measures of sleep after 6 weeks.