The survey included just over 1,000 adults in the US and it found that most Americans are looking to add vitamin C (59%), vitamin D (49%) and B vitamins (49%), while just 25% recognize the value of probiotics to support the immune system.
Despite the gut being home to at least 70% of the immune system, less than half of the respondents said they understood the link between the microbiome and digestive health. Even fewer recognized the impact of the microbiome on overall health, including the immune system (43%), weight management (43%) and mental wellbeing (33%).
“Research on the gut microbiome is rapidly advancing and we are just beginning to recognize the full extent of the role that gut microbes play in health and disease,” said Miguel Freitas, PhD, vice president of scientific affairs at Danone North America. “With greater knowledge of the gut microbiome’s health significance, we are focused on how the gut microbiome can be influenced, including the use of biotics – such as probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics.”
While there’s a greater awareness of probiotics, fewer Americans understand the lesser known biotics – prebiotics and postbiotics.
More than two-thirds (67%) of survey respondents said they recognize that probiotics have a positive impact on our overall health, yet the awareness of the benefits of prebiotics (34%) and postbiotics (14%) is much lower. In fact, over 75% admit they are unfamiliar with or unsure of the impact of postbiotics – which is quickly emerging as a trending functional ingredient.