PEA for Strength Training
Gencor announced the publication of a human clinical trial in Sports Medicine. The randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical research demonstrated Levagen+, a highly bioavailable form of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), improved lower body power and did not interfere with skeletal muscle hypertrophy gains. The study aimed to investigate the effects of daily Levagen+ supplementation combined with eight weeks of resistance training in healthy, active male and female participants.
The results: A daily 350-mg of dose Levagen+ significantly improved lower body power and isometric strength compared to the placebo group (17% vs 5%). Unlike NSAIDs and other analgesics, the PEA supplementation did not inhibit strength training adaptations.
“To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effects of PEA on the adaptive responses to strength training, and it is a great honor to have this data published in the Sports Medicine Journal,” said R.V. Venkatesh, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Gencor. “This is our second study investigating Levagen+ for active nutrition, and it continues to show great promise in this category.”
Ubiquinol for Menopause Symptoms
Kaneka Nutrients Europe shared the results of a consumer research study exploring the effects of Kaneka Ubiquinol supplementation in alleviating menopause symptoms. The study included women who were experiencing menopausal discomfort (above 5 based on a scale of 1 to 10) including: emotional imbalance, impact on quality of life (stress, sleep), muscle aches and pains. Participants were asked to take a 200mg/day dosage of Kaneka Ubiquinol over a two-month period, monitor the effects, and report their observations before, during, and after the supplementation period. In the first baseline questionnaire, at Q0 before ubiquinol supplementation had started, there was a high prevalence and intensity of menopausal symptoms among the participants, including poor skin quality (94%), sleep disturbances (90%), and stress/anxiety (85%).
The finding: 8 out of 10 participants found Kaneka Ubiquinol to be effective in alleviating symptoms: 80% reported reduced stress, irritability and sensitivity after consuming 200mg of Kaneka Ubiquinol over a two-month period; 80% reported an improvement in mood and feeling “more emotionally stable” within 30 days of supplementation; 70% reported a better quality of sleep, less muscular pain and improved wellbeing by the end of the study period. When asked to report on the efficacy of Kaneka Ubiquinol™, 76% of participants said they felt the effects of supplementation after 30 days, and 8 out of 10 participants said they would recommend it as a solution for other women experiencing menopause.3
“These findings present an exciting new opportunity for brands to offer new solutions for women experiencing the menopause,” said Filip Van hulle, General Manager of Kaneka Nutrients Europe. “Now, we look forward to collaborating with our partners to empower women throughout all stages of life.”
Probiotics for Menopause
A randomized, double-blind clinical study testing the potential of probiotics to modulate estrogen levels in healthy peri- and post-menopausal women, has shown that Kaneka Probiotics and AB-BIOTICS’ proprietary blend may slow estrogen decline. The blend of strains Levilactobacillus brevis KABP™ 052, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KABP™ 051 and Pediococcus acidilactici KABP 021 (commercially known as Gyntima Menopause), and has been shown to increase deconjugation, and therefore impact modulation, of estrogen levels in the gut, Kaneka reports. The company explained that this is often known as the estrabolone, a collection of bacteria in the gut that metabolize and modulate the body’s estrogen.
The study, conducted on healthy peri- and post-menopausal women between 45 and 55, began with the in vitro screening of over 80 strains for GUS activity, then moved forward with Levilactobacillus brevis KABP 052, the strain showing the highest capacity for deconjugating estrogen. This was then combined with two additional probiotic strains.
The results: After 12 weeks supplementation of one capsule a day, estrogen levels (measured through estrone and estradiol) were significantly sustained in the Gyntima Menopause group compared to the placebo group (when adjusted for age and baseline levels). Estrogen levels in the placebo group significantly decreased during the study, while the Gyntima Menopause group did not, Kaneka reports.
Paraxanthine for Cognitive Fatigue, Weight Management
TSI Group shared research showing enfinity paraxanthine, a pure and patent-pending metabolite of caffeine, significantly enhances mental stamina with fewer errors compared with caffeine. For the double-blind, randomized, and crossover study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, researchers induced cognitive fatigue by enlisted trained runners to perform a 10K run on a treadmill within roughly 50 minutes. Researchers then tested the subjects’ accuracy when quickly switching between tasks.
“We wanted to evaluate the subjects’ cognitive performance, comparing enfinity with caffeine, and look at what happens if you combine enfinity with caffeine,” explains enfinity energy partner and researcher Ralf Jäger, Ph.D. FISSN, CISSN, MBA. The outcomes: “Paraxanthine alone significantly improved cognitive performance. In contrast, caffeine alone increased the amount of errors to a shocking extent. The results for those who received a combination of paraxanthine and caffeine were only slightly better than the caffeine group. They didn’t get the full benefits of paraxanthine.”
A second study--a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements, looked at enfinity’s thermogenic effects at 100-, 200- and 300-mg doses. The primary measurement was energy expenditure (the number of calories burned without additional activity). “We saw a significant increase in resting energy expenditure with paraxanthine supplementation at 200 mg, an additional 100 kilocalories in three hours. At 100 mg, there was a slight increase but it wasn’t statistically significant. A 300-mg dose didn’t add additional benefit,” Jäger explained, adding that subjects fasted before the test and fasted another three hours after supplementation. “While it was natural for all participants to become progressively hungrier, with paraxanthine we saw a reduction in increased hunger over time when compared with the control group.” TSI Group says the findings confirm enfinity’s thermogenic and hunger-reducing properties, making it well positioned as a safe weight management ingredient.
“We are in the midst of a revolution within the caffeine space,” said TSI Group President Larry Kolb. “As the exclusive global distributor for enfinity, TSI is excited to provide consumers with cleaner options that perform as well or better than what they may currently be using.”
Postbiotic for Immune Support in Kids
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, conducted in partnership with KGK Science and published in Pediatric Research, finds EpiCor postbiotic may help support immune health in children, Cargill reports. Completed during cold and flu season, the study looked at 256 children ages 4-12.
The finding: A daily dose of 500-mg of EpiCor postbiotic offered statistically significant benefits over placebo, including:
- Reductions in cold and flu symptom severity during 84 days of supplementation compared to those taking placebo.
- Lower severity scores on troublesome symptoms including “sore throat” and “muscle aches and pains” during 84 days of supplementation compared to those receiving a placebo supplement.
- Reduced need for traditional cold and flu medication. In the study, children who received placebo were 1.7 times more likely to use prescription or over-the-counter medications over the 84-day study period compared to those supplemented with EpiCor.
- Daily supplementation of 500mg of EpiCor was safe and well tolerated in a population of healthy children ages 4-12.
“With a strong history of clinical success, this new research on immune support in children continues to underscore Cargill's unwavering commitment to developing science-backed solutions that aim to positively impact people’s health and wellness across all life stages,” said Dr. Justin Green, Ph.D., Director of Scientific Affairs at Cargill. “By affirming EpiCor’s efficacy in a gummy, we’re also responding to consumer preferences for alternative supplement formats.”
Vit K2, Folate for Brain Health
Elevated intake of several nutrients, including Vitamin K and Folate (Vitamin B9), is associated with higher cognitive elasticity (functioning) in men and women over 65, according to a published analysis using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014 finds that. The analysis, conducted by Pharmavite, included participants 60 years and older with validated cognitive function data (cognitive function test or CFT) or valid depression score data (Patient Health Questionnaire or PHQ). Researchers examined their nutrient intake to discern associations with cognitive function and depression.
Among the findings: Nutrients showing the most consistent associations with cognitive function were Vitamin K and Folate, along with vitamins A and B6, lutein and zeaxanthin, and several minerals.
Gnosis by Lesaffre, which shared the news, pointed out that a large portion of the population remains unable to obtain adequate amounts of essential nutrients, including K2 and folate, to maintain healthy brain function throughout life. “Current research has illuminated the potential necessity for a personalized approach to combatting cognitive decline associated with aging, emphasizing the pivotal role of nutrients in sustaining a healthy brain,” says Jean-François Jeanne, Substantiation and Applications Manager at Gnosis by Lesaffre, supply partner of Pharmavite. “Pharmavite’s analysis illuminates how nutrient intake can impact cognitive abilities, especially Vitamin K2 and Folate, providing a powerful incentive to enhance multivitamins and other nutritional products with scientifically proven amounts of K2 and Folate, such as MenaQ7 and Quatrefolic.”
Isomaltulose for Release of GLP-1
The naturally sourced, smart carbohydrate Palatinose (isomaltulose) has been shown to stimulate the release of beneficial gut hormones including GLP-1 in overweight adults, even if it is consumed before a meal. BENEO said the findings show that Palatinose has a beneficial effect on metabolic parameters that are important for maintaining a healthy body weight, blood glucose control, and cardiovascular health.
The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study included 30 overweight/obese volunteers, aged 49 to 77, half of whom had Type 2 diabetes. The participants’ blood glucose, insulin, and incretins, including GLP-1, were monitored over a nine-hour period. The first three hours of measurement showed the volunteers’ metabolic response to breakfast, with no intervention. At the three-hour marker, a drink containing 50g isomaltulose or 50g sucrose was consumed, followed by lunch one hour later.
The findings: Subjects who had consumed the isomaltulose, even as pre-lunch drink, produced significantly higher GLP-1 levels than those who had ingested sucrose. The stronger release of gut hormones with Palatinose is not masked by a subsequent meal, leading BENEO to conclude that Palatinose promotes the release of gut hormones including GLP-1 even when consumed one hour before a complex meal. GLP-1 has a beneficial impact on metabolism, including the reduction of appetite and weight gain; Palatinose influences factors that contribute to a better metabolic state and therefore provides benefits beyond slow released and sustained energy.
"Research on metabolism regulating gut hormones is an exciting topic for clinical nutrition and meal replacement applications," said Dr. Stephan Theis, Head of Nutrition Science at BENEO. “This study’s focus on older, overweight, and obese participants, with or without diabetes mellitus, makes it highly relevant for a large part of the global population. The findings add to the scientific evidence on isomaltulose’s ability to support metabolic health in daily life situations, including a higher secretion of the beneficial gut hormone GLP-1. Once again, BENEO’s slow-release carbohydrate Palatinose has been shown to be effective and suitable in product developments for weight management and blood glucose management.”
Neuroprotective Potential of Olive Fruit Extract
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study investigating the effect of Mediteanox, Euromed’s olive fruit extract is standardized in hydroxytyrosolin, stroke patients. The independent research conducted by the University of Jaén (Spain) looked at the effects of 15-mg hydroxytyrosol daily after a stroke. Biochemical and oxidative stress-related parameters, blood pressure, serum proteome, neurological and functional outcomes were evaluated at 45 and 90 days, and compared to a control group.
The finding: Hydroxytyrosol supplementation was able to support a reduction in the percentage of glycated hemoglobin and diastolic blood pressure, control the increase in nitric oxide, promote a protective effect against oxidative stress, modulate the evolution of the serum proteome and, in particular, the expression of apolipoproteins associated with cardiovascular risk, suggesting a protective vascular effect. There were significant changes in the expression of proteins involved in inflammation and lipid metabolism, which may be related to the neuroprotective and vascular protective effects of hydroxytyrosol. The company says the modulation of the serum proteome, and its influence on nitric oxide, is consistent with known properties of hydroxytyrosol that contribute to vascular health and neuroprotection. In addition, the supplement group showed improvements in muscle strength of non-paretic limbs and better neurological outcomes as suggested by the trend in proteomic changes.
“Due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, Mediteanox already plays an important role in promoting healthy cardiovascular functions,” said Andrea Zangara, Head of Scientific Communication and Medical Affairs. “However, this new pilot and independently conducted study shows that our olive fruit extract may also be a promising nootropic for a wide range of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products.”
Lemon Verbena Extract for Sleep
A randomized double-blind controlled study published in Nutrients included 71 healthy adults complaining of sleep disturbances as assessed by a validated questionnaire. Participants were randomly assigned a 400-mg capsule of lemon verbena extract (RelaxPLX, formulated by SUANNUTRA’s subsidiary Monteloeder) or placebo, taken one hour before bedtime for 90 consecutive days. Participants were also instructed not to make any changes to their dietary habits or levels of physical activity.
The finding: Participants in the supplement group reported significant improvements in drifting off to sleep more quickly, and experienced better sleep quality than those in the placebo group. These self reports matched measurement results that recorded physiological improvements in sleep latency, sleep efficiency, and fewer sleep disruptions or awakenings. Improvements were noted midway through the study, following 45 days of supplementation. Also, nocturnal plasma melatonin levels increased in the RelaxPLX subjects by more than 14%, which the company says demonstrates the formula’s ability to naturally boost the body’s innate production of the sleep hormone melatonin.
“We discovered the positive effects of our lemon verbena on sleep while evaluating its use for joint health in athletes,” informs Maria Ángeles Gutiérrez, SuanNnutra’s Marketing Director. “This initial finding spurred the development of RelaxPLX. Since then, we have explored how standardized doses can improve sleep quality, which we believe is a critical component of overall health, mental wellbeing, and longevity. Our first eight-week clinical trial on 40 participants demonstrated RelaxPLX’s capabilities in alleviating occasional stress and sleep difficulties. The current clinical study aimed to confirm and delve deeper into these benefits.”
Anthony Weston, CEO of SUANNUTRA, added, “As the key cultivators and formulators of lemon verbena for the product, we have committed many years to analyzing its attributes and mechanism of action, and have unfolded multiple biological activities. Its natural capacity to stimulate melatonin was a particularly promising revelation."
