Gut health, immunity and relief from atopic dermatitis for infants: powerful bacteria strain in new consumer health products
Announcement posted by IR Department 24 Aug 2017
Lactobacillus fermentum VRI-003 in new product range
A potent strain of probiotic bacteria scientifically and clinically demonstrated to reduce eczema symptoms in infants, colonise the gastrointestinal tract and help improve immunity for adults including endurance athletes is now available in a new range of Australian health products.
The probiotic strain, Lactobacillus fermentum VRI-003, was originally isolated from a woman with robust gastrointestinal health and is owned by the Australian life sciences company Bioxyne. Lactobacillus fermentum VRI-003 is trademarked ‘PCC®’.
This month Bioxyne launched three products formulated with PCC® – Progastrim® for gut health and immunity, Progastrim® + Vitamin C to help reduce the severity and duration of colds and flu symptoms, and proTract® for infants with atopic dermatitis (eczema).
Bioxyne’s Scientific Director, cell and molecular biologist Dr Peter French, first started working on the connection between gut microbiome and immune health in 2002.
“PCC® has an advantage over many other strains on the market because it produces a thick polysaccharide coat that causes the bacteria to clump, protecting the bacteria from stomach acid and bile and helping it adhere to the walls of the intestinal tract,” Dr French said.
“We know from laboratory studies that PCC® is capable of colonising the intestinal tract and stimulating the areas of immune tissue in the small intestine known as Peyer’s Patches. It exhibits superior survival to other probiotics in the acidic (pH 2-4) environment found in the stomach and large intestine and it inhibits a number of human gastrointestinal pathogens.”
In double blind, placebo-controlled studies*, PCC® has demonstrated: 
PCC® has a thick, clumpy coat which gives it a survival advantage over other, better known probiotics such as Lactobacillus acidophilus
Earlier this year the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) reviewed the evidence supporting the claims for PCC® ’s ability to help improve eczema symptoms in infants and confirmed that the claims comply with the requirements for listing the product on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
“Scientists are increasingly proving the connection between the gut microbiome and general health and wellbeing, in ways that extend far beyond just the gastrointestinal tract,” said Dr French.
“The question now isn’t whether probiotics are good for you, but which probiotics should be consumed and for what purpose.
“Consumers should look for probiotics that are of human origin, resistant to acid and bile, and that have been scientifically and clinically tested for their health claims. We are particularly pleased that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) earlier this year reviewed the evidence supporting the claims for PCC® ’s ability to help improve eczema symptoms in infants and confirmed that the claims comply with the requirements for listing the product on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
Bioxyne’s PCC® products – Progastrim® (RRP AUD$29.95), Progastrim® + Vitamin C (RRP AUD$32.95) and proTract® for atopic dermatitis (RRP AUD$27.95) - can be purchased online at www.bioxyne.com
*References to clinical studies cited:
The probiotic strain, Lactobacillus fermentum VRI-003, was originally isolated from a woman with robust gastrointestinal health and is owned by the Australian life sciences company Bioxyne. Lactobacillus fermentum VRI-003 is trademarked ‘PCC®’.
This month Bioxyne launched three products formulated with PCC® – Progastrim® for gut health and immunity, Progastrim® + Vitamin C to help reduce the severity and duration of colds and flu symptoms, and proTract® for infants with atopic dermatitis (eczema).
Bioxyne’s Scientific Director, cell and molecular biologist Dr Peter French, first started working on the connection between gut microbiome and immune health in 2002.
“PCC® has an advantage over many other strains on the market because it produces a thick polysaccharide coat that causes the bacteria to clump, protecting the bacteria from stomach acid and bile and helping it adhere to the walls of the intestinal tract,” Dr French said.
“We know from laboratory studies that PCC® is capable of colonising the intestinal tract and stimulating the areas of immune tissue in the small intestine known as Peyer’s Patches. It exhibits superior survival to other probiotics in the acidic (pH 2-4) environment found in the stomach and large intestine and it inhibits a number of human gastrointestinal pathogens.”
In double blind, placebo-controlled studies*, PCC® has demonstrated:
- Reduction of the duration and severity of respiratory infections
- Reduction of the symptoms of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (eczema) in infants
- Boosting of the immune response to the FluVax (flu vaccinations)
- improved bowel
PCC® has a thick, clumpy coat which gives it a survival advantage over other, better known probiotics such as Lactobacillus acidophilus
Earlier this year the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) reviewed the evidence supporting the claims for PCC® ’s ability to help improve eczema symptoms in infants and confirmed that the claims comply with the requirements for listing the product on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
“Scientists are increasingly proving the connection between the gut microbiome and general health and wellbeing, in ways that extend far beyond just the gastrointestinal tract,” said Dr French.
“The question now isn’t whether probiotics are good for you, but which probiotics should be consumed and for what purpose.
“Consumers should look for probiotics that are of human origin, resistant to acid and bile, and that have been scientifically and clinically tested for their health claims. We are particularly pleased that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) earlier this year reviewed the evidence supporting the claims for PCC® ’s ability to help improve eczema symptoms in infants and confirmed that the claims comply with the requirements for listing the product on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
Bioxyne’s PCC® products – Progastrim® (RRP AUD$29.95), Progastrim® + Vitamin C (RRP AUD$32.95) and proTract® for atopic dermatitis (RRP AUD$27.95) - can be purchased online at www.bioxyne.com
*References to clinical studies cited:
- Prescott S, Dunstan JA, Hale J, Breckler, Lehmann LH, Weston S, Richmond P, 2005. Clinical effects of probiotics are associated with increased interferon-gamma responses in very young children with atopic dermatitis. Clinical & Experimental Allergy; 35(12):1557-1564.
- Weston S, Halbert A, Richmond P, Prescott SL, 2005. Effects of probiotics on atopic dermatitis: a randomised controlled trial. Archives of Diseases in Childhood 90:892-897.
- Cox AJ, Pyne DB, Saunders PU, Fricker PA, 2008. Oral administration of the probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum VRI-003 and mucosal immunity in endurance athletes. British Journal of Sports Medicine 44:222-226.
- French P, Penny R, 2009. Use of probiotic bacteria as an adjuvant for an influenza vaccine. International Journal of Probiotics and Prebiotics 4(3):175-180.
- West NP, Pyne DB, Cripps AW, Hopkins WG, Eskesen DC, Jairath A, Christophersen CT, Conlon MA, Fricker PA, 2011. Lactobacillus fermentum (PCC®) supplementation and gastrointestinal and respiratory-tract illness symptoms: a randomised control trial in athletes. Nutrition Journal 10:30.