Past News Items - July 2023
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In the News
OmniActive Health Technologies' Caffeine-Free Alternative, enXtra, Increases Alertness and Decreases Fatigue
Kyowa Hakko’s IMMUSE™ Postbiotic Named a Finalist for NutraIngredients-USA Awards
Gnosis by Lesaffre Enhancing the Customer Experience
Modeling early heart failure could help researchers develop new treatments
OmniActive Health Technologies' Caffeine-Free Alternative, enXtra, Increases Alertness and Decreases Fatigue
OmniActive Health Technologies, an innovative science and natural health company, announced positive results from the Phase 1 Acute Effects of Alpinia Galanga Extract on Mental Alertness, Accuracy, and Fatigue Study. The study's primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy of using a caffeine-alternative energy nootropic, Alpinia Galanga Extract or enXtra™, on mental alertness and fatigue in healthy adults. It was published in Advances in Complementary & Alternative Medicine.
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study involved 62 subjects who consumed a 300 mg/d single serving of enXtra. The study showed that enXtra supplementation improved alertness, reaction time, and correct responses, reducing errors. Some results, such as the number of correct responses measured by the Symbol Digit Coding test at 30 minutes, were about three times greater with enXtra supplementation. Similarly, fatigue scores, which were measured about 5 to 6 hours post-supplementation with enXtra, were reduced versus baseline and placebo. Alertness, measured by the Alertness Rating Scale, showed about a four-fold greater change at two hours versus the placebo, and simple reaction time, measured by the Stroop Test, lasted up to 5 hours post-dosing.
"We are pleased that this study validates our previous clinical findings of enXtra. The data supports its relevance as an effective and safe alternative to caffeine for companies looking to provide natural nootropics to support mental alertness, focus, and attention without impacting energy level," said Deshanie Rai, PhD, FACN, VP, Global Scientific, and Regulatory Affairs at OmniActive.
The CNS Vital Signs battery of computerized tests, a widely used and validated method, measured nootropic benefits at baseline, 0.5, 1-, 2- and 5 hours post-dose. The Visual Analogue Scale and daytime sleepiness by Epworth Sleepiness Scales measured the subjects' fatigue and energy levels.
"Health-conscious consumers are looking for ways to manage their mental energy for optimal performance through caffeine-free products with little to no side effects," said Adam Adelmann, Chief Commercial Officer at OmniActive." This study supports that our enXtra ingredient can do this, and we are excited to share it with our partners. As the energy ingredients market grows, enXtra can be a game-changer for those looking to bring more natural energy solutions to market."
enXtra is formulated from a proprietary extract of DNA-authenticated Alpinia galanga, or Thai ginger, and is well suited for manufacturers of energy drinks, RTDs, shots, bars, gummies, stick packs, and more.
For more information on OmniActive or enXtra, visit enXtra.com.
About OmniActive
Established in 2005, OmniActive Health Technologies seeks to improve lives through innovative science and natural health solutions. OmniActive's product portfolio consists of scientifically validated, IP-protected, branded Specialty Actives and an extensive portfolio of natural Botanical Actives for global customers in the dietary supplement, functional food, and beverage markets. The company's leading brands include Lutemax 2020, Capsimax, Curcuwin Ultra+, enXtra, Gingever, Nutritears, Sleeproot, and Xtenergy. OmniActive partners closely with its customers in key markets worldwide and is supported by three global R&D centers and best-in-class production facilities throughout India. The company has offices in Mumbai, India, and Bridgewater, New Jersey.
Kyowa Hakko’s IMMUSE™ Postbiotic Named a Finalist for NutraIngredients-USA Awards
Kyowa Hakko USA is proud to announce that its IMMUSE™ postbiotic for immune health has been named as one of three finalists in the Ingredient of the Year: Microbiome Modulation category of the NutraIngredients-USA Awards.
As a clinically researched immune activator* supported by 30 published studies, including 15 human trials, IMMUSE™ proactively supports the immune system through a novel method of action that activates plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs)*. This mechanism of action was discovered by Kyowa Hakko’s parent company, Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd.
“Consumers are taking more responsibility for their health and educating themselves on the ingredients in their supplements, so many already understand that pDCs are some of the key leaders of our immune system,” said Karen Todd, MBA, RD, Vice President of Global Brand Marketing, Kyowa Hakko USA, Inc. “A rare type of immune cell, pDCs have been shown to activate other cells pivotal to immune health such as NK, Killer-T, Helper-T, and B cells for a more comprehensive approach to immune support. IMMUSE™ is the only strain of lactococcus lactis on the market that targets pDCs.”
The NutraIngredients-USA nomination is not the first time IMMUSE™ has been recognized in industry. Natural Products Insider also named IMMUSE™ as a Best-In-Class Ingredient at the 2021 SupplySide West Ingredient Idol competition and Frost & Sullivan recognized the ingredient with its 2021 North American New Product Innovation Award.
“We are so proud and appreciative that esteemed organizations within the industry see IMMUSE™’s potential to shape the future of health and wellness,” Todd said.
Due to its stable nature, long shelf life, and flexible formulation, IMMUSE™ can be used in a variety of applications, including your next powder or capsule. The ingredient opens new doors for immune support in product categories ranging from daily wellness to sports nutrition. To learn more about IMMUSE™ or inquire about using it in your next formulation, visit immusehealth.com.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
About Kyowa Hakko USA
Kyowa Hakko USA is the North & South American office for Kyowa Hakko Bio Co. Ltd., an international health ingredients manufacturer and world leader in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and food products. For more information, visit Kyowa-USA.com
Gnosis by Lesaffre Enhancing the Customer Experience
Gnosis by Lesaffre (Gnosis), a key global player in ingredients developed from fermentation, is well known for its expansive offer of branded ingredients for wellness & immune health, mood & cognitive health, mobility & joint health, reproduction & women’s health, and digestion & gut health, serving human health and global wellbeing. Gnosis is not a company to rest on its laurels. To better serve the global nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and food & beverage markets, Gnosis has methodically orchestrated new elements. These elements aim to highlight innovation & product development, enhance services & customer experience, and uphold corporate social responsibility (CSR). The company's focus is to ensure a seamless experience for current and potential customers while having a minimal impact on the planet.
“The customer is at the center of everything we do. We are here to guide them through bringing the best products to market, offering clinically validated ingredients that meet their specific needs. Our highest priority is to ensure that we take the burden off their shoulders while providing a transparent experience,” says Philippe Caillat Gnosis’ Global Marketing Director. “But it is also about listening to our customers – What drives them? What are they looking for in a partner? How can we continue to grow so we as a company remain relevant while also exceeding their expectation with our products?”
To that end, Gnosis has been engaging with its customers, while actively monitoring industry trends. What it discovered along the way has driven multiple developments:
Product Innovation
· To elevate the company’s Digestion & Gut Health solutions, Gnosis launched its Phages-based ingredient line, a burgeoning new advancement that can target specific pro-inflammatory or pathogenic bacteria in the gut, thus, potentially enhancing the gastrointestinal benefits of probiotics. Rising consumer interest in microbiome balance has driven success in the overall digestive health market. Phages are a cutting-edge opportunity for dietary supplement, nutraceutical, and functional food and beverage brands to promote peace of mind and microbiome balance in their products.
· Taking its trusted Red Star Yeast to the next level, Gnosis launched its Red Star Yeast Foodservice offer in the US at this year’s Natural Products Expo West, updating its offer to include individual sachets of Red Star Yeast to be used on the go, 3.0-oz jars that can be placed on tables in restaurants, and 6-lb. and 10-lb. pails for use in kitchens by chefs. Further, the company launched a new Red Star Yeast Website (www.redstaryeast.com), which features enhanced navigation and new recipes.
· To advance LifeinUä L.rhamnosus GG product line, Gnosis just launched L.rhanmnosus GG 350, meeting the market standard (350.109 CFU/g) while utilizing proprietary production processes to enhance stability.
Services
· To prepare for the next era of Vitamin K2, Gnosis introduced a new brand identity for its uniquely clinically validated MenaQ7â Vitamin K2 as MK-7, which includes a thorough refresh of the ingredient’s website www.menaq7.com. With a rock-solid foundation of clinical evidence confirming MenaQ7’s benefits for bone and heart health, the company is exploring and validating new indications and applications for Vitamin K2 as MK-7.
· To best communicate with partners and potential new customers, Gnosis by Lesaffre has launched its new website (www.gnosisbylesaffre) with more content and resources, including e-books, white papers, videos, and infographics, and delivering a new digital experience.
Corporate Responsibility
· To accelerate corporate social responsibility (CSR) topics, Gnosis added a CSR Manager in February 2023 to explore new tangible initiatives, as well as coordinate the company’s sustainability strategies, such as annual goals in reduction of carbon emission and water consumption, improvement of the social impact of its supply chain, and joint action with community NGOs (non-governmental organizations) to impact wellbeing.
“These advancements have been in process for some time, with our team diligently working to ensure seamless transitions and purpose for our changes,” says Caillat. “And yet, we recognize we still have more to bring to the market, including a rebranding of our Extrafolate-S in June.
“With our unwavering commitment to innovation and sustainability, we are excited to embark on this journey as an even stronger and more reliable partner for our customers.”
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About Gnosis by Lesaffre
Gnosis by Lesaffre harnesses the power of microorganisms and biotransformation processes like fermentation to cultivate nutritional actives, probiotics, and nutritional and functional yeasts that benefit human health and well-being. The team draws on its focused research and application capabilities to collaborate with nutraceutical and pharmaceutical brands to develop game-changing products for their customers.
Gnosis by Lesaffre – Exploring Life to Improve Living. http://www.GnosisByLesaffre.com
About Lesaffre
A key global player in fermentation for more than a century, Lesaffre, with a 2,7-billion-euro turnover and established on all continents, counts 11,000 employees and more than 90 nationalities. On the strength of this experience and diversity, we work with customers, partners, and researchers to find ever more relevant answers to the needs of food, health, naturalness, and respect for our environment. Thus, every day, we explore and reveal the infinite potential of microorganisms.
To nourish 9 billion people, in a healthy way, in 2050 by making the most of our planet’s resources is a major and unprecedented issue. We believe fermentation is one of the most promising answers to this challenge.
Lesaffre – Working together to better nourish and protect the planet. https://www.lesaffre.com/
Modeling early heart failure could help researchers develop new treatments
ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering
Heart failure is a common condition, though it currently lacks a cure. And treatments can only manage symptoms, often with side effects. But recent research published in ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering could open up new pathways toward potential therapies by focusing instead on cardiac fibrosis — a condition that often precedes heart failure. Researchers have developed a more accurate model of this “scarred” cardiac tissue that could allow for quicker drug testing.
Millions of people are affected by heart failure, which occurs when the heart can’t pump enough blood to support the body. Extreme cases can require surgeries or even whole-heart transplants, and these procedures can lead to complications. One underlying reason for heart failure is cardiac fibrosis — a condition in which stiff scar tissue forms around the heart and prevents it from beating properly. Though therapies for other aspects of heart failure are available, little attention has been paid to cardiac fibrosis as a potential target for new treatments. As a result, there are also few testing platforms that recreate the unique aspects of the condition. Existing platforms have relied on animal cells, which lack some of the features of human cells, or involve hydrogels that don’t match the architecture of scarred cardiac tissue. So, Gerardina Ruocco, Irene Carmagnola, Valeria Chiono and colleagues wanted to develop a more accurate in vitro model of human cardiac fibrotic tissue that could make future preclinical studies more effective and efficient.
To do this, the researchers built a scaffold out of a biodegradable polymer using an electrospinning technique, building a network of randomly oriented nanofibers. The scaffold was dipped into a solution of collagen and fibronectin, which are important components of the cardiac environment that can contribute to fibrosis. Human cardiac cells, which form stiff scar tissue when they differentiate into myofibroblasts, were allowed to grow on the scaffold. Previous tissue models required certain growth factors to induce this differentiation, but the new model did not — its rigid scaffolding caused this differentiation naturally.
To validate the model, the team tested its response to a drug with an antifibrotic effect. After administration, myofibroblasts did not form and the tissue remained flexible. The researchers say that this model could allow for more accurate testing of new fibrosis treatments, without the need for animals.
The authors acknowledge funding from the European Research Council under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
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The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS’ mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, eBooks and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News.