KARIN ENGELHART-JENTZSCH¹*, ISABELLA SCHLÖFFEL¹, SILKE WINTER²
*Corresponding author
1. BioTeSys GmbH, Esslingen, Germany
2. Bio-Strath AG, Zürich, Switzerland

Abstract

The use of yeasts enriched with distinct micronutrients as supplement in human nutrition increased over the last years. A special plasmolysed herbal yeast was investigated to demonstrate its beneficial effect on the bioavailability of important micronutrients for human nutrition such as iron, zinc, magnesium and vitamin B1. The well-established Caco-2 model was applied for this investigation. The plasmolysed herbal yeast underwent an in vitro simulation of the gastro-intestinal digest process before applied to the Caco-2 model. The results demonstrate an improved bioavailability of the micronutrients iron, zinc, magnesium and vitamin B1 in the presence of the plasmolysed herbal yeast.

INTRODUCTION

Yeasts are widely used in our daily life. Traditionally yeasts are included in the production of bread, beer, and wine. More recently specific strains or yeast cell wall constituents are reported to support animal and human health, e.g. in reducing methanogenic fecal species in ruminants (1), minimizing coccidial infections in chicks (2) or in improvement of symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome patients (3-5) and weight control in obese humans (6, 7). During the last decade yeasts were also enriched with selected micronutrients to support human nutrition (8). The proprietary plasmolysed herbal yeast food supplement has already been shown to have positive effects on the immune system of long distance runners (9) and on lymphocytes under microgravity stress (10). Micronutrients like zinc and magnesium are known to play an important role in immune system and cell viability (11, 12).
The aim of this study was to assess the ability to support the uptake of micronutrients by plasmolysed herbal yeast supplementation. A first prove of concept study was performed in the Caco-2 cell model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Chemicals and ce ... ...