The recent launch of Amazon’s 9amHealth and WeightWatchers Med+ programs signal changes in interest and engagement by consumers related to lifestyle changes. These types of subscription plans are full-service health ecosystems that combine clinical care, digital tools, nutritional guidance and lifestyle coaching.

Due to this personalization of lifestyle and nutrition, consumers will become better educated and in search of convenient dairy solutions.

At the same time, awareness around the role that gut microbiota plays in regulating the two-way communication between the brain and the digestive system as a way of maintaining health continues to grow.

Researchers have found several factors that can disrupt normal microbiota colonization. These include infections during pregnancy, mode of infant delivery, antibiotic use, imbalanced diet, and stress. If colonization disruption persists, linkages have been made to digestive, autoimmune, and cognitive disorders.

A paper in Obesity Reviews (“Do Nutrient–Gut–Microbiota Interactions Play a Role in Human Obesity, Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes?” https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2010.00797.x) found that differences in gut microbiota composition existed between non-diabetic adults versus adults with Type 2 diabetes and lean versus obese individuals.

Later, an article in the Annals of Nutritional Disorders & Therapy (“Impact of Prebiotics, Probiotics and Synbiotics on Components of Metabolic Syndrome” https://doi:10.26420/annnutrdisordther) reported that prebiotic and probiotic use was associated with improvements in metabolic health, in particular, control of obesity, inflammation, glucose homeostasis, plasma lipid levels and satiety. As a result, interest in the use of prebiotics and probiotics to help overcome deficiencies and reduce adverse effects has increased.

By definition, probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit, according to the International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics (https://isappscience.org). Some commonly used probiotics are Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Saccharomyces and Pediococcus strains.

Probiotics work by producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) butyrate, propionate, and acetate through the fermentation of dietary fibers and resistant starches. These microbial metabolites then regulate how the epithelial barrier of the intestine functions, which is vital for maintaining health.

Furthermore, as SCFA are produced, the pH of the intestinal environment lowers, which helps inhibit the growth of pathogens. Probiotics vary by type and strain as they interact within the intestine. Some produce antibacterial substances, while others may compete with pathogens for nutrients and binding sites, reduce inflammation, increase mucus production, or enhance tissue repair.

When changes in the composition and diversity of microbiota occur, conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and irritable bowel syndrome may appear, which may prompt the need for repopulation via probiotic consumption. However, probiotic use is not recommended for individuals with compromised immune systems or premature infants because they may cause infection, harbor antimicrobial resistant genes or cause gastrointestinal discomfort, gas, bloating and diarrhea when first consumed or when taken at high doses.

Diet’s role in gut microbiota

Diet also significantly influences the gut microbiota. Prebiotics are substrates that are selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit. Sometimes, prebiotics and probiotics are delivered together as a symbiotic because the prebiotic can provide a readily available food source for the probiotics, which increases the survival rate of the probiotics through digestion for more effective health outcomes.

Prebiotics are complex carbohydrates. Common prebiotics used are inulin, lactulose, milk oligosaccharides, short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides, long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides, and resistant starch. Many prebiotics are fibers, but not all dietary fibers are prebiotics as some cannot be utilized by microorganisms.

Agave inulin is a fructan, composed of linear and branched chains of fructose, which is extracted from the agave plant and purified through filtration and concentration techniques prior to spray drying. Agave inulin, well-known as a prebiotic to support digestive wellness, also offers a low glycemic index to help manage blood glucose levels.

According to Johnny Salazar, Agave category manager at Cambridge, Mass.-based Global Organics, “Our agave inulin is unique because it is organic certified and comes as a spray-dried powder that has a mild, clean, and slightly sweet taste which can improve mouthfeel, add viscosity, and increase water absorption in applications like yogurt, beverages, and bakery items. Typical inclusion rates range from five to 15 grams per 100-gram serving and it remains relatively stable at boiling temperatures in a pH range from five to seven.” 

With a renewed focus on supply chain resilience, new entrants from the traditional crop sector have also emerged. Soluble corn fiber, which is derived from wet milled corn processing can be isolated, concentrated and dried into a fine white powder with neutral flavor and color attributes.

Vaishu Sankarlal, senior scientist at Wayzata, Minn.-based Cargill, notes the versatility of soluble corn fiber.

“It functions as a prebiotic and exhibits acid and heat stability without added viscosity, allowing it to be formulated into high-protein beverages, yogurts, frozen desserts, bars, baked goods and gummies,” she explains. “Plus, it allows formulators to replace up to 100% of the sugar with half the calories in low sugar applications while still qualifying for a good or excellent source of fiber claim. Also, consumption rates up to 60 grams per day have been achieved without digestive intolerance issues.”

Ingredient experts highlight that dairy products are a great delivery system for prebiotics and probiotics. They are a source of high-quality, complete protein and provide specialized fats, carbohydrates, bioactive peptides, vitamins and minerals, which also contribute to the health of the gut microbiota. Plus, dairy products function well at pHs between four and six and a half and can be transported and stored at cold temperatures that maintains the viability of the live cultures.

While yogurt and kefir have been used extensively for probiotic delivery, ice cream, frozen desserts and cheese may also be used. For example, Thrive ice cream delivers nine grams of protein, six grams of fiber, 24 vitamins and minerals, and four active probiotics in a six-ounce cup. Mixmi frozen yogurt contains four grams of protein per five-ounce serving and is fortified with probiotics and four grams of prebiotic fiber.

Fresh cheeses, like Good Culture Whole Milk Classic Cottage Cheese, contain 14 grams of protein in a 16-ounce container and is made with whole milk, cream, sea salt, and live and active cultures, further demonstrating that cheese can be a viable delivery vehicle as well.

Probiotics’ powerful benefits

Researchers have also discovered that probiotics do not have to be alive to have health benefits. A postbiotic is a preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confer a health benefit on the host. To create a postbiotic, live microorganisms are killed or inactivated using heat, ultraviolet light, or pressure. The resulting mixture is then evaluated to determine if it delivers a health benefit via a clinical study. Due to their inactivation, postbiotics have an extended shelf life making them ideal for ambient storage condition applications.

For example, the 2024 Pediatric Research paper on the “Efficacy of a Yeast Postbiotic on Cold/Flu Symptoms in Healthy Children: A Randomized-Controlled Trial” https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-024-03331-z) reported that 256 children ages four to 12 were fed gummi supplements containing 500 milligrams of the EpiCor postbiotic, derived from yeast fermentate for 84 days in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Caregivers reported statistically significant reductions in cold and flu symptom severity during days of supplementation compared to those when taking the placebo (p<0.05).

Max Hintz, Cargill’s product line director of the nutritionals portfolio, states, “EpiCor is a postbiotic that has had great success in the supplement industry but now has the opportunity to cross over into the dairy foods category. Clinical studies have shown that it not only aids in digestive health but can also reduce cold and flu symptoms. It is safe for adults and children ages four and up and daily consumption is recommended. As a postbiotic, it is very stable and works well in drinkable yogurts, chocolate milk-based beverages and nutrition bars.”

Chicago-based ADM is also entering this space due to a U.S. distribution agreement with Japanese-based Asahi Group Foods Corp. The proprietary lactic acid-based postbiotic, Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305, is capable of providing stress, mood, and sleep support. This postbiotic could also be easily incorporated into dairy food and beverage applications, the company notes.

As technological advances in genetic sequencing allow researchers to gain insights into the diversity and function of microbiota within the intestine and artificial intelligence technologies analyze, model and predict therapeutic responses, a new era of personalized nutrition that includes tailored biotic therapies may ensue.

In the meantime, dairy’s inherent nutrient density, and compatibility with existing pre‑, pro‑, and postbiotics align with what clinicians and consumers are actively seeking. The science is already on dairy’s side and dairy foods are capable of delivering high protein, GLP-1-friendly, diabetes-friendly, menopause-supportive, heart-health friendly, and microbiome-supportive benefits.

Given the significant benefits of these ingredients, the dairy industry is tasked with producing convenient, nutrient dense, portion-controlled dairy products while also communicating the science in a way that is understandable and shoppable for both consumers and the health influencers who guide them. DF