Gerd Schatzmayr (R&D Director, BIOMIN Research Center) attended the IPA-World Congress (International Probiotic Association), which was held at the prestigious Beverly Hilton on April 11th – 12th 2008, in Beverly Hills, CA. About 200 participants participated the meeting, most of them from North America.

The first day was primarily designed for members of the probiotic industry such as manufactures, probiotic R&D scientists, brand marketers, industry consultants & regulatory officials. Advances in robotic production technologies such as microencapsulation or incorporation into nutritional supplements were discussed, lectures about an overview of the international regulatory environment for probiotics were presented and emerging areas of probiotic research were brought up. Renowned professors from Europe attended the conference. Prof. Lorenzo Morelli spoke about strain Identification, Nomenclature and proper Enumeration Methods of probiotics, Kevin Gillies and Dr. Claire Kruger gave an overview about the regulatory status and allowable health claims of probiotics in U.S, Canada, Australia/New Zealand, Asia, Europe and Middle East, Dr. Greg Leyer presented current trends and future possibilities of formulating probiotics for dietary supplements.

The second day was all about the clinical benefits of probiotics. Dr. Davick Mack pinpointed clinical evidence that using probiotics can improve symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Dr. Eamon M. Quigley showed that probiotics can improve symptoms in patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Dr. Lynne V. McFarland gave evidences that probiotics have an efficient influence on the prevention of Antibiotic Associated Diarrhea.

Summing up, today there is a much more positive attitude concerning probiotic use in the USA recognizable than it was still some years ago. Not only the consumers are interested in probiotics as a way to maintain digestive health, there is also a major interest from the health care community because of the potential for probiotics to treat and prevent digestive diseases.