“Powerful” fermented vegetable postbiotic relieves constipation and improves skin health

17 Aug 2023 --- Japan Bio Science Laboratories (JBSL) has created Biozyme, a highly effective postbiotic from an extract containing at least 40 fermented vegetables and herbs. It is rich in physiologically active substances produced by a fermentation process with Bacillus sp. Biozyme and then followed by a maturation process to break down the active components into low molecular compounds for better absorption in the body. 

“Biozyme is more effective than conventional enzyme extracts because through the production process of Biozyme, the enzymes are cut into amino acids and peptides that contain the active group still intact so they can easily be recombined within the body,” Vincent Hackel, president and CEO of JBSL tells Nutrition Insight.

“In conventional enzyme extracts, enzymes will be altered and inactivated if made into liquid form through hydrolysis, and the same will happen during any sterilization process. Enzymes are also large molecules that are presumed to hardly be absorbed into the small intestine. With Biozyme, you do not have the concern of absorption because of the lower molecular size.” 

The postbiotic has been validated as a proven effective postbiotic in a human clinical trial of 20 female participants between 20-39 years of age. The postbiotic aims to improve irregularity and skin health. 

The active substances include amino acids and peptides from broken-down enzymes, polysaccharides and oligosaccharides, organic acids, vitamins and minerals. Because Biozyme is a low-molecular fermented extract, it promotes the formation of enzymes in the body more efficiently than average enzyme extracts, states JBSL.

Blocked from health benefits
Ashitaba is one of the main ingredients used in Biozyme which is a plant native to Japan that is highly nutritious, more so than kale or spinach, and has a high Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) value. 

It also features burdock, a root commonly eaten in Asia and has been used for centuries in traditional medicine, for treating cold and cough symptoms. “Burdock is rich in many antioxidants and is a fiber called inulin that aids in digestion. Another ingredient is ginger, which is known for its benefits for nausea and upset stomach,” Hackel explains. 

“Enzymes are the essential workers in our body for making millions of chemical reactions happen on a daily basis. However, because of aging and unbalanced diets, our bodies’ productive ability to create and maintain enzymes deteriorates.”

Consuming foods that are abundant in enzymes, such as fermented foods is, therefore, important. “Biozyme allows for individuals to consume broken down enzymes in a way that allows for proper absorption and renaturation of the enzyme inside the body,” he says.

Biozyme also contains a highly concentrated extract of various vitamins, minerals, organic acids, and polysaccharides. 

The scientific evaluationBiozyme is used in many health drinks and beauty supplements in Japan.
The researchers who conducted the clinical trial hypothesized that there might be a correlation between constipation and the appearance of rough skin and pimples because of the harmful substances from the stool that are absorbed into the blood. 

This was corroborated by reports from study participants who consumed Biozyme saying that their skin condition had improved after consuming the product. The subjects were given 20 mL of Biozyme drink twice daily for four weeks and were observed for frequency and quantity of regularity and skin condition.

After a week, stool frequency had significantly increased by 3.1 times compared to before intake and 4.8 times within four weeks. The women reported an improvement in facial dryness, dry skin around eyes and lips, improved skin condition when applying make-up, improvement in cosmetic product absorption and relief from pimples. 

Biozyme has been produced since 1974 using JBSL’s original bacteria, Bacillus sp. Biozyme. Biozyme is formulated into Japanese health drinks for constipation relief and a beauty-from-within supplement. 

Postbiotic industry developments
“Enzyme drinks are a common form of delivery in Japan. When biozyme is produced, the extract that is the result of the fermentation and maturation process is a liquid, which is then concentrated into a paste,” explains Hackel. 

“Therefore, the paste is very easily reconstituted into a drink format by adding water. However, biozyme is also available in powder form for capsule and tablet applications.” 

In related news, Royal DSM, now dsm-firmenich, entered into negotiations to purchase Adare Biome from its parent company, Adare Pharma Solutions, for an enterprise value of €275 million (US$301.2 million). The acquisition would allow the company to bring some of Adare Biome’s signature postbiotic products to the growing gut and digestive health segments.

According to Stratum Nutrition, there is a growing interest in postbiotics to improve the gut microbiome of infants. Though launches of prebiotics and probiotics are growing in the space, the company is spotlighting the industry benefits of using postbiotics in functional F&B.

By Inga de Jong