2026-05-29
SynbioTech's TWK10® Wins the NutraIngredients Europe Award — Completing a Global Triple Crown
Probiotic strain earns historic wins across the U.S., Asia, and Europe at NutraIngredients Awards, validating its gut-muscle axis science and plant-forward formulation potential
When the NutraIngredients Europe Awards announced its 2026 Sports Nutrition Ingredient of the Year, the winner was a pioneering probiotic strain from Taiwan that had already conquered the United States and Asia. Synbio Tech Inc. (SynbioTech)'s Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TWK10® has now swept all three of the world's most prestigious ingredient award programs — securing an unprecedented Global Triple Crown in the sports nutrition sector.
The award was presented at a ceremony in Barcelona. Widely recognized as the global benchmark for scientific rigor and commercial viability, the NutraIngredients Awards attracted a record number of entries in 2026 — up 25% year-over-year — making TWK10®'s victory in one of the most fiercely contested categories all the more significant.
Science-Backed Differentiation: What the Judges Saw
The international judging panel evaluated entries against two demanding criteria: scientific substantiation and market viability. Backed by nine international human clinical trials and 27 peer-reviewed publications, TWK10® delivered on both. The strain targets the gut-muscle axis — the biological pathway linking microbiome health directly to skeletal muscle function — with judges recognizing clinically meaningful outcomes across three areas central to today's sports nutrition consumers:
- Endurance performance: measurable improvements in exercise endurance and time-to-fatigue
- Post-exercise recovery: accelerated clearance of fatigue markers following high-intensity exercise
- Protein utilization: enhanced absorption and bioavailability of dietary protein, including plant-based sources
The panel further noted TWK10®'s strong formulation flexibility as a standout commercial attribute. Available in both live probiotic and heat-killed postbiotic forms, the ingredient integrates across a broad range of delivery systems — capsules, powders, ready-to-drink beverages, high-protein drinks, functional gummies, and nutrition bars — significantly lowering formulation barriers for brand partners and accelerating time to market.
Redefining the Plant-Forward Sports Nutrition Market
“Completing the Global Triple Crown — winning in the U.S., Asia, and now Europe — is a historic milestone not just for SynbioTech, but for what microbiome science can achieve,” said Sean Yang, Chief Operating Officer of SynbioTech. “TWK10®'s clinically validated role in supporting protein utilization — especially with plant-based proteins — positions it at the center of the plant-forward movement reshaping sports nutrition in Europe and North America. This is where the science and the market are converging.”
The timing of the European win reflects a broader shift in the sports nutrition landscape. Active lifestyle consumers are increasingly demanding natural, clinically proven ingredients — and TWK10®'s ability to enhance protein absorption makes it a compelling companion ingredient for the fast-growing plant-based protein market.
A Track Record of Global Excellence
TWK10®'s path to the Global Triple Crown spans five years and three continents:
- 2021 — NutraIngredients USA Awards: Ingredient of the Year, Sports Nutrition
- 2024 — NutraIngredients Asia Awards: Ingredient of the Year, Sports Nutrition
- 2026 — NutraIngredients Europe Awards: Ingredient of the Year, Sports Nutrition
Supported by 27 peer-reviewed publications, nine international human clinical trials, and 17 global patents, TWK10® is already commercialized across sports supplements, functional foods, and protein nutrition applications worldwide. SynbioTech is now actively expanding into healthy aging, age-related mobility, and women's wellness, and is seeking brand licensing and co-development partnerships across Europe, North America, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.
In an ingredients market where clinical evidence and commercial scalability are increasingly non-negotiable, the Global Triple Crown positions TWK10® — and SynbioTech — as a benchmark for what science-driven ingredient innovation can look like.
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Full judging commentary on TWK10® is available at:
https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2026/05/07/nutraingredients-awards-2026-winners-announced/
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