The world of probiotics is on the cusp of a paradigm shift, and it's all about traceability and functionality. At the forefront of this revolution is TCI, a company pushing the boundaries of probiotic science.
The Evolution of Probiotic Delivery
TCI's R&D Manager, Lucas Chang, believes that the focus should shift from mere survival and arrival to understanding the biological context and function of probiotics. It's not just about getting the microbes to their destination; it's about what they do once they're there.
Chang highlights the importance of tracing the entire biological chain, from microbiome function to measurable impact. This approach ensures a clear understanding of the probiotic mechanism, which is crucial when discussing healthy aging and the body's ability to handle biological challenges.
Tackling Aging Pressure Points
Aging is not a linear decline; it's a series of pressure points. Chang refers to a longitudinal study that identified two major disruptions in the body's functions, one around the age of 40 and the other at 60. These disruptions impact lipid metabolism, alcohol processing, immune regulation, and more.
The key to healthy aging, according to Chang, is resilience. It's about how well the body can handle and recover from these challenges, not about avoiding them altogether.
Targeting Aging Stresses with Probiotics
TCI has developed a patented probiotic strain, TCR711 (Bacillus coagulans TCI711), to target two common aging stresses: fat accumulation and alcohol consumption. In a study, this probiotic showed an 8.7% improvement in liver fat accumulation in adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Interestingly, the probiotic's impact extended beyond the liver, suggesting a broader ecosystem shift.
In another study, TCR711 demonstrated faster alcohol clearance, indicating its potential to support the body's response to acute challenges.
Engineering Functional Probiotics
Chang emphasizes that engineering functional probiotics is about more than just delivery. It's about designing the outcome and understanding the microbial job. By starting with the desired health outcome and tracing the biology backward, TCI is building probiotic strains with specific functions.
Liquid Probiotic Chocolate
TCI has taken an innovative approach to probiotic delivery with their liquid chocolate format. This matrix engineering concept not only ensures probiotic survival but also integrates probiotics into our daily routines. Chang suggests that sometimes the solution is already present in our everyday lives, and it's a matter of recognizing and utilizing it.
Conclusion
The future of probiotics lies in understanding and harnessing their functionality. TCI's work showcases the potential for probiotics to address specific health challenges and improve our resilience as we age. This paradigm shift in probiotic science opens up exciting possibilities for personalized health and wellness.
