New partnership: Early-life synbiotic solutions

Written by Lallemand Health Solutions.

Unlocking the synergy between probiotics and HMOs to provide infants with the best start, Lallemand Health Solutions, a pioneer in probiotics, and dsm-firmenich, an innovator in nutrition, health and beauty, have announced a new partnership. Together they are introducing four science-based synbiotic concepts to support infant health and development across the following areas:

These synbiotic solutions aim to establish a healthy microbiome and bridge the gap between the composition and functionality of infant formula and that of breast milk.

Promising research demonstrates that HMOs selectively promote the growth of specific probiotic strains and enhance the production of metabolites related to gut health, natural defenses, cognition, growth, and development.

Lallemand’s probiotic strains for babies have been well-documented in numerous clinical studies, demonstrating both efficacy and safety.

By combining these elements, the new synbiotic solutions strive to align infant formula more closely with breast milk—the gold standard for infant nutrition—and contribute to a healthy gut microbiome.

Isabelle Champié, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at Lallemand Health Solutions, states: “At Lallemand Health Solutions, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of probiotic research and development to create solutions that promote optimal health and well-being. Our Expert’Biotic probiotic baby strains have been clinically documented in more than 1,600 infants, demonstrating proven safety and efficacy. By combining them with dsm-firmenich’s science-backed HMOs, we have created innovative, synergistic solution concepts that establish a strong foundation for infants’ health by supporting the development of their microbiome during this important early-life period. We are delighted to bring this innovation to the dietary and food supplement market.”

James Young, Vice President of Early-Life Nutrition at dsm-firmenich, emphasises: “All infants deserve the best start in life, and access to optimum nutrition during early life is essential. Our partnership with Lallemand Health Solutions represents a significant milestone in the early-life nutrition market. By leveraging our deep understanding of HMOs and Lallemand’s world-class probiotics, we are poised to set a new standard for synbiotics in infant nutrition. We are confident that this collaboration will enable us to meet the evolving needs of parents and infants, ultimately making a positive impact on the lives of families globally. This marks a significant step forward for the infant formula market.”

Exploring diverse health benefits: Synbiotic solutions for infant well-being

Scientific studies show that a well-balanced microbiome composition and development during infancy is associated with several health benefits. These include improved gut barrier function against opportunistic microorganisms, proper development of the infant’s immune system, and normal functioning of the gut-brain axis, which influences brain development.

During the first three years of life, the colonisation and development of the infant microbiome are important. The most significant changes in the gut microbiome occur within the first year, leading to a relatively stable and similar composition by age three, akin to that of an adult. Probiotics can play a role during this timeframe, contributing to the infant microbiome and aiding in healthy growth and development.

HMOs, the third largest solid component of breast milk, act as prebiotic agents which promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the infant gut and support the development of a healthy microbiota and immune system. When HMOs are combined with probiotics, novel synergistic synbiotic solutions emerge and enhance the benefits of each individual component. By combining HMOs with probiotics that use HMOs as its substrate, dsm-firmenich and Lallemand Health Solutions have developed combinations that demonstrate unique synergies in fostering infant health and optimal development.

Learn more about how dsm-firmenich and Lallemand Health Solutions’ new synergistic synbiotic solutions support the infant microbiome and build the foundation for healthy growth and development.

Content provided by: Lallemand Health Solutions