At the 52nd American College of Nutrition Meeting held in November, new research was presented about the ability of a branded chromium ingredient to support healthy blood sugar levels. Zychrome from InterHealth of Benicia, CA was found to have a greater effect on insulin levels and function than chromium picolinate. States the company, “Zychrome’s impact on insulin levels and insulin function was significantly better compared to baseline (30% improvement) at the end of the three-month study. Chromium picolinate did not significantly affect insulin levels or function.”

Aker BioMarine asked the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to take another look at the claims in Neptune Technologies and Bioressources Inc.’s recently issued U.S. Patent Number 8,057,825.  In this patent, Neptune says it was the first to discover krill oil’s ability to lower cholesterol and lessen platelet adhesion and plaque formation. Aker BioMarine disagrees, and feels the USPTO should examine its previous publications for this use. Neptune’s president and CEO, Henri Harland stated, however, “We are confident that, even if Aker’s request for re-examination is granted, the validity of the ‘825 patent will be confirmed.”

DSM North America of Parsippany, NJ will host the 33rd Annual Tribute to Women and Industry Awards Dinner. DSM will give $45,000 in cash and services to the YWCA of Central New Jersey’s TWIN (Tribute to Women and Industry) Program, which offers career and mentoring services to women.

Eurofins Scientific opened a new microbiology analysis center in Des Moines, IA in mid-November. In other news, the firm acquired DQCI Services, a dairy testing laboratory based in Mounds View, MN.

Blauvelt, NY–based RFI Ingredients acquired the Graymor Chemical Company of Union, NJ, which supplies nutraceutical  and vitamin ingredients.

Embria Health Sciences of Ankeny, IA, received GMP registration certification from the National Sanitation Foundation.  In other news, Embria’s EpiCor ingredient received a letter of no objection through FDA’s NDI notification process.

Verdure Sciences, based in Noblesville, IN, has found that its immune-support ingredient Tinofend (derived from Tinospora cordifolia) has polysaccharides linked to immunosupportive properties. These polysaccharides were found “in significant and consistent quantities” during VBATS analysis. Tinofend included at least 20% of this component. 

Nutraceutix of Redmond, WA received a patent for its Bio-tract dietary supplements containing probiotics.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, January 2012