Optim PropioniBacter.

Developed in collaboration between Elie Health Solutions and Laboratorie Optim (Belgium), this innovative product harnesses the benefits of Propionibacterium freudenreichii sp. shermanii, a bacterium with well-recognized probiotic properties.

What is Propionibacterium freudenreichii?

This propionic bacterium plays a key role in the production of propionic acid (propionate) in the gut, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) involved in intestinal metabolism. Propionate serves as a substrate for bifidobacteria, which are an important part of our gut microbiota.

Science behind the product

Historically used as a starter culture in Swiss-type cheese production, Propionibacterium freudenreichii has gained prominence in the probiotics field due to its numerous health benefits, confirmed by in vitro and in vivo studies. Recent research has identified key molecules, such as surface proteins, short-chain fatty acids, and bifidogenic factors, contributing to its probiotic properties.

Source: Propionibacterium Freudenreichii: General Characteristics and Probiotic Traits. Prebiotics and Probiotics – From Food to Health, IntechOpen, April 2022.