Pasadena, TX (October 12, 2022) – A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Heliyon finds that a blend of three probiotic strains from AB-Biotics, a subsidiary of Kaneka Corporation, reduced diarrhea-related symptoms and may improve mental wellbeing in adults regularly subjected to the stresses of modern life.1
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Pasadena, TX (October 12, 2022) – A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Heliyon finds that a blend of three probiotic strains from AB-Biotics, a subsidiary of Kaneka Corporation, reduced diarrhea-related symptoms and may improve mental wellbeing in adults regularly subjected to the stresses of modern life.1
Researchers Takumi Sato et al. designed the double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group comparison study to investigate the efficacy of a probiotic blend composed of strains P. acidilactici KABP™ 021 (CECT 7483), L. plantarum KABP™ 022 (CECT 7484), L. plantarum KABP™ 023 (CECT 7485), commercialized under the name Floradapt® Intensive G.I., as a potential therapeutic for people experiencing ‘IBS-like’ gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, triggered by repeated exposure to stress. The study’s results suggest that the probiotic blend was successful in supporting the needs of otherwise healthy subjects suffering from stress-induced abdominal symptoms. Moreover, the probiotic showed a positive effect on individuals’ productivity, mood and quality of life.
Symptom relief for healthy stress-sufferers
It is estimated that 4% of the global population suffers from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).2 An already significant statistic, this number does not take into account the millions of people around the world who experience milder or undiagnosed ‘IBS-like’ conditions, which are often linked to stress, depression and anxiety.3 In their study, Sato et al. set out to explore the potential of a probiotic formulation for subjects in this category, who exhibit symptoms like diarrhea, but remain outside the medical diagnosis for IBS. Japan was selected as the location for the study due to the prevalence of highly competitive work environments, fast-paced modern lifestyles and of IBS-like medical complaints. Twenty-six female and thirty-four male volunteers aged 20-65 were selected for the study, who were randomly assigned to either the probiotic or placebo group which were both instructed to take one capsule daily for a period of four weeks.
The results gathered following this month-long investigation demonstrated that the Kaneka probiotic formulation helped alleviate stress-related diarrhea and total diarrhea scores in the probiotic group compared to placebo, as evaluated by Izumo scale scores.1 These subjects also reported improved scores in health-related quality of life (QOL) measured through SF-8 questionnaires, suggesting an uptick in mental health and wellbeing during the course of the study.1 Sato et al. hypothesized that these particular probiotic formulation counteracted the damaging effects of stress on the intestinal mucosa by producing metabolites, such as polyphosphates, acetylcholine, or acetate, which are known to reduce intestinal permeability and gut inflammation, with positive GI benefits.1
The researchers also found a significant correlation between increased numbers of butyric acid-producing Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and improvement in diarrhea scores in subjects receiving probiotic but not in the placebo group.1 Consistent with this, Faecalibacterium is known to be stimulated by acetic acid, one of the substances produced by the Floradapt® Intensive G.I. probiotic formulation.1 Based on these results, Sato et al. propose that the probiotic intervention directly reduced intestinal permeability and modulated gut microbiota, supporting beneficial bacteria, such as Faecalibacterium, and contributing to normalized gut-brain axis.1
Building the case for further research
The conclusions of this new study are supported by existing research with the same probiotic formulation,4 which showed improvements in visceral hypersensitivity, a component of IBS involving altered perceptions of GI symptoms. This new study confirms that the probiotic modulates the gut-brain axis, with observed benefits in the gut and also emotional wellbeing. Overall, Floradapt® Intensive G.I. probiotic strains have shown strong scientific results for complex gastrointestinal disturbances like stress-related diarrhea, IBS, and food intolerances including lactose and fructose intolerance. 5–6 Importantly, these results have been observed across different ethnicities and dietary patterns, reinforcing the usefulness of Floradapt® Intensive G.I.
Mike Kolifrath, Vice President, Sales and Marketing of the Probiotics Division at Kaneka, also commented, “This study significantly advances the level of innovation in the gut-brain space by demonstrating Intensive G.I.’s unique mechanisms of action impacting gut health as well as mental wellbeing. The Intensive G.I. formula will provide a multi-mechanism edge for dietary supplement brands seeking to innovate in the hyper-competitive probiotics category.”
About Kaneka Probiotics
Floradapt® Intensive G.I. is part of the Kaneka Probiotics Portfolio, which are products based on a mechanistic approach to identify optimal strains for specific health applications. Our strain library collection has over 1,000+ strains strategically sourced from populations around the world with conserved microbiomes. The Kaneka Probiotics portfolio includes formulations for Immune, Upper Respiratory Tract, Digestion, GI Challenges, Oral-Gum Health, Colic, Women’s, Gut-Brain Axis, Cardiovascular, and Stress/Mood/Anxiety. We are committed to quality, innovation & science and have 20+ studies that are ongoing for areas in Sports Nutrition, Leaky Gut, Nutrition Absorption, Migraine, Halitosis, and many other disciplines.
About AB-Biotics
AB-Biotics is a Spanish biotech company which is part of the KANEKA Group. AB-Biotics focuses on research, development, protection, and distribution of its own solutions, which contribute to improving people’s health and wellbeing. It has 2 divisions:
1.Functional Ingredients: probiotics and other nutraceuticals for pharmaceutical and food sectors.
2.Genetics: genetic analyses for conducting pharmacogenetic studies which provide specialists with more information about the most effective therapies and doses for each individual.
1 Takumi Sato, Shinichi Honda, Yuji Tominaga, Yo Miyakoshi, Takahiro Ueda, Jinko Sawashita, A probiotic blend improves defecation, mental health, and productivity in healthy Japanese volunteers under stressful situations, Heliyon, volume 8, issue 9, e10614, September 01, 2022, DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10614
* Pediococcus acidilactici KABP021, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KABP022, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KABP023
2 Sperber AD, Dumitrascu D, Fukudo S, et al. The global prevalence of IBS in adults 561 remains elusive due to the heterogeneity of studies: A Rome Foundation working team 562 literature review. Gut 2017; 66: 1075-82
3 Fichna J, Storr MA. Brain-Gut Interactions in IBS. Front Pharmacol. 2012;3:127. Published 2012 Jul 5
4 Lorenzo-Zúñiga V, et al · 2014, I.31, a new combination of probiotics, improves irritable bowel syndrome-related quality of life – PubMed (nih.gov). World J Gastroenterol . 2014 Jul 14;20(26):8709-16. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i26.8709.
5 Portincasa P, et al 2022, – Clinical and Metabolomic Effects of Lactiplantibacillus  plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici in Fructose Intolerant Patients – PubMed (nih.gov). 2022 Jun 15;14(12):2488. doi: 10.3390/nu14122488.
6 Barraza-Ortiz D, et al ·2014, – Combination of a Probiotic and an Antispasmodic Increases Quality of Life and Reduces Symptoms in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Pilot Study – PubMed (nih.gov). 2018 Aug 2021;39(3):294-300. doi: 10.1159/000510950.