Breakthrough Achievement in Managing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) with Malaysian-Made Probiotic BCMC® Strains

The best way to beat non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is to prevent them. And that starts with gut health.

Malaysia’s medical community is constantly striving to be at the forefront of research and innovation, and B-Crobes Laboratory Sdn. Bhd (B-Crobes) is leading the charge with their cutting-edge probiotic BCMC® strains. At a press conference in Petaling Jaya today, B-Crobes and the Gut Research Group at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) unveiled new studies showcasing the potential of BCMC® strains as a complementary therapy for NCDs. This is a huge development for Malaysia’s healthcare landscape, and it will no doubt lead to even more progress in the future.

Prof. Dr. Norfilza Mohd Mokhtar, Leader of the Gut Research Group, Cluster Chairman, Health and Advanced Medicine, UKM, presented an enlightening talk on the new study of BCMC® strains that were tested and clinically proven in improving and managing  NCDs, specifically in Colorectal Cancer, Post-Gestational Diabetes (Pregnant Women with Diabetes), and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).

For over two decades, B-Crobes has dedicated itself to the research, development, and manufacturing of specific strains of probiotics known as BCMC® strains consisting of Lactobacillus acidophilus BCMC® 12130, Lactobacillus casei subsp. BCMC® 12313, Lactobacillus lactis BCMC® 12451, Bifidobacterium longum BCMC® 02120, Bifidobacterium bifidum BCMC® 02290, and Bifidobacterium infantis BCMC® 02129, used to prevent and improve digestive health, metabolic health,  immune system, and overall well-being.

More than 20 clinical studies have proved the BCMC® strains’ safety and efficacy – resulting in its products, namely ‘HEXBIO’ being used in intensive care units (ICU) of government hospitals and clinics across Malaysia. They are sold on the shelves of pharmaceutical stores internationally including the UAE, Bahrain, China, Oman, Singapore, Philippines, and many more.

The first study presented was “A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial on Post-Surgical Colorectal Cancer Patients” (1) – a study investigating the effects of BCMC® strains on post-surgical colorectal patients. The study was conducted through a blind trial with patients divided into two groups; one group receiving a placebo and the other receiving BCMC® strains at random, for 6 months of the recovery period.

It was found that the BCMC® strains led to a significant reduction in the levels of specific pro-inflammatory cytokines (harmful substances) that are known to cause poor outcomes and contribute to the development and recurrence of cancer in patients with colorectal cancer, thus, improving the recovery rate of post-surgical colorectal cancer.

The next study presented was “The Roles of Probiotics in the Gut Microbiots Composition Outcomes in Asymptomatic Post-Gestational Diabetes Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial” (2) which investigated the effects of BCMC® strains on glucose metabolism in postpartum women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Participants were divided into two groups; one receiving a placebo and the other receiving BCMC® strains at random, for a total of 3 months.

The study also included meticulous and consistent testing of fasting glucose, insulin resistance, and inflammatory markers of the participants. It was found that the group supplied with BCMC® strains had significant improvements in their insulin resistance – which plays an important factor in managing  post-gestational diabetes and decreasing the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

In the studies of NAFLD, two studies were presented – “The Effect of Probiotics (MCP® BCMC® Strains) on Hepatic Steatosis, Small Intestinal Mucosal Immune Function, and Intestinal Barrier in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease” (3) and “The Effects of Probiotics on Small Intestinal Microbiota Composition, Inflammatory Cytokines and Intestinal Permeability in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.” (4)

Researchers investigated the effects of BCMC® strains on hepatic steatosis, fibrosis, and biochemical blood tests in patients with NAFLD. The study was done through a blind trial with two groups of patients, supplied with a placebo and BCMC® strains at random, for a total of 6 months.

Once the trial was concluded, it was found that the BCMC® strains managed to stabilise the mucosal immune function which protects NAFLD patients against intestinal permeability (preventing toxins from entering). In addition to this, the consumption of BCMC® strains also leads to a well-balanced microbiota composition, resulting in a healthy gut that deemed the BCMC® strains a complementary role in treating NAFLD and maintaining overall health.

YBrs. Puan Razida Hanim Abdul Razak, Director of Lifestyle & Sciences Section, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) shared, “This research does not only showcase the dedication and commitment of our industry leaders to provide efficient and clinically developed products for the health of the rakyat, but this also enhances the reliability and demand for Malaysian-made products internationally.”

Aligned with the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) National Strategic Plan 2016-2025 consisting of tackling issues in regard to NCDs, B-Crobes has signed a research agreement with the Faculty of Medicine, UKM, and the School of Medical & Life Sciences, Sunway University – announcing their academic and industrial collaboration for the clinical application of BCMC® strains and gut microbiomes in health. To kickstart this initiative, B-Crobes have provided an RM50,000 educational research grant to both parties as well as a full scholarship to two full-time Ph.D. students; one to the Faculty of Medicine, UKM and another one to the School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, to conduct probiotic-related research in Malaysia.

Puan Razida Hanim added, “I have no doubts that moving forward, the collaboration between B-CROBES, UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA (UKM), and SUNWAY UNIVERSITY will nurture the medical and pharmaceutical industry in Malaysia to greater heights. This will also foster motivation for local players to dive deep into the unknown and uncover findings that will aid humanity at large as well as develop advanced innovations to benefit mankind and bring Malaysia forward as a reputable and reliable export country for medical products across the globe.”

Mr. Dean Lee, Executive Director of B-Crobes Group of Companies, stated, “This initiative is poised to provide the education and resources that will nourish students and up-and-coming researchers who will be future front liners in developing innovative offerings that showcase what Malaysia has to offer. In addition to that, conducting translational research is the way forward and it will also enhance the economy of Malaysia too. We believe this is an example of a quadruple-helix collaboration in clinical research and development between four major sectors namely industry, universities, government, and public. We hope that our objectives will also motivate our current and future industry players to strive for better medical discoveries that will contribute to our Malaysian society. Indeed, important research findings will be translated into clinical practice for the betterment of Malaysian society and beyond.”

Growing to Greater Heights

B-Crobes is excited to share that, due to the success of previous HEXBIO products used locally and internationally, such as HEXBIO MCP Granules, which contains 30 Billion colony-forming units (CFU) of multi-strain beneficial bacteria known as MCP® BCMC® strains, they will be developing a new research facility in Batu Kawan, Penang. The new facility is set to open by the year 2025.

Prof. Dr. Raja Affendi Raja Ali, the Dean of School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Consultant Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist, Sunway University emphasised that the health of the rakyat is of paramount importance to B-Crobes. “We no longer want to be known as the nation with the one of the highest NCD cases. I believe that these research breakthroughs will mark the beginning of our country’s journey in becoming a reputable and reliable source for medical product research and development across the globe, while improving the health of Malaysians,” he concluded.

For those of us who would want to prevent NCDs, it is recommended to adopt a healthy and balanced diet and lifestyle, and supplementing with beneficial probiotics such as HEXBIO MCP Granules.

For more information, kindly visit: https://bcrobes.com/about-us

References:

• Colorectal Cancer study citation: Zaharuddin, L., Mokhtar, N.M., Muhammad Nawawi, K.N. et al. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of probiotics in post-surgical colorectal cancer. BMC Gastroenterol 19, 131 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-019-1047-4

• Hasain Z, Raja Ali RA, Ahmad HF, Abdul Rauf UF, Oon SF, Mokhtar NM. The Roles of Probiotics in the Gut Microbiota Composition and Metabolic Outcomes in Asymptomatic Post-Gestational Diabetes Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2022 Sep 19;14(18):3878. doi: 10.3390/nu14183878. PMID: 36145254; PMCID: PMC9504400. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36145254/

• Mohamad Nor MH, Ayob N, Mokhtar NM, Raja Ali RA, Tan GC, Wong Z, Shafiee NH, Wong YP, Mustangin M, Nawawi KNM. The Effect of Probiotics (MCP® BCMC® Strains) on Hepatic Steatosis, Small Intestinal Mucosal Immune Function, and Intestinal Barrier in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Nutrients. 2021 Sep 14;13(9):3192. doi: 10.3390/nu13093192. PMID: 34579068; PMCID: PMC8468225. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34579068/
• Ayob, N.; Muhammad Nawawi, K.N.; Mohamad Nor, M.H.; Raja Ali, R.A.; Ahmad, H.F.; Oon, S.F.; Mohd Mokhtar, N. The Effects of Probiotics on Small Intestinal Microbiota Composition, Inflammatory Cytokines and Intestinal Permeability in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Biomedicines 2023, 11, 640. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11020640