University investments in gut health, new ingredients supporting bone and liver and company updates ranging from strategic appointments to AI initiatives make this edition of Supplement Shorts. Check out the supplement industry news, from scientific innovations to finished products and everything in between.
Wake Forest invests in postbiotic ingredient for leaky gut
Postbiotics Inc. (PBI) announced a strategic investment from Wake Forest University School of Medicine supporting its postbiotic ingredient for gut health. PBI now holds an exclusive worldwide license for a patented postbiotic, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei D3.5, marketing it as PoZibio for dietary supplements and Gutibio for medical foods.
Leaky gut, while more prominent with certain diseases, is in itself not a disease but a natural occurrence with age, according to Doug Lynch, chief commercial officer and co-founder of PBI. “When we talk about age-related inflammation or inflammaging, this is all interconnected to the fact that the gut … is a primary source of that inflammaging,” Lynch said.
The research of Hariom Yadav, Ph.D., chief science officer and co-founder of PBI, focused on postbiotics over probiotics, not only because of their improved stability, but for safety reasons.
“If we overload (the gut) with probiotics, that will have more profound risk with leaky gut,” Yadav said. “If any live bacteria enter circulation, it risks developing sepsis or organ failure.”
The origin story of L. paracasei D3.5 traces back to the differences between Bulgarian and Russian populations as noted by Nobel Laureate Elie Metchnikoff, the “father of innate immunity.” Yadav explained Bulgarians tended to live longer because of consuming fermented dairy products. He isolated bacteria from humans that helped support life in the same way described by Metchnikoff.
Yadav and his collaborators tested the postbiotic in both mouse and Caenorhabditis elegans models, showing lipoteichoic acid – a cell wall component of the bacterial strain – lessens leaky gut by stimulating production of mucin, the substance that protects the gut epithelial layer.
Yadav and team also studied PoZibio in an open-label pilot clinical trial in which participants reported improvements in gastrointestinal symptoms and emotional well-being. Sold as an ingredient by Sabinsa, PoZibio is designed for use at a lower dosage than its medical food counterpart and is intended for dietary supplements supporting gut health maintenance.
Clinical currents and science news
Humann launched a new zero-sugar version of SuperBeets along with a limited-edition chocolate flavor in celebration of February being heart health month. Credit: Humann.
Dietary supplement finished product news
Cardiovascular health brand Humann released a zero-sugar version of SuperBeets chews for supporting heart health, circulation and blood pressure and a limited-release chocolate flavor in honor of February being heart health month. Each two-chew serving contains 500 mg beet root powder and 150 mg Enovita grape seed extract, a procyanidin-rich ingredient manufactured by Indena that was previously reported to support blood pressure
Black-owned wellness brand Black Girl Vitamins announced the launch of two new products, D3 + K2 with omega-3 drops and chlorophyll drops. The D3 drops are formulated to support energy, mood and immune health, while the chlorophyll drops support digestion and detox processes within the body.
“Black women deserve wellness solutions that reflect their lived experiences, biology and real health needs,” said Anna Palamino, head of product development. “This new drops line deepens our commitment to purpose-first, intentional supplementation, formulas created to support both the body and the woman, no matter where she is on her wellness journey.”
Better-for-you energy brand Lucky Energy entered the gummy category with three flavors formulated with caffeine, fiber, maca, ginseng, beta-alanine, L-theanine and taurine. “Energy is overdue for real innovation,” said Richard Laver, founder and chief executive officer. “Gummies allow us to meet consumers where they are … this format makes energy more accessible, multi-occasion and lifestyle-friendly.”
Supplement brand Biocodex launched weight management product Fullify precision probiotic. The product contains Hafnia alvei HA4597, which was shown in clinical trials to increase weight loss and satiety for obese participants on a hypocaloric diet over dietary changes alone.
“Fullify is the result of more than 10 years of research into the gut-brain pathway, translating real science into a completely new approach,” said Bindu Shah, chief marketing officer. “This innovation isn’t about suppressing appetite or relying on stimulants – it’s about working with the body’s natural signaling to support more realistic and attainable outcomes.”
Company and organization updates
Ingredient supplier Nutraland USA announced Ingredients Plus will distribute Vegadelight vegan lichen-derived vitamin D3 in Australia and New Zealand. “Vitamin D remains one of the most important and widely discussed nutrients in the ANZ market, spanning immune health, bone strength and overall well-being,” said Janine Royce, product manager at Ingredients Plus.
Contract development and manufacturing organization Cosmax was named to TIME’s 2026 World’s Top 500 Sustainable Growth Companies. “As the nutrition and health arm of the organization, we work closely to emulate these ESG (environmental, social and governance)-driven practices in our own operations, applying the same rigor and transparency to functional foods and dietary supplements that Cosmax has established in beauty,” said Jay Ahn, chief executive officer of Cosmax NBT USA.
Ingredient supplier PLT Health Solutions has appointed Pritesh Shetty as business development director for the Asia-Pacific region. “Shetty has excellent experience in a number of roles in the ingredient business, and we feel he will be an excellent resource for the Asia-Pacific customer community in leveraging our ingredient portfolio to create cutting-edge products,” said Mark Stephens, vice president of global sales.
Herbal product company Herbalist & Alchemist announced certification by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for its manufacturing and quality practices. “Having the UL certification symbol on our website and in other marketing materials is an easily recognizable symbol that tells our customers we have been inspected by a trustworthy certification authority and found to meet high standards” said CEO Beth Lambert.
Biotech startup and venture incubator 600and1 announced a new push to use AI models to better understand mitochondria and their role in healthy aging. Berenika Maciejewicz, M.D., Ph.D., a medical expert with degrees in biomedical engineering and neuroscience, will serve as chief scientific officer.
Launching innovative ingredients and products? Did you just publish a new clinical trial? Getting ready to announce something big? SupplySide Supplement Journal would love to know. Reach out to Devon on LinkedIn with all your buzzworthy news.
