Body weight may influence coffee’s effects on heart and metabolic health
Lower BMI may be associated with greater activation of metabolic pathways linked to cardiovascular health following caffeinated coffee consumption, according to new research.
Polyphenols
World Customs Organization formally recognizes dietary supplements as a standalone category
Dietary supplements are set to be formally recognized as a distinct category in global trade for the first time, following a recent update to the Harmonized System by the World Customs Organization.
Hibiscus-lemon verbena extract shows weight management potential: RCT
A blend of extracts from lemon verbena and hibiscus may help slash body weight by over 3.4% in three months in the absence of diet and exercise, says a new study using Metabolaid, formulated by Monteloeder, S.L. subsidiary SuanNutra.
Timeline raises CHF 56M from L’Oréal and Nestlé in Series D financing
Swiss longevity biotech company Timeline (parent company Amazentis) announced that it has raised CHF 56 million (US$ 66 million) in an oversubscribed Series D financing round that included strategic investments by L’Oréal and Nestlé.
Elderberry polyphenols may boost Akkermansia levels: Human data
Daily supplementation with 600 mg of an elderberry extract may boost diversity of the gut microbiota, with specific increases in levels of Akkermansia, says a new study from Austria and Italy.
Dietary anthocyanins linked to better artery health: RCT
Daily intake of anthocyanin-rich açaí berries may improve arterial stiffness in overweight and obese people, says a new study from Brazil.
‘Insightful and comprehensive’: Grapefruit flavanones’ heart health benefits linked to gene expression changes
Flavanones from grapefruit may modulate the expression of genes linked to better vascular function, says a new study with postmenopausal women that shines a light on potential mechanisms of action.
Coffee berry extract may boost alertness & mood: PepsiCo study
A single dose of an extracts from coffee berry – the outer layer of the coffee fruit and a rich source of polyphenols – may boost alertness in healthy men and women, with effects still observable six hours after consumption, says a new study.
RCT supports Santa herba extract’s weight management and ‘energizing’ potential
Supplements containing a flavonoid-rich extract from the plant Santa herba may reduce body weight and levels of the appetite hormone leptin, says a new study with overweight and obese women.
Individual gut microbiome responses to pomegranate overcome by direct urolithin A supplementation
Only about 40% of people may have the gut microbes to convert ellagitannins from pomegranate into urolithin A, an ingredient positioned for boosting mitochondrial and muscle function, but direct supplementation with the compound overcomes these...
Kemin's sleep ingredient shows promise in new study
Kemin Human Health and Nutrition announced the publication of a clinical study on their sleep ingredient DailyZz, a proprietary blend rich in naturally occurring polyphenols.
Orange flavonoid consumption increases muscle and reduces fat in athletes, says study
A natural orange extract can improve muscle growth and performance in athletes, according to an eight week double-blind, parallel and randomised trial.
Polyphenol-blend may boost ‘health-related quality of life’ for overweight and obese adults: Study
Daily supplementation with a blend of polyphenol-rich extracts from grapefruit, grape, green tea, guarana and black carrot may improve health-related quality of life (HRQOL) by over 5%, says a study using Fytexia’s Fiit-ns ingredient.
Avocado pulp may speed post-exercise cardiovascular recovery: RCT
Consuming avocado pulp prior to aerobic exercise may accelerate cardiovascular recovery after exercise, with blood pressure and heart rate returning to normal levels faster than placebo, suggests a small study from Brazil.
From the editor's desk
Centinela: Remember the name
People who would like to put a damper on apocalyptic projections of the effects of climate change and habitat destruction like to focus on the fact that we’ll get through this, that life will find a way. There’s no doubting this (the world is not about...
‘Remarkable findings’ reported in RCT on citrus and olive polyphenols for heart health
Eight weeks of supplementation with a combination of citrus flavones and flavanones and olive polyphenols led to “remarkable” improvements in markers of heart health, report Spanish researchers.
Pomegranate polyphenols show conflicting results in strength training study
The polyphenols in pomegranate juice beneficially affected the balance of steroidal hormones among trained weightlifters but did not cut an inflammation marker, a recent study found.
‘Significant improvements in endurance performance’, says 1st meta-analysis of tart cherry benefits
Tart cherry concentrate may boost endurance exercise performance, according to a new meta-analysis from Canada that pooled data from 10 separate studies.
Palm fruit ingredient cuts diabetes, shows cognitive, gut benefits in rat model
A palm fruit ingredient sourced from Mexico depressed the rate of Type 2 diabetes and showed interesting cognitive and gut microbiome effects in a recent rat study, the manufacturer says.
Herbalife notches $4.9 billion in annual sales despite hit in China
Herbalife reported a 3% rise in sales for its full year, recording $4.9 billion in revenue. The increase was achieved even with sharp declines in China attributable to that country’s regulatory crackdown on multi level marketing companies.
Chilean currants may offer microbiome-boosting opportunities
Polyphenol-rich Chilean currants may boost the levels of gut bacteria linked to anti-inflammatory effects, suggests a new study.
From the editor's desk
Persistent nutrition gaps at sports teams provides opportunity
Many pro sports leagues still have a long way to go when it comes to supporting players with proper nutrition and supplementation, which could be a big opportunity for sports nutrition companies.
Grapes plus blueberries may boost cognitive function in college students
Acute supplementation with polyphenol-rich extracts from grape and blueberries may improve cognitive performance for college students, suggests a new study.
Mango polyphenols may offer IBD relief: Pilot study
Supplementation with polyphenols from mango may reduce markers of inflammation and improve levels of beneficial bacteria in the gut of people with IBD, suggests a small study funded by the National Mango Board.
“LATAM market is going through a big change”, Naturex says
As food and beverage producers focus on adding various benefits to their formulations in 2020, NutraIngredients-LATAM spoke to Naturex’s Product Manager for the region’s functional and nutritional ingredients, Rodrigo Setti, about the “new era” in LATAM...
Polyphenols show promise in shifting microbiome away from obesity states
A new paper by Brazilian researchers elucidates ways in which polyphenols may help shift the gut microbiome away from states associated with obesity and metabolic disorders.
Meta-analysis supports grape seed extract’s cardiovascular potential
Extracts from the seeds of grapes may significantly improve cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and reduce markers of inflammation, according to a new meta-analysis of 15 randomized trials.
Meta-analysis supports green coffee bean extract for cholesterol improvements
Supplementation with green coffee bean extract may improve cholesterol levels, including total cholesterol, plus HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, says a new systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Antioxidants linked to younger ‘biological age’ in Brazilian teens
Consumption of foods rich in antioxidants is associated with longer telomeres, reported to be a marker of biological aging, says a new study in Brazilian children and teens.
Brazilian supplement users want more info on benefits: Survey
Almost 50% of Brazilians consumer food supplements with pharmacies dominating as the leading purchase channel, according to survey data.
Active Pharmaceutica and BioActor enter into exclusive partnership
Brazilian pharmaceutical distributor, Active Pharmaceutica, and product development supplier, BioActor, team up to promote and distribute Bioactor’s proprietary sports performance ingredient in Brazil. We spoke to BioActor’s CEO, Hans van der Saag to...
Blueberries may boost brain function for kids: Study
Acute consumption of a flavonoid-rich wild blueberry drink may improve memory and attentional aspects of executive function in healthy children, suggests a study from the UK.
Baru nut consumption may boost antioxidant defenses in obese people: Brazil study
Adding baru nuts to the diet may increase the activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in overweight and obese Brazilian women, says a new study.
Van Drunen Farms takes majority stake in SouthAm freeze-dried fruit supplier
Illinois-based Van Drunen Farms has acquired a majority stake in Santiago, Chile-headquartered SouthAm Freeze Dry, allowing for further integration of South and Central America into the Van Drunen Farms/FutureCeuticals supply chain.
Patagonian berries are ‘a relevant source of bioactive compounds’, says review
Native Patagonian berries such as maqui, calafate, and Patagonian raspberries are a rich source of phytochemical with potential health-promoting properties, says a new review from Chile and Argentina.
Study supports blood sugar management properties of patented citrus flavonoid blend
Researchers from the US and Brazil observed 103 individuals for 12 weeks, assigned to take either a branded citrus flavonoid blend called Eriomin in various doses or a placebo for 12 weeks. Consumption of Eriomin was associated with blood sugar...
Super infusion? Brazilian inventor seeks patent on instant bioactive tea concentrates
An inventor from Brazil has developed highly concentrated, portable blends containing plant and wine extracts to enable on-the-go bioactive teas rich in trans-resveratol and other compounds.
Berries for breakfast: Polyphenol-rich foods may have cardioprotective effects, study suggests
Results from a study published yesterday on 13 healthy but overweight volunteers suggest that consumption of bilberries, lingonberries, and cinnamon for breakfast may offer heart health benefits.
Açaí may reduce oxidative stress markers during calorie-restricted diets
Adding açaí berries to a calorie-restricted diet may reduce markers of oxidative stress in obese people, suggest a new study from Brazil.
‘Provocative’: Cocoa flavonoids may improve mobility & quality of life for older people
Flavonoid-rich cocoa supplements may improve biomarkers of heart health, boost mobility, and improve the quality of life for people over 55, suggests a new study.
Juice from beet leaves and stalks may offer cholesterol benefits: Brazilian study
Polyphenol-rich juice made from the leaves and stalks of beet may boost HDL (good) cholesterol levels and reduce triglyceride levels after a high-fat meal, says a new study.
Piper genus has huge untapped potential, researchers say
Plants of the pepper group have more biochemical potential than is currently being realized, researchers from a number of institutions have concluded.
Avocado oil extract patented as active ingredient to treat and prevent hearing loss
A Korean pharmaceutical firm has patented the use of avocado oil fractions as active ingredients in the treatment and prevention of hearing loss, able to be used in dietary supplements and functional foods.
Argentina assessing comments after public consultation on dietary supplements regs
The deadline to submitting comments is now closed, so what updates are Argentina’s National Administration of Drugs, Foods and Medical Devices (ANMAT) considering for dietary supplements?
Antioxidant effect spearheads 'enormous potential' of Amazonian fruits: Mini review
Amazonian fruits are valued for a plethora of functions like antimicrobial, antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory among other things, but the main benefit remains their antioxidant effect, a mini review finds.
Can chocolate have a positive influence on bone health? New review explores existing data
A review of published studies concerning chocolate consumption and bone health found that moderate chocolate intake was linked to greater longitudinal bone growth in adolescents, but little to negative bone effects for postmenopausal women.
Winemaking byproduct has potential for fiber fortification, says new study from Brazil
An extract of grape pomace, a solid byproduct of winemaking, has a “promising application [as an] antioxidant dietary fiber ingredient,” report researchers from Brazil.
Across the nutra-verse: Top news from around the world (April 15)
It’s a global industry and there’s a lot happening. We know it’s not always easy keeping up with everything that’s happening around the world. The answer? Our weekly round-up of key news from across the globe.