NZ’s Gutsi launches gut supplement protocol targeting the ‘empowered and informed consumer’
The 60-day Gut Reset kit is a comprehensive gut care protocol containing pre-, pro-, and postbiotic nutrition from its existing products – SporeBiotic, Gut Food and Good Guts – to support gut health.
Its key probiotic ingredients are Bacillus indicus, Bacillus clausii, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus coagulans, and galactooligosaccharides.
It was launched three months ago, and is available in health stores and pharmacies in New Zealand. It is also available via its official website and some Australian e-commerce platforms, including My Natural Health and TheraStore.
A need for practitioner-grade, preventative gut care
Speaking to NutraIngredients-Asia, CEO Amal Karl said that its firm emerged to address the gap for practitioner-grade, preventative gut care.
“The ones who are going to the practitioners obviously have got some very bad chronic issues. For those who have underlying symptoms and want to feel better, they might go to health stores and pharmacies to get a quick recommendation.
“We wanted to still ensure it’s an efficacious protocol that can be achieved in a shorter period of time. At the end of that, customers can decide whether to continue [the whole kit] longer, or just take one product [out of the kit] that is designed for long-term use.”
Gutsi was founded in 2021 from a partnership with a US-based practitioner-only supplements brand called Microbiome Labs.
Consumer acceptance for an elaborated protocol
Consumers would take the three supplements in a layered approach over a 60-day course.
“Probiotics are necessary for the first 30 days to build the right gut environment before using the prebiotics and postbiotics to reinforce the microbial changes and strengthen the intestinal walls [respectively] in the second month,” Karl explained.
A layered approach, contrary to combining all three in one product, is necessary since the three products have different mechanism of action in creating a healthy gut environment, according to him.
Also, it is intended to prevent any side effects, such as bloating, when some ingredients are not synthesised or properly absorbed by the gut.
“The other thing to remember is these consumers are going to retailers and not under the care of a health care practitioner. If they’ve got a problem using the product, they don't know where to go. So, we wanted to ensure that the protocol is very safe for them to use.”
Karl noted that consumers today are more knowledgeable and empowered to take charge of their gut health, thereby reducing their resistance to adopt an elaborated protocol.
“Generally, we find that the customers who are reaching out for our products are quite well-informed on their health, and they are motivated to take care of themselves. We want to support them with further resources. So, this kit also comes with a journal to keep track of their diet and supplement intake.”
NutraIngredients-Asia recently covered about how gut health concerns remain a main sales driver for one of Australia’s biggest probiotic firms.
It also claims to have a team of naturopaths and nutritionists to provide further personalised support for customers should they need it.
Beyond gut health
Aside from the three products, Gutsi also has a probiotic formula that targets stress known as Moodbiotic.
“Research has shown that our microbiome can produce neurotransmitters that affect mood and behaviours. Gut imbalances may be linked to conditions like depressions and depressions. A disturbed brain can affect gut function and its microbial composition.”
Karl is also seeing aplenty new product development opportunities in probiotics and gut health, especially among the women and children populations.
“The gut is connected to almost every organ in the body. Through the gut, we can influence anything really. The women’s health category is quite significant. There’re various kinds of support they need in different phases of their lives, such as menopausal symptoms.
“With the children’s category, I have my reservations on the quality of products in the market as they tend to be very pleasant tasting, like berry powders and gummies. They may not necessarily have very good ingredients in them. So, we see an opportunity to keep the products very clean, especially since children have so many allergies these days.”
