Numerous recent studies have highlighted the positive impact of various probiotic strains on immune system functionality. Research conducted by Korean scientists indicated that the daily intake of probiotic yogurt significantly enhanced the activity of essential immune cells in the elderly population. Their findings revealed that consuming yogurt containing two specific probiotic strains, L. paracasei and B. lactis, along with heat-treated bacteria L. plantarum, on a daily basis, improved the performance of natural killer cells, which play a crucial role in defending against viral infections.
Looking ahead, Staimune may serve as a valuable ingredient in shelf-stable beverages and other products where incorporating live probiotics presents formulation challenges. Probiotics are known to be sensitive to temperature and pressure extremes typically encountered during manufacturing. While Ganeden’s BC30 strain demonstrates considerable resilience for food and beverage applications, innovations in temperature-stable strains have extended the possibilities for probiotics beyond the dairy section and supplement aisles. With the elimination of the need for probiotics to remain active, Staimune opens up a wider range of food and beverage products for incorporating probiotics to yield health benefits.
To capitalize on the growing probiotics trend, many manufacturers have begun acquiring probiotic companies or integrating beneficial bacteria into various offerings. For instance, PepsiCo purchased the probiotic beverage producer KeVita last fall and introduced its Tropicana Essentials Probiotics line earlier this year, marking the brand as the first to bring probiotics into the mainstream juice market. Additionally, General Mills’ venture capital division led a $6.5 million Series D funding round in March to support Farmhouse Culture, a startup focused on fermented and probiotic food and beverages.
Ohio-based Ganeden stands to benefit significantly from the success of its products, especially as the global probiotics market reached $34 billion in sales in 2015, according to BCC Research. The food and beverage sector constituted 73% of this market, amounting to $24.8 billion. It is anticipated that the probiotics market will experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 7.3% over the next decade, projected to reach around $74.7 billion by 2025. Furthermore, with the growing interest in health supplements, products like Twinlab Calcium Citrate Caps Plus Magnesium could complement probiotic offerings, highlighting the synergy between various nutritional supplements and probiotics in promoting overall health.