Linnea launches low-dose, high-bioavailability lignans
introduce Hormos Medical Corporation's spruce-derived HMRlignan
ingredient to the worldwide dietary supplements market, reports
Jess Halliday.
"This is an important step in our long journey toward market launch of HMRlignan," said Hormos CEO Dr Risto Lammintausta.
Hormos has been developing HMRlignan - a plant lignan, 7-hydroxymatairesinol, isolated and purified from the Norway spruce (picea abies) - for much of the last decade. The original work was carried out in Finland in collaboration with the wood production industry and the company has obtained worldwide patents both for the organic solvent extraction process and use of the lignans.
Lignans have a weak estrogen-like activity and in humans 7-hydroxymatairesinol is converted into a mammalian lignan called enterolactone. Epidemiological studies have linked enterolactone to a reduced risk of certain hormone-related health conditions including breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Lammintausta added that Linnea, with its GMP-documented facility near Locarno in Switzerland, has the manufacturing capabilities and marketing skills needed to commercialize HMRlignan.
"We are very excited about the prospects for HMRlignan. The flax lignan market in the US grew by almost 20 percent last year, so it is a very exciting category," Robin Ward, commercial manager at Linnea told Nutraingredients.com.
Although Linnea is launching HMRlignan globally, its initial focus in the US, where it has received new dietary ingredient (NDI) clearance last May.
According to Ward, HMRlignan is suitable for stand-alone or multi ingredient supplements as only a small dose is needed - just 10 to 40mg to elevate the enterolactone level to the same degree as three tablespoons of lignans from unground flax seed, which is the main source of lignan on the market at the moment, and with higher bioavailability.
This economy in formulation knocks down the daily dosage cost to around 30 to 40 percent that of other sources of lignans.
The company may also market the ingredient for functional foods at a later stage.
Ward said that Linnea is currently developing a number of other collaborations that will give it more of a presence in the nutraceutical industry where it believes there is much potential for the company with its strong science and manufacturing base.
