The Austrian Institut AllergoSan is shaping the future of probiotic medicine
Leading the way in international microbiome research
The intestine is at the centre of scientific interest - or more precisely, the trillions of bacteria that colonise it. With increasing research into the microbiome, it is becoming increasingly clear what a central role intestinal bacteria play in our health or in the development - and the treatment - of diseases. Through its scientific work, Institut AllergoSan is decisively shaping medicine of the 21st century - and has been doing so for over 25 years. Bacteria that naturally occur in the human body are constantly being researched.
Numerous clinical studies clearly demonstrate the therapeutic success of these probiotic bacteria in a wide variety of clinical conditions, ranging from antibiotic-associated diarrhoea to depression and recurrent bacterial vaginosis.
Quality is our DNA
For almost 30 years, Institut AllergoSan has been inextricably linked with the topics of probiotic research and therapy and, with its traditional brand OMNi-BiOTiC®, which has already reached number 4 on the global probiotics market. Anita Frauwallner, founder and director of Institut AllergoSan explained in further detail:
"Research and high-quality studies are the cornerstone of our probiotics. We specifically select bacterial strains that occur in a healthy human body, meaning they have the best possible conditions to settle and multiply in our intestines again and again. And we're demonstrating that in clinical trials conducted by renowned hospitals."
The stringent procedure for the selection of such human-derived bacterial strains is particularly well illustrated in a study2 conducted by the AKH Vienna: Precisely the bacteria responsible for healthy vaginal colonisation were analysed from the intestines and vaginas of healthy women. The strongest of them are selected in lengthy research processes to treat women with diseases such as recurrent urinary tract infections, bacterial vaginosis, or fungal infections in a completely natural way - causally and sustainably - with probiotic bacteria that live permanently in healthy people. "Institut AllergoSan assesses all the knowledge acquired over decades and large sums of money are spent on research to identify precisely those bacterial strains for various health problems that are then used in products under the OMNi-BiOTiC® name and, thanks to their noticeable effect, turn customers into enthusiastic fans", Anita Frauwallner describes.
Doctors and pharmacists trust these probiotics due to the fact that the relevant evidence of efficacy is published in high-ranking scientific journals. For example, the study on probiotic treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, published in the internationally renowned American Journal of Gastroenterology, was selected by the WGO at the time as one of the top 15 probiotics studies worldwide. High recognition was also given to the work on the use of probiotics during pregnancy, which make it possible to modulate the immune system and therefore significantly reduce the incidence of allergies, asthma, and neurodermatitis, even in genetically predisposed children. These results were published in the leading scientific journal Allergy as the PANDA study. A particular study success was published in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Together with the Medical University of Graz, it was clearly shown that a specially developed probiotic could improve impaired liver function even in patients with severe liver cirrhosis - an unprecedented therapeutic option that, moreover, does not entail any undesirable side effects, as would be the case with liver transplantation - the only alternative to this probiotic treatment.
Ongoing research investment
Excellent study results are also evident in the field of rheumatology. It has been clearly demonstrated that the use of medically relevant probiotics in psoriatic arthritis (a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the joints that often accompanies psoriasis of the skin) resulted in a significant reduction of inflammatory parameters. In addition, there was a significant decrease in the concentration of zonulin in the stool (the most important leaky gut marker) and therefore an improvement in intestinal barrier function. Particularly surprising was that probiotic therapy led to a significant improvement in the symptoms of these severely ill psoriatic arthritis patients who had not been helped by state of the art treatment3.
Recent study successes include a recently published paper conducted at the Medical University of Graz, Austria. This showed that positive modulation of the gut microbiome using a high-quality probiotic specifically inhibiting pathogens could, among other things, significantly reduce the incidence of infections with multidrug-resistant bacteria both in the gut and on the skin in geriatric patients4.
Exciting study results are also emerging in the field of gynaecology. Administration of a probiotic specifically composed of four Lactobacillus strains to women having problems conceiving has been shown to have a protective effect on the colonisation of Ureaplasma parvum in the vaginal mucosa – these bacteria associated with infertility, perinatal disease, and stillbirth. Accordingly, the intake of this probiotic offers an optimal opportunity to maintain a healthy vaginal microbiome and additionally represents an option for the supportive treatment of women with an unfulfilled desire to have children5.
1 IMS PharmaTrend® monatlich; individuelle Marktbasis aus OTC 3 — 03F1 Probiotische Produkte für den Verdauungstrakt und ausgewählten Wettbewerbern; MAT 07/2017; Umsatz
2 Domig, K. J. et al. Strategies for the evaluation and selection of potential vaginal probiotics from human sources: an exemplary study. Benef. Microbes 5, 263–272 (2014)
3 A. Haidmayer, P. Bosch, A. Lackner, M. D’Orazio, J. Fessler, and M. H. Stradner, “Effects of Probiotic Strains on Disease Activity and Enteric Permeability in Psoriatic Arthritis–A Pilot Open-Label Study,” Nutrients, vol. 12, no. 8, p. 2337, Aug. 2020.
4 I. Zollner-Schwetz et al., “Effect of a multispecies probiotic on intestinal and skin colonization by multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria in patients in a long-term care facility: A pilot study,” Nutrients, vol. 12, no. 6, Jun. 2020.
5 M. Schenk, L. Grumet, J. Sternat, N. Reinschissler, and G. Weiss, “Effect of probiotics on vaginal Ureaplasma parvum in women suffering from unexplained infertility,” Reprod. Biomed. Online, Jun. 2021.
Institut AllergoSan
Research investments
The Institut AllergoSan invests continuously in research and product development. As a result, it offers its customers natural substances whose effect is not only quickly noticeable to the user, but also proven by scientific studies.
Research projects
Selection of PubMed published studies on various indications in which OMNi-BiOTiC® was used and scientifically tested:
Bezirkskrankenhaus Schwaz - Prim. Prof. H. Gänzer - Internistische Patienten mit Antibiose
Gänzer et al. "Einsatz von Probiotika bei Antibiose-Prävention einer antibiotikaassoziierten Diarrhoe bei älteren Patienten" Wiener klinisches Magazin, vol.25, pp.12-19 (2022)
LKH Leoben - Prim. Prof. H. Rabl - Chirurgische Patienten mit Antibiose
Rabl et al. "Der positive Effekt eines Multispezies-Probiotikums bei chirurgischen Patienten mit Antibiose." Chirurg. Allg. Kompakt, vol.10, pp.475-478 (2021)
Mid Sweden University – Dr. M. Jong – AAD in Altenpflegeheimen
H. A. Van Wietmarschen et al. “Probiotics use for antibiotic-associated diarrhea: A pragmatic participatory evaluation in nursing ho- mes,” BMC Gastroenterol., vol. 20, pp. 151 (2020)
Medizinische Universität Graz – Prof. P. Holzer – Antibiotika und Mikrobiom
Jačan et al. “Synergistic and antagonistic interactions between antibiotics and synbiotics is modifying the murine fecal microbiome,” Eur. J. Nutr., pp. 1-14 (2019).
Medizinische Universität Graz – Prof. V. Stadlbauer-Köllner – Sepsis und Mikrobiom
Stadlbauer et al. “Dysbiosis in early sepsis can be modulated by a multispecies probiotic: a randomised controlled pilot trial,” Benef. Microbes, vol. 10, pp. 265 -278 (2019).
Universität Urbino – Dr. Baffone – Reisemedizin
Campana et al., “Strain-specific probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria against human intestinal pathogens invasion” Gut Pathog., vol. 9, pp. 12 (2017).
Dr. Müller – Reisediarrhö
Müller H. “Probiotika zur Prophylaxe und Therapie der Reisediarrhö.” Flug u Reisemed., vol. 23(5) pp. 232-236 (2016).
Universität Salzburg – Doz. M. Hell – CDAD
Hell et al. “Probiotics in Clostridium difficile infection: reviewing the need for a multistrain probiotic.” Benef. Microbes, vol. 4, pp. 39-51 (2013).
Universitätsklinik Maastricht – Prof. R. Stockbrügger – Antibiotika-assoziierte Diarrhoe
Koning et al. “The effect of a multispecies probiotic on the intestinal microbiota and bowel movements in healthy volunteers taking the antibiotic amoxycillin.” Am. J. Gastroenterol., vol. 103, pp. 178-189 (2008).
Diakonie Klinikum Jung Stilling Siegen – Prof. Joachim Labenz– Screening colonoscopy
Labenz, J. et al. "Application of a multispecies probiotic reduces gastro-intestinal discomfort and induces microbial changes after colonoscopy.“ Frontiers in Oncology (2022).
Medizinische Universität Graz – Prof. V. Stadlbauer-Köllner – Hepatologie
A. Horvath et al. “Changes in the Intestinal Microbiome during a Multispecies Probiotic Intervention in Compensated Cirrhosis,” Nutri- ents, vol. 12, pp. 1874 (2020).
Medizinische Universität Graz – Prof. Singer – Morbus Hirschsprung
Singer et al. “Hirschsprung’s Associated Enterocolitis (HAEC) Personalized Treatment with Probiotics Based on Gene Sequencing Ana- lysis of the Fecal Microbiome,” Case Rep. Pediatr., pp. 1-6 (2018).
Medizinische Universität Graz – Prof. C. Högenauer – Reizdarmsyndrom
Moser et al. “Effects of an oral synbiotic on the gastrointestinal immune system and microbiota in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.” Eur. J. Nutr., pp. 1-12 (2018).
Pommersche Medizinische Universität Stettin – Dr. J. Suliburska – Hepatologie
Skrypnik et al. “Effect of probiotic supplementation on liver function and lipid status in rats.” Acta Sci. Pol. Technol. Aliment., vol. 17, pp. 185-192 (2018).
Medizinische Universität Graz – Prof. V. Stadlbauer-Köllner – Hepatologie
Horvath et al. “Randomised clinical trial: the effects of a multispecies probiotic vs. placebo on innate immune function, bacterial translocation and gut permeability in patients with cirrhosis.” Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther., vol. 44, pp. 926-935 (2016).
Universität Linköping – Prof. Söderholm – Chronisch Entzündliche Darmerkrankungen
Persborn et al. “The effects of probiotics on barrier function and mucosal pouch microbiota during maintenance treatment for severe pouchitis in patients with ulcerative colitis.” Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther., vol. 38, pp. 772-783 (2013).
Medizinische Universität Graz – Prof. E. Z. Reininghaus – Depression
K. Kreuzer et al., “The PROVIT Study-Effects of Multispecies Probiotic Add-on Treatment on Metabolomics in Major Depressive Disorder - A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial." Metabolites, vol 12 (8), pp 770 (2022)
Medizinische Universität Graz – Prof. E. Z. Reininghaus – Depression
E. Z. Reininghaus et al., “PROVIT: Supplementary Probiotic Treatment and Vitamin B7 in Depression—A Randomized Controlled Trial,” Nutrients, vol. 12, pp. 3422, (2020)
Medizinische Universität Graz – Prof. E. Z. Reininghaus – Depression
A. Reiter et al., “Interleukin-6 Gene Expression Changes after a 4-Week Intake of a Multispecies Probiotic in Major Depressive Disorder—Preliminary Results of the PROVIT Study,” Nutrients, vol. 12, pp. 2575, (2020)
Lud. Max. Universität München – Prof. A. Straube – Migräne
Straube et al. “Migräneprophylaxe mit einem Probiotikum.” MMW – Fortschritte der Medizin, vol. 160, pp. 16-21 (2018).
Medizinische Universität Graz – Prof. E. Reininghaus – Bipolare Erkrankung
Reininghaus et al. “The Impact of Probiotic Supplements on Cognitive Parameters in Euthymic Individuals with Bipolar Disorder: A Pilot Study.” Neuropsychobiology, pp. 1-8 (2018).
Medzinische Universität Innsbruck – Prof. D. Fuchs – Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen
Leblhuber et al. “Probiotic Supplementation in Patients with Alzheimer’s Dementia – An Explorative Intervention Study.” Curr. Alzheimer Res., vol. 15, pp. 1106-1113 (2018).
Universität Graz – Prof. V. Schöpf – Neuropsychologie / Neuroimaging
Bagga et al. “Influence of 4-week multi-strain probiotic administration on resting-state functional connectivity in healthy volunteers.” Eur. J. Nutr., vol.58, pp. 1821-1827 (2018).
Medizinische Universität Innsbruck – Prof. D. Fuchs – neurodegenerative Erkrankungen
Leblhuber et al. “On the role of intestinal microbiota in patients with cognitive decline.” J Pharm Pharmacol., vol. 5, pp. 648-653 (2017).
Medizinische Universität Innsbruck – Prof. D. Fuchs – Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen
Leblhuber et al. “Die Bedeutung der Darm-Hirn-Achse bei Demenz.” Spectrum Psychiatrie vol. 3, pp. 38-41, (2017).
Universität Leiden – Prof. L. Colzato – Depression
Steenbergen et al. “Randomized controlled trial to test the effect of multispecies probiotics on cognitive reactivity to sad mood.” Brain. Behav. Immun., vol. 48, pp. 258-64 (2015).
Universität Wageningen – Dr. de Roos – Migräne
de Roos et al. “The effects of the multispecies probiotic mixture on migraine: results of an open-label pilot study.” Benef. Microbes, vol. 6, pp. 641-646 (2015).
Universität Innsbruck – Prof. Leblhuber – Demenz
Leblhuber et al. “Elevated fecal calprotectin in patients with Alzheimer’s dementia indicates leaky gut.” J. Neural Transm., vol. 122, pp. 1319-1322 (2015).
Medizinische Universität Graz – Prof. M. Stradner – Psoriasis-Arthritis
A. Haidmayer, et al. “Effects of Probiotic Strains on Disease Activity and Enteric Permeability in Psoriatic Arthritis–A Pilot Open-Label Study.” Nutrients, vol. 12, pp. 2337 (2020).
University College Roosevelt – Prof. G. Rijkers – Allergie
Kim et al. “Probiotic supplementation influences faecal short chain fatty acids in infants at high risk for eczema.” Benef. Microbes, vol. 6, pp. 783-790 (2015).
Universitätsklinik Utrecht – Prof. G. Rijkers – Allergieforschung
Niers et al. “The effects of selected probiotic strains on the development of eczema (the PandA study).” Allergy, vol. 64, pp. 1349-58 (2009).
Universitätsklinik Utrecht – Prof. G. Rijkers – Allergieforschung
Niers et al. “Selection of probiotic bacteria for prevention of allergic diseases: immunomodulation of neonatal dendritic cells.” Clin. Exp. Immunol., vol. 149, pp. 344-352 (2007).
Universitätsklinik Utrecht – Prof. G. Rijkers – Allergieforschung
Niers et al. "Identification of strong interleukin-10 inducing lactic acid bacteria which down-regulate T helper type 2 cytokines." Clin. Exp. Allergy, vol. 35, 1481-1489 (2005).
Medizinische Universität Graz – Prof. V. Stadlbauer-Köllner – Typ 2 Diabetes
Horvath et al. “Effects of a multispecies synbiotic on glucose metabolism, lipid marker, gut microbiome composition, gut permeability, and quality of life in diabesity: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study.” Eur. J. Nutr., (2019).
Warwick Medical School – Dr. P. McTernant – Typ 2 Diabetes
Sabico et al. “Effects of a 6-month multi-strain probiotics supplementation in endotoxemic, inflammatory and cardiometabolic status of T2DM patients: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.” Clin Nutr., vol. 38, pp. 1561-1569 (2018).
Medizinische Universität Posen – Dr. M. Szulinska – Metabolisches Syndrom
Szulinska et al. “Dose-Dependent Effects of Multispecies Probiotic Supplementation on the Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Level and Cardiometabolic Profile in Obese Postmenopausal Women: A 12-Week Randomized Clinical Trial.” Nutrients, vol. 10, pp. 773 (2018).
Warwick Medical School – Dr. P. McTernant – Typ 2 Diabetes
Sabico et al. “Effects of a multi-strain probiotic supplement for 12 weeks in circulating endotoxin levels and cardiometabolic profiles of medication naive T2DM patients: a randomized clinical trial.” J Transl Med., vol. 15, pp. 249 (2017).
Universität Wageningen – Prof. B. Schütz – Adipositas
van Hemert et al. “Clinical studies evaluating effects of probiotics on parameters of intestinal barrier function.” Advances in Microbiology, vol. 3, pp. 212-221 (2013).
Kinderwunsch Institut Schenk – Dr. M. Schenk – In-vitro-Fertilisation
M. Schenk et al., “Effect of probiotics on vaginal Ureaplasma parvum in women suffering from unexplained infertility”, ReProd BioMed Online, (2021).
Universität Graz – Prof. B. Schütz – Vitalstoffaufnahme in der Postmenopause
Stiegelbauer et al. “Der Effekt eines Multispezies-Probiotikums auf die Mikronährstoffaufnahme, Hormonproduktion und Entzündungsreaktionen bei postmenopausalen Frauen ”, OM u Ernährung, vol. 168, pp. 63-67 (2019).
AKH Wien – Prof. L. Petricevic – Gynäkologie
Marschalek et al. “Influence of Orally Administered Probiotic Lactobacillus Strains on Vaginal Microbiota in Women with Breast Cancer during Chemotherapy: A Randomized Placebo- Controlled Double-Blinded Pilot Study.” Breast Care, vol. 12, pp. 335-339 (2017).
Universitätsklinikum Kiel – Prof. Schrezenmair – Gynäkologie
Laue et al. “Effect of Lactobacillus strains on bacterial vaginosis in women – a double-blind, randomised, controlled clinical pilot trial.” Benef. Microbes, vol. 9, pp. 35-50 (2017).
Universitätsklinikum Kiew – Prof. Anoshina – Herpesinfektion in der Schwangerschaft
Anoshina et al. “Role of microbiota in pregnant women with herpesvirus infection.” Perinatologiya Pediatriya, vol. 4, pp. 22-25 (2016).
LKH Feldbach – Doz. H. Hofmann – Kinderheilkunde
Hofmann H. “Probiotikum gegen Verdauungsbeschwerden in der Schwangerschaft und Säuglingskoliken.” Gynäkologie aktiv, vol. 5, pp. 8-9 (2015).
AKH Wien – Prof. H. Kiss – Gynäkologie
Domig et al. “Strategies for the evaluation and selection of potential vaginal probiotics from human sources: an exemplary study.” Benef. Microbes, vol. 5, pp. 263-272 (2014).
Europa Universität Viadrina Frankfurt – Dr. D. Lazik – Leistungssteigerung im Sport
Lazik et al. “Der Effekt von Multispezies-Probiotika auf die intestinale Barrierefunktion, Entzündungsreaktionen und Leistungsfähig- keit bei Athleten – Eine retrospektive Studie bei Leistungssportlern einer Football Bundesliga-Mannschaft”, OM u Ernährung, vol.167, pp. 27- 34 (2019).
Medizinische Universität Innsbruck – Prof. B. Prüller-Strasser – Leistungssteigerung / Sport
Strasser et al. “Probiotic Supplements Beneficially Affect Tryptophan-Kynurenine Metabolism and Reduce the Incidence of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Trained Athletes: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial.” Nutrients, vol. 8, pp. 752 (2016).
Universität Graz – Doz. M. Lamprecht – Darmpermeabilität und Entzündung im Sport
Lamprecht et al. "Probiotic supplementation affects markers of intestinal barrier, oxidation, and inflammation in trained men; a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial." J. Int.Soc. Sports Nutr., vol.9,pp.45 (2012).
Universität Graz – Doz. M. Lamprecht – Sport- und Ernährungsmedizin
Lamprecht et al. “Exercise, intestinal barrier dysfunction and probiotic supplementation.” Med. Sport Sci., vol. 59, pp. 47-56 (2012).
Review – Dr. V. Stiegelbauer – Qualität von Probiotika
L. Grumet, et al. “The Development of High-Quality Multispecies Probiotic Formulations: From Bench to Market,” Nutrients, vol. 12, pp. 2453 (2020). Qualitätskriterien
University of Warsaw (Poland) (Prof. Szajewska)
AAD in children
University Clinic Rijeka (Croatia) (Dr. Golcic)
Chemotherapy-associated diarrhoea
LKH Feldbach (Austria) (Prim. Dr. Heine)
Morbus Parkinson
Medical University Graz (Austria) (Prof. Stadlbauer-Köllner)
Diarrhoea and Covid-19
Medical University Graz (Austria) (Prof. Stadlbauer-Köllner)
Probiotics use in PostCovid Syndrome
University Clinic Salzburg (Austria) (Prof. Emmanuel)
Stomach carcinoma
UKE Hamburg (Germany) (Dr. Sinn)
Colorectal carcinoma
LMU Munich (Germany) (Prof. Liesz)
Stroke
Charité Berlin (Germany) (Prof. Mechsner)
Endometriosis
Medical University Graz (Austria) (Prof. Voit-Augustin)
Risk of infection in intensive care patients
Charité Berlin (Germany) (Prof. Sehouli)
Ovarian carcinoma
Universitätsklinikum Minden (Germany) (Dr. Sorleto)
Chronic pancreatitis
Medical University Graz (Austria) (Prof. Stradner)
Rheumatoid arthritis
Med Uni Wien und Innsbruck (Prof. Karwautz)
Anorexie
Medizinische Universität Innsbruck (Dr. Kurz / Prof. Weiss)
Chronic Fatigue
Kinderwunschzentrum Schenk (Dr. Krammer-Pojer / Dr. Schenk)
Spermienqualität
Privatordination (Dr. Gyaky)
Wundmanagement
Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien (Prof. Burgener)
gastro-intestinal complaints in Dogs
University of Maribor (Slovenia) (Prof. Fijan)
Respiratory infections in patients aged 65 and over
University of Maribor (Slovenia) (Prof. Fijan)
Nappy rash
Medical University Graz (Austria) (Prof. Schemmer)
Liver transplantation
Medical University Graz (Austria) (Prof. Obermayer-Pietsch)
PCOS