New 'natural' ingredients for blood glucose, heart support

The company introduced its Chirositol and VitaTropic products at the Supply Expo at Expo West in Anaheim, California, last week, where it says they generated good interest from industry. Chirositol ​​Chirositol, which contains around 95 percent D-chiro-inositol, is Cyvex's new branded ingredient for blood glucose control, and is derived from carob. D-chiro-inositol is a molecule that mediates insulin activity. It is a member of a family of myo-inositols structurally similar to glucose. By mimicking insulin activity, it helps control blood glucose levels. Beyond the compound's insulin metabolism and blood glucose control benefits, Dr Tatiana Anguelova, Cyvex director of technical services, said existing studies on D-chiro-inositol have also shown it is beneficial for polycystic ovary syndrome and building muscle and weight control. Cyvex is marketing the ingredient for use in dietary supplements, and said it plans to conduct its own animal studies related to insulin and inositol uptake, to further support the existing science. Chirositol comes in powder form and the recommended dosage levels are 200-500mg per day. Although it is soluble in water and already qualifies as GRAS (generally recognized as safe for use in foods and beverages), the price of the ingredient is likely to create a barrier for its use in food products - it currently stands at around $1000 per kilo. VitaTropic ​​The second new ingredient launched by Cyvex is marketed for promoting cardiovascular health, digestive tract health and a healthy immune system. VitaTropic is derived from a number of different 'superfruits' - noni, acai, mangosteen, pomegranate and quebracho. According to Anguelova, the ingredient contains a combination of different polyphenol antioxidants from these fruits, including xanthones from mangosteen, punicalagins from pomegranate, and tannins from quebracho. It also contains phytonutrients such as anthocyanins, sterols and noniosides. The firm told NutraIngredients-USA.com that 1g of VitaTropic is equivalent to 6,000 ORAC - a measure for antioxidant potency. The recommended dosage is 100-300 mg in order to receive the beneficial health effects. As it is derived from a combination of plant extracts, Cyvex said VitaTropic also qualifies as GRAS, and although the ingredient is only partially soluble in water, it was suitable for functional beverages. VitaTropic is currently priced at around $100 per kilo.