Ingredient manufacturer Kyowa Hakko announced the launch of a new dietary supplement ingredient, Immuse, a heat-killed Lactococcus lactis strain formulated for broad-range immune support.
 
It has been evidenced by seven published clinical studies that this heat-killed bacteria, called a paraprobiotic, acts uniquely by activating plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC), which play a role in activating a number of immune cells, including Natural Killer, Killer-T, Helper-T, and B cells.
 
Ten human clinical trials, including eight studies designed to evaluate efficacy and two designed to evaluate safety, have concluded that the ingredient could have applications for year-round immune support when taken regularly, based on both in vitro and in vivo applications, Kyowa Hakko reports.
 
The paraprobiotic has been deemed stable in a variety of applications, including tablets, capsules, and gummy formulations, and has already been brought to market as a finished product in Japan, where it is sold in the form of gummies, tablets, yogurt, and functional beverages. Those products were registered with the Consumer Affairs Agency of the Japanese government as a “food with function claims,” making products with Immuse the first and only products in Japan to display an authorized immune-related function claim on the product today.
 
“We could not be more thrilled to integrate the immune support benefits of Immuse into the U.S. market,” Elyse Lovett, senior marketing manager at Kyowa Hakko, said. “A strong immune system is critical for good health, and Immuse is a unique dietary supplement ingredient that offers broad range immune support.”  
 
Immune support products are in high demand, with sales for this category valued at over $1.52 billion this year. “With more consumers looking for ways to enhance their immune system and stay healthy throughout the year, we are confident that Immuse, backed by both Kirin Holdings and Kyowa Hakko, will open new doors for consumers desiring a novel option for broad range immune support.”