Health Canada grants probiotic strain use of antioxidant probiotic health claims

Lallemand Health Solutions’ (Mirabel, Canada) L. helveticus Lafti L10 probiotic strain received approval from Health Canada to use antioxidant probiotic health claims with an emphasis on athletes. The claims include, “Source of antioxidant probiotic” and “Source of antioxidant probiotic in elite athletes.” These claims are an addition to the previously approved claims that it promotes gastrointestinal comfort in athletes and boosts natural defenses in physically active adults.

“L. helveticus Lafti L10 is already our most recommended strain for sport nutrition due to its previous results on athletes immune and gut health. We had reason to believe its antioxidant potential was strong enough to gain further health claims,” Solange Henoud, global regulatory affairs director at Lallemand Health Solutions, said in a press release. ‘’Moreover, we think this one has been is the first probiotic to be approved as a source of antioxidant.” 

These claims are supported by a recent post-hoc paper published in the Journal of Human Kinetics that included 22 elite althletes. At the end of the study, significant attenuation of the markers of oxidative stress (MDA) and levels of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and an increase in the marker of defense against oxidative stress (SOD) were observed in the LAFTI L10 group and not in the placebo group. 

Reference

Michalickova D et al. “Effects of probiotic supplementation on selected parameters of blood prooxidant-antioxidant balance in elite athletes: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study.” Journal of Human Kinetics, vol. 64 (2018): 111-122