Sonomaceuticals’ WellVine prebiotic ingredient will be the subject of a poster presentation at the annual conference of the American Society of Nutrition in Chicago, given by Fanny Lee, PhD, RD, research program director for Sonomaceuticals.

The presentation, “Leveraging AI to Improve Research Strategies Investigating the Complex Interaction Between Chardonnay Marc and its Potential Impact on Gut Barrier Function,” will take place on June 30, 2024 at the West Building of the McCormick Place Convention Center.

WellVine is a whole-food prebiotic made solely from coastal Chardonnay grapes, providing polyphenols and oligosaccharides. It is evidenced to modulate the gut microbiome, supporting beneficial, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria while minimizing the growth of pathogenic microbes. SCFAs are associated with improvements in blood cholesterol and imrpovements in hormones that encourage satiety and reduce hunger.

WellVine is from pressed non-GMO grapes sourced from Jackson Family Wines in California. The leftover pomace from the wine-making process is dried and milled, preserving the beneficial compounds.

LEAP Forward

Sonomaceuticals worked with PIPA, LLC, using its AI platform LEAP, which “combines scientific literature with vetted knowledge bases, omics data, and proprietary datasets to provide a unified, interconnected map of health and nutrition, augmented with novel insights and predictions,” the company reported.  

The scientists used LEAP to validate and characterize experimentally identified compounds and decode their potential impact on gut health. It identified potentially novel mechanisms of action and predicted associations between the supplement’s compounds and gut barrier function.

AI results included hundreds of synergistic combination possibilities with other ingredients for use in better-for-you products across seven categories, including synbiotics and herbal formulations.

“As a whole-food prebiotic ingredient system, WellVine is uniquely positioned for across-the-board application in foods, beverages, and dietary supplements,” said Scott Forsberg, COO. “Moreover, the entire approach was able to substantially shorten a process typically taking up to three years to just six months, saving not only time but also considerably reducing costs and resources.”

“WellVine Chardonnay marc delivers a winning combination of health, flavor, and sustainability,” said eric Hamborg, PIPA’s CCO. “Sonomaceuticals is setting a new standard for the industry, demonstrating how embedding AI into ingredient R&D unlocks an evidence-based, cost-effective, and scalable approach to product innovation. This approach reduces risk and accelerates commercialization, positioning Sonomaceuticals as a visionary leader in the field of sustainable, functional nutrition.”