In contrast, our modern-day diet very much lacks the necessary fibres. Our food supply is dominated by highly processed grains, added sugars and fats. Hence today’s increase of colo-rectal cancer, auto-immune conditions, obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Obviously, we cannot return to our ancestors’ way of life. But prebiotics such as inulin and oligofructose provide an interesting and healthy alternative. They are a proven method of introducing more fibres in our daily food intake, helping to stimulate our natural defences, improving digestive health and enhancing bone health.

Supplementing current and new food products with inulin and oligofructose is a modern way of obtaining a diet that is closer to our ancestoral roots. Or, as Jeff Leach puts it: ‘It’s time to close the pathogenic door and reclaim our health.’

A new study has investigated the effects of Orafti®Synergy1 on morphological and biological markers and the lifespan of rats (Rozan et al. in press). The study shows that life-long supplementation with Orafti®Synergy1 delays the onset of age-related physiological and morphological changes in rats and prolongs life.

This is the first time that increased survival rates of both male and female rats have been demonstrated after life-long supplementation with a prebiotic. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear. It can be hypothesised, however, that the effect is linked to the beneficial changes in biomarkers observed in the study. Inulin-type fructans stimulate health-promoting bacteria in the large intestine, thereby improving digestive health, which is vital to maintain overall health and well-being throughout life.

Source: Rozan P, Nejdi A, Hidalgo S, Bisson J-F, Desor D, Messaoudi M (2008): Effects of life-long intervention with an oligofructose-enriched inulin in rats on general health and lifespan. Brit. J. Nutr. (in press).

Send us an e-mail if you want to receive the complete study.

CLESA expects a lot from the new range of yoghurts. ‘As in other countries, the Spanish market for healthy nutrients is growing fast. We hope the fibre enhanced yoghurt will help us cover an important part of that market’, says Adali Morales, Brand Manager of CLESA.

The extra fibres in the new range of yoghurts are provided by the Orafti® product. ‘It is a natural ingredient that helps you maintain a healthy and well balanced digestive system, stimulating your intestinal flora and improving your natural defences. There’s not only the extra fibres; the product also improves calcium absorption.’

In a market where health and well-being are becoming increasingly important, these product features are substantial assets. ‘What’s more: the yoghurt really tastes good. There are lots of extra fibres in it, but the product retains the rich, savoury taste of ‘non-enhanced’ yoghurt!’

More health claim petitions
The same growth is seen in the number of health claim petitions to the European Commission, in preparation for the onset of the pan-European legislation. BENEO-Orafti itself has submitted five health claim petitions. These are to ensure that when Orafti® inulin and oligofructose are included in functional food products, the following types of claims can be made:

• ‘promotes a balanced microflora’
• ‘promotes digestive health’
• ‘increases calcium absorption’ leading to ‘increased bone strength’ (Orafti®Synergy1)
• ‘stimulates your body’s natural defences’.

As new scientific evidence becomes available, we will continue to submit petitions to support our partners.

The Future ‘Feels Good’!
The future of prebiotics remains extremely positive. The dairy, bakery and cereals sectors continue to be the most successful.

Dairy is accounting for nearly 50% of prebiotic products currently on the market (Source: www.innova-food.com). In addition, a growing number of breakfast cereal manufacturers use prebiotics as a way of promoting the ‘feel good factor’ to the consumer, or to add extra fibre to biscuits and bread products.

The latest launches include Wild Animal Crunch cereals from Kellogg’s in the USA, Nestlé Choco Snack de Morango (biscuits) in Brazil and Cranberry Citrus Oat Crunch Biscuits in Canada.

Since 2005, fewer dairy drink products are being launched each year. But dairy drinks that promote health have been bucking this global trend (Source: www.innova-food.com). Convenience is still a big driver in the promotion of dairy drinks: 34% of new products use it as a sales argument. However, health wins by a landslide. Today, no less than 42% of the products brought to market use it as the primary claim to encourage sales.

‘The reason is simple’, says Tim Van der Schraelen, BENEO-Orafti marketing and communication manager. ‘Obesity has become a global problem, and customers all over the world set great store by health and healthy food. As this trend is by no means diminishing, there is still substantial room for growth in the health segment, provided that the product’s claims are credible.’

Thanks to an independent scientific committee affiliated with BENEO-Orafti, food and drink producers can make a number of accredited health claims, all of which have been submitted to the EU Health Claims Regulatory Board. In this way, drink producers can ensure the integrity of their new dairy drink products from day one.

The European Symposium focused on functional carbohydrates’ impact on energy metabolism. Among the topics discussed were glycemic response and its impact on health, prolonged energy release, sports nutrition, appetite and food intake regulation, and body weight management.

The symposium brought together a panel of international experts and scientists, working in the area of functional carbohydrates, prebiotics and their interaction with energy metabolism and health. It was chaired by Prof. J. Blundell, Director of the Institute of Psychological Sciences at the University of Leeds, UK, and Prof. A. Astrup, Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Life Sciences from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Following the BENEO-Group’s 1st Asian Research Symposium, which took place in December 2007, the European symposium once more positioned BENEO as an innovation-driven organisation building its success and credibility on scientific research.

Contact us to receive more information about the symposium.

Beneo™ can not only act as a sugar replacer to make ‘light’ beverage options but can also have a beneficial effect on the digestive system. Beneo™ stimulates the beneficial bifidus bacteria in the gut, resulting in the prebiotic effect. Beneo™Synergy1, a patented enriched inulin, has its own USP. Clinical trials have shown that Beneo™Synergy1 can improve calcium absorption by up to 20%, thus allowing products to make bone health claims.

Beneo™ can also combat undesirable taste, look and texture profiles faced by manufacturers. Beneo™ has no effect on the colour of a finished product and when used at the required concentration for nutritional claims, it will either give no taste or a very slight sweet taste to the drink. There is also no issue with solubility, thus the level of viscosity is not affected.

Thanks to ORAFTI’s research-driven approach, the new EU legislation will not dramatically impact upon the way in which it operates. ORAFTI has undertaken in excess of 300 studies, including over 100 human intervention studies, on chicory inulin, oligofructose and oligofructose-enriched inulin. Under the new regulations a list of pre-approved claims will be established (Article 13) and ORAFTI will submit proposals for claims including digestive health and improved regularity, the stimulation of a healthy microflora, increased calcium absorption and bone mineral density.

To tap into the ‘food with added health benefits’ market contact afi@orafti.com and benefit from ORAFTI’s catalogue of sound scientific knowledge and substantiated claims offering.