Newswise — The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) unveiled new guidelines to help consumers select credible probiotic and prebiotic products.
Probiotics and prebiotics are becoming an increasingly popular choice for consumers as more and more new products hit the shelves in the United States each year. The health benefits of probiotics and prebiotics include intestinal benefits and beyond, such as regulating the immune system, managing disease and improving mineral absorption.
The ISAPP guidelines, "The Ps and Qs of Probiotics," detail five key criteria that consumers should consider when selecting a probiotic: probiotic strain, proof, package, quality and quantity. "These guidelines are a much needed consumer resource in the growing area of probiotic products," said Mary Ellen Sanders, Executive Director for ISAPP. "Many probiotics make health claims that have not been clinically proven, are not supported by data and are misleading to consumers. 'The Ps and Qs' are meant to give consumers a starting point for what qualities a good probiotic product should have."
The new guidelines were developed and approved by the ISAPP Board of Directors which is made of up respected researchers from across the United States, Canada and Europe. The criteria for probiotics include:"¢ Probiotic Strain: Not all probiotic strains are created equal - different strains provide different benefits. It's important to recognize that strains within the same species can still be different. "¢ Proof: Consumers should seek a clinically proven product or strain and make sure it has been well-tested to provide the benefit the product claims."¢ Package: Consumers should pick clearly-labelled, quality packaging from a trusted manufacturer. Product packages should include the criteria defined by the World Health Organization, including probiotic strain, number of colony forming units at end of shelf life or pull-by date, suggested serving size, health benefits, proper storage conditions, and corporate contact information."¢ Quality and Quantity: Probiotics need to be consumed in the right amounts to produce the desired health effect. The important thing to know is that different probiotics have been shown to be effective at different levels. A quality product delivers the number of probiotics shown in studies to have a health benefit.
The second set of guidelines "Prebiotics: A Consumer Guide for Making Smart Choices" include the essential characteristics of a prebiotic " resistance to stomach acid and digestion, fermentation by intestinal microbes and selectivity " and differentiate them from dietary fiber. These guidelines also discuss the types of foods where consumers will currently find prebiotics.
The complete guidelines for probiotics and prebiotics are available on ISAPP's Web site, www.ISAPP.net.
About The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP)
ISAPP is an association of academic and industrial scientists focused on promoting scientific discovery and communication on fundamental and applied aspects of probiotics and prebiotics. ISAPP is the only scientific organization dedicated specifically to probiotics and prebiotics, bringing together scientists from all pertinent disciplines, including food science, microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, nutrition and medicine. As a scientific society, ISAPP strives to have all activities focused on science, not promotion of specific commercial products. Industry involvement is considered important to this organization, but no industry group or commercial entity dictates the activities or opinions of ISAPP.
RSS