Tate & Lyle and APC Microbiome Ireland announce patent on new synbiotic fibre technology

Tate & Lyle and APC Microbiome Ireland, a Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Research Centre have jointly filed an international patent application for a synbiotic fibre technology that has shown positive preliminary results in metabolic health.

The technology uses a new combination of a probiotic, Lactobacillus mucosae, and soluble dietary fibres which could lead to a number of positive metabolic health changes including in heart health, weight management, liver health, potentially improving immunity, lowering inflammation markers, and improving gut health.

The preliminary clinical research work on this jointly developed synbiotic ingredient, a combination of Tate & Lyle’s proprietary Promitor fibre, and a proprietary shared by University College of Cork (UCC) and Teagasc Lactobacillus strain, has shown substantial and promising cardiometabolic health benefits. APC principal investigators Paul Ross, Catherine Stanton, Noel Caplice are co-inventors on the patent as well as project leads.

Tate & Lyle and APC Microbiome Ireland have an ongoing research partnership, which has recently been expanded and extended, looking into the metabolic pathways that could affect the relationship between the microbiome and health. It was this research partnership that led to this jointly filed patent application for this new ingredient technology.

Dr Kavita Karnik, global head, nutrition & regulatory affairs at Tate & Lyle, said: “We are delighted, following our initial two-year research project with APC Microbiome, to have our joint patent application published for this ingredient technology that uses our Promitor fibre. The health benefits this new synbiotic fibre ingredient could bring, such as improving heart health and tackling obesity, are exciting and another step on our journey to live our purpose of Transforming Lives through the Science of Food.

“As a science-driven organisation, we are pleased to be continuing our research with APC Microbiome Ireland, looking into the gut microbiome and the positive role fibres can play in improving our health.”

Prof Paul Ross, director APC Microbiome Ireland, said: “This is an exciting announcement, and we are looking forward to continuing to work with Tate & Lyle to further uncover the health benefits of synbiotics.”

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