"Science Backed" - What Does it Mean?

"Science Backed" - What Does it Mean?

Lots of companies sell products “backed by science” and it can be hard to qualify that science - as a scientist or as a non-scientist. 

In terms of science/evidence we are limited by what we can put on packaging in New Zealand and the USA compared with other countries.  We have regulations devised in the 1980s which are well passed their use-by date. 

In countries like Canada, we would be able to make quite different claims based on the science supporting our products and a thorough registration process which protects consumer safety and supports the sales of efficacious products.

In putting efficacious and safe products together – there is a lot to think about scientifically and technically:

  1. Which bioactives have the best evidence to support the health outcome we are trying to achieve?
  2. How do these bioactives work together – are they complementary or are the antagonistic?
  3. How do we put the bioactives in a form where they retain their bioactivity throughout the manufacturing process?
  4. How do we remove molds and yeasts without destroying bioactivity of the ingredients? This is important especially when often people buying products are immunocompromised.
  5. In what format do we present our products so that they are convenient yet they stay stable and efficacious?
  6. Which ingredient/bioactive suppliers do we trust to ensure the source of our bioactives are safe and high quality?
  7. How do we keep improving our product and testing them technically and clinically?

We pride ourselves on placing a lot of emphasis on the quality of the science and technology of our products. 

We are not resting on our laurels and are in the process of designing collaborative clinical trials, with support from physiologists and pulmonologists to gather further scientific data around our Zestt Breathe+ products - we will have the results of this before the end of the year.

We also work with the highest quality ingredient suppliers, like Blis Technologies who have extensive scientific research behind their oral probiotic products. Below are references to some of the scientific research that underpins the two oral probiotic ingredients that we use, BlisK12 and BlisM18.  We use BlisK12 in our Zestt Breathe+ and Zestt Gut+ lozenges and we use BlisM18 in Zestt Cardio+ lozenges.  We use both BlisK12 and BlisM18 in our Zestt Oral+ lozenges (the only product we know of to contain both oral probiotics). 

If you would like more information about any of this research, please let us know.

  1. Di Pierro, F., Donato, G., Fomia, F., Adami, T., Careddu, D., Cassandro, C., & Albera, R. (2012). Preliminary pediatric clinical evaluation of the oral probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12 in preventing recurrent pharyngitis and/or tonsillitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes and recurrent acute otitis media. International Journal of General Medicine, 5, 991–997. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S38859
  2. Di Pierro, F., Adami, T., Rapacioli, G., Giardini, N., & Streitberger, C. (2013). Clinical evaluation of the oral probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12 in the prevention of recurrent pharyngitis and/or tonsillitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes in adults. Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy, 13(3), 339–343. https://doi.org/10.1517/14712598.2013.758711
  3. Di Pierro, F., Colombo, M., Zanvit, A., Risso, P., & Rottoli, A. S. (2014). Use of Streptococcus salivarius K12 in the prevention of streptococcal and viral pharyngotonsillitis in children. Drug, Healthcare and Patient Safety, 6(1), 15–20.  https://doi.org/10.2147/dhps.s59665
  1. Di Pierro, F., Colombo, M., Zanvit, A., & Rottoli, A. S. (2016). Positive clinical outcomes derived from using Streptococcus salivarius K12 to prevent streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis in children: a pilot investigation. Drug, Healthcare and Patient Safety, 8, 77 -81. https://doi.org/10.2147/DHPS.S117214
  2. Di Pierro, F., Colombo, M., Giuliani, M. G., Danza, M. L., Basile, I., Bollani, T., Conti, A. M., Zanvit, A., & Rottoli, A. S. (2016). Effect of administration of Streptococcus salivarius K12 on the occurrence of streptococcal pharyngo-tonsillitis, scarlet fever and acute otitis media in 3 years old children. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 20(21), 4601–4606.
  3. Di Pierro, F., Risso, P., Poggi, E., Timitilli, A., Bolloli, S., Bruno, M., Caneva, E., Campus, R., & Giannattasio, A. (2018). Use of Streptococcus salivarius K12 to reduce the incidence of pharyngo-tonsillitis and acute otitis media in children: A retrospective analysis in not-recurrent pediatric subjects. Minerva Pediatrica, 70(3), 240–245. https://doi.org/10.23736/ S0026-4946.18.05182-4
  4. Gregori, G., Righi, O., Risso, P., Boiardi, G., Demuru, G., Ferzetti, A., Galli, A., Ghisoni, M., Lenzini, S., Marenghi, C., Mura, C., Sacchetti, R., & Suzzani, L. (2016). Reduction of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus pharyngotonsillar infections associated with use of the oral probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12: a retrospective observational study. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, 12, 87. https://doi.org/10.2147/TCRM.S96134
  5. Marini, G., Sitzia, E., Panatta, M. L., & de Vincentiis, G. C. (2019). Pilot study to explore the prophylactic efficacy of oral probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12 in preventing recurrent pharyngo-tonsillar episodes in pediatric patients. International Journal of General Medicine, 12, 213–217. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S168209
  6. Wang, Q., Lin, X., Xiang, X., Liu, W., Fang, Y., Chen, H., Tang, F., Guo, H., Chen, D., Hu, X., Wu, Q., Zhu, B., & Xia, J. (2021). Oropharyngeal Probiotic ENT-K12 Prevents Respiratory Tract Infections Among Frontline Medical Staff Fighting Against COVID-19: A Pilot Study. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2021.646184
  1. Campanella, V., Syed, J., Santacroce, L., Saini, R., Ballini, A., & Inchingolo, F. (2018). Oral probiotics influence oral and respiratory tract infections in pediatric population: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled pilot study. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 22(22), 8034–8041. https://doi.org/10.26355/ EURREV_201811_16433
  2. Guo, H., Xiang, X., Lin, X., Wang, Q., Qin, S., Lu, X., Xu, J., Fang, Y., Liu, Y., Cui, J., & Li, Z. (2022). Oropharyngeal Probiotic ENT-K12 as an Effective Dietary Intervention for Children With Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infections During Cold Season. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/ fnut.2022.900448
  1. Di Pierro, F., & Colombo, M. (2021). The administration of S. salivarius K12 to children may reduce the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In Minerva Medica (Vol. 112, Issue 4, pp. 514–516). Edizioni Minerva Medica. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0026-4806.21.07487-5
  1. Di Pierro, F., Iqtadar, S., Mumtaz, S. U., Bertuccioli, A., Recchia, M., Zerbinati, N., & Khan, A. (2022). Clinical Effects of Streptococcus salivarius K12 in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: Results of a Preliminary Study. Microorganisms, 10(10), 1926. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10101926
  1. La Torre, F., Sota, J., Insalaco, A., Conti, G., del Giudice, E., Lubrano, R., Breda, L., Maggio, M. C., Civino, A., Mastrorilli, V., Loconte, R., Natale, M. F., Celani, C., Romeo, M., Patroniti, S., Gentile, C., Vitale, A., Caggiano, V., Gaggiano, C., … Rigante, D. (2023). Preliminary data revealing efficacy of Streptococcus salivarius K12 (SSK12) in Periodic Fever, Aphthous stomatitis, Pharyngitis, and cervical Adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome: A multicenter study from the AIDA Network PFAPA syndrome registry. Frontiers in Medicine, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/ fmed.2023.1105605
  1. Laws, G. L., Hale, J. D. F., & Kemp, R. A. (2021). Human Systemic Immune Response to Ingestion of the Oral Probiotic Streptococcus salivarius BLIS K12. Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-021-09822-3
  2. Laws, G. A., Harold, L. K., Tagg, J. R., & Hale, J. D. F. (2022). Interferon Gamma Response in Human Saliva Following Exposure to the Oral Probiotic Streptococcus salivarius BLIS K12. Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins. https://doi.org/10.1007/ S12602-022-10010-0
  1. Bertuccioli, A., Gervasi, M., Annibalini, G., Binato, B., Perroni, F., Rocchi, M. B. L., Sisti, D., & Amatori, S. (2023). Use of Streptococcus salivarius K12 in supporting the mucosal immune function of active young subjects: A randomised double-blind study. Frontiers in Immunology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/ 2023.1129060
  2. Burton, J. P., Chilcott, C. N., Moore, C. J., Speiser, G., & Tagg, J. R. (2006). A preliminary study of the effect of probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12 on oral malodour parameters. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 100(4), 754–764. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2006.02837.x
  3. Jamali, Z., Aminabadi, N. A., Samiei, M., Deljavan, A. S., Shokravi, M., & Shirazi, S. (2016). Impact of chlorhexidine pretreatment followed by probiotic streptococcus salivarius strain K12 on halitosis in children: A randomised controlled clinical trial. Oral Health and Preventive Dentistry, 14(4), 305–313. https://doi.org/10.3290/j.ohpd.a36521
  4. Hu, L., Mao, Q., Zhou, P., Lv, X., Hua, H., & Yan, Z. (2019). Effects of Streptococcus salivarius K12 with nystatin on oral candidiasis—RCT. Oral Diseases, 25(6), 1573–1580. https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.13142
  5. Poorni, S., Nivedhitha, M., Srinivasan, M., & Balasubramaniam, (2022). Effect of Probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12 and M18 Lozenges on the Cariogram Parameters of Patients With High Caries Risk: A Randomised Control Trial. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.23282
  6. Tandelilin, ReginaT. C., Widita, E., Agustina, D., & Saini, R. (2018). The effect of oral probiotic consumption on the caries risk factors among high-risk caries population. Journal of International Oral Health, 10(3), 132. https://doi.org/10.4103/ jioh_82_18
  7. Benic, G. Z., Farella, M., Morgan, X. C., Viswam, J., Heng, N. C., Cannon, R. D., & Mei, L. (2019). Oral probiotics reduce halitosis in patients wearing orthodontic braces: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Breath Research, 13(3), 36010. https://doi.org/10.1088/1752-7163/ AB1C81
  8. Bardellini, E., Amadori, F., Gobbi, E., Ferri, A., Conti, G., & Majorana, A. (2020). Does streptococcus salivarius strain M18 assumption make black stains disappear in children? Oral Health and Preventive Dentistry, 18(2), 161–164. https://doi.org/10.3290/j.ohpd.a43359
  9. Salim, H. P., Mallikarjun, S. B., Raju, S., & Surendranath, R. (2023). Randomized Clinical Trial of Oral Probiotic Streptococcus salivarius M18 on Salivary Streptococcus mutans in Preprimary Children. International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry, 16(2), 259–263. https://doi.org/10.5005/jpjournals-10005-2527
  10. Burton, J. P., Drummond, B. K., Chilcott, C. N., Tagg, J. R., Thomson, W. M., Hale, J. D. F., & Wescombe, P. A. (2013). Influence of the probiotic Streptococcus salivarius strain M18 on indices of dental health in children: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Medical Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.056663-0
  11. Di Pierro, F., Zanvit, A., Nobili, P., Risso, P., & Fornaini, C. (2015). Cariogram outcome after 90 days of oral treatment with Streptococcus salivarius M18 in children at high risk for dental caries: results of a randomized, controlled study. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry, 7, 107–113. https://doi.org/10.2147/CCIDE.S93066
  12. Scariya, L., Nagarathna, D. v, & Varghese, M. (2015). Probiotics in periodontal therapy. International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences, 6(1), P242-P250.
  13. Kiselnikova, L. P., & Toma, E. I. (2022). Changes in the main dental parameters of preschoolers with caries affected by long-term probiotic intake. Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Prophylaxis, 22(2), 97–102. https://doi.org/10.33925/1683-3031-2022-22-2-97-102
  14. Babina, K., Salikhova, D., Doroshina, V., Makeeva, I., Zaytsev, A., Uvarichev, M., Polyakova, M., & Novozhilova, N. (2023). Antigingivitis and Antiplaque Effects of Oral Probiotic Containing the Streptococcus salivarius M18 Strain: Randomized Clinical Trial. Nutrients, 15(18), 3882. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15183882
  15. Burleigh, M. C., Rosier, B. T., Simpson, A., Sculthorpe, N., Henriquez, F., & Easton, C. (2023). The Probiotic Streptococcus salivarius M18 Increases Plasma Nitrite but Does Not Alter Blood Pressure: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial. Applied Microbiology, 3(3), 774–785. https://doi.org/10.3390/ applmicrobiol3030054
  16. Burton, J. P., Wescombe, P. A., Moore, C. J., Chilcott, C. N., & Tagg, J. R. (2006). Safety assessment of the oral cavity probiotic Streptococcus salivarius Applied and Environmental Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.72.4.3050-3053.2006
  1. Burton, J. P., Chilcott, C. N., Wescombe, P. A., & Tagg, J. R. (2010). Extended Safety Data for the Oral Cavity Probiotic Streptococcus salivarius Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins, 2(3), 135–144. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-010-9045-4
  1. Burton, J. P., Cowley, S., Simon, R. R., McKinney, J., Wescombe, P. A., & Tagg, J. R. (2011). Evaluation of safety and human tolerance of the oral probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Food and Chemical Toxicology : An International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association, 49(9), 2356–2364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2011.06.038
  1. Burton, J. P., Wescombe, P. A., Macklaim, J. M., Chai, M. H. C., MacDonald, K., Hale, J. D. F., Tagg, J., Reid, G., Gloor, G. B., & Cadieux, P. A. (2013). Persistence of the Oral Probiotic Streptococcus salivarius M18 Is Dose Dependent and Megaplasmid Transfer Can Augment Their Bacteriocin Production and Adhesion Characteristics. PLoS ONE, 8(6). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0065991

 All the best, Anna and Darcy.

If you would like to discuss any of this further, please contact Darcy or Anna (who you can contact at +64 27 599 2255 or +64 27 4861418 respectively) or via info@zesttwellness.com.

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