Student scoops National Young Scientist prize based on OptiBiotix products
A food and nutritional sciences student from the University of Reading, examining OptiBiotix products LPLDL® at and LPGOS®, has won the national Young Scientist competition hosted by the Institute of Food Science and Technology.
Final year undergraduate Alice Nield won the 2019 award under the supervision of Professor Bob Rastall, as part of her degree in Food Science in the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences. Alice completed her dissertation on using probiotic LPLDL to produce Galactooligosaccharide (GOS) LPGOS under different environmental conditions. She impressed the judges with her presentation entitled ‘Production of GOS from aerobic probiotics’.
Dr Sofia Kolida, Research & Development Director of OptiBiotix, commented: “The Young Scientist competition is a great opportunity for students to showcase their knowledge and enthusiasm for a subject and we’re delighted to hear Alice has been awarded this year’s prize based on our innovative health products. Her work shows great dedication and innovation which is essential for the continued success of high standards in food science and technology.”
LPLDL is a naturally occurring probiotic which harnesses the microbiome-liver axis to impact positively upon the gut microbiome. Supported by science and backed by human studies, its outstanding ability to modulate bile acid metabolism is beneficial for heart health factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. LPGOS is a galactooligosaccharide (GOS) produced by the OptiBiotix LPLDL strain which can be used in a wide range of food products and applications to help reduce cardiovascular risk factors and improve health.
The Young Scientist Competition is an annual competition offering undergraduate or postgraduate students based in the UK the opportunity to present their current or recently completed food-related project in front of their peers and to a panel of food professionals.