Naked Biotics produce vegan fermented 'liquid shots' that maintain and restore gut health. The drinks contain 12 strains of live bacteria as well as specially selected botanicals which aim to help drinkers "Feel Good and Glow From the Inside, Out."

In recent years, the link between gut bacteria, hormones, neurotransmitters and immunological factors has become of significant interest to medical and food technology researchers, but is still poorly understood. Advances in high-throughput sequencing - the technology that sequences DNA - make it possible to gain greater insight into the taxonomy and functional potential of the microbes in fermented foods.

The LAFIC | Naked Biotics collaboration will explore whether the gut microbiome can be influenced by their fermented drinks, to improve depression, stress and anxiety. The testing will include a minimum of 25 participants, and be conducted remotely over a four-week period. Trials will also identify the microbial composition of Naked Biotic's restore drink through DNA analysis testing. Restore contains Rosehip, Peppermint, Lemon Balm and Slippery Elm, and is suitable for sensitive stomachs. 

Sam Ash, Project Manager of the LAFIC programme, comments: 

"It is great to be collaborating with Naked Biotics. Over the past couple of years, LAFIC has conducted research into fermented products with the aim of understanding the mental and wellbeing benefits of taking fermented products on a regular basis. I am excited to get the intervention underway with Naked Biotics and to see what benefits we can uncover from taking the Restore product on a regular basis."

Amy Partridge, Director of Naked Biotics, says:

"We're really excited to be working with LAFIC to show the diversity of Naked Biotics and the benefits it has on the microbiome and our state of mind. This project will provide evidence of the nutritional value and positive effects that Naked Biotics has on people's health and wellbeing. It will also widen our sales channels and contribute to our mission of giving everyone affordable access to optimising their gut health ... with a Daily Dose of Life."

Find out more about Naked Biotics at www.nakedbiotics.co.uk

Principal investigators: 

Adri Bester - Lead Academic, LAFIC; School of Applied Science, LSBU.

Adri's research focuses on fermented foods and the gut-brain-axis. 

Professor Paul Cotter - Head of Department of Food Bioscience at Teagasc Food Research Centre; PI in APC Microbiome Ireland; CTO of SeqBiome.

Paul's research focuses on the microbiology and microbiomes of food, especially fermented foods. Paul has recently been named among the top 1% in the world for highly cited papers in the Clarivate list of Highly Cited Researchers.  

Miguel Toribio-Mateas, Director of Research and Enterprise at Atlas Biomed and Research Fellow in the School of Applied Science, LSBU.

Miguel's research interest is in the role of the gut microbiota in health and disease.