BASF Offers Grants to Advance Phytosterols Research

07 May 2014 --- BASF presented the Newtrition Asia Research Grants on May 6, 2014 to 5 scientists to recognize their work in advancing phytosterol research. The program is a scientific platform for 3-way collaboration between BASF, researchers, and manufacturers of food, beverages, and supplements.

In its 3rd year, the 2014 program advances the connection of stakeholders started in 2012, and promotes the awareness of food ingredients throughout Asia. Consumers in China, Indonesia, Singapore and India are experiencing rapidly changing lifestyles, resulting in an increasing cardiovascular disease rate, causing a growing public health risk. Scientific studies show that plant sterols can effectively reduce LDL-cholesterol levels. In addition, there is evidence to suggest the potential of other health benefits of phytosterol supplementation beyond lowering cholesterol, and the winners of the 2014 grant will advance the research in new directions.

“While plant sterols are highly successful and widely accepted functional food ingredient, especially in Western countries, we believe there is significant opportunity to increase our understanding of a more diverse spectrum of health benefits form this plant-based nutrient,” said Tina Low, Director, BASF Human Nutrition, Asia Pacific. “In addition, the collaboration afforded by the grant program brings researchers together with food manufacturers, completing the circle necessary to bring better nutrition to consumers at an early stage in the process.”

BASF is proud to announce the recipients of the 2014 Newtrition Asia Research Grants:
•    Dr. Lihua Song, Shanghai Jiaotong University, China “The effects of phytosterol ester on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) - A clinical trial”
•    Dr. Srinivasan Vedantham, SASTRA University, India, “Effects of Phytosterol treatment in feto-placental vascular function – evidences of anti-inflammatory role in High Fat Diet (HFD) fed pregnant mice and primary Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) isolated from gestational diabetic (GDM) mothers.”
•    Dr. Samsu UdayanaNurdin, Lampung University, Indonesia, “School-based modified lifestyle for increasing phytosterols intake of obese school children in Bandar Lampung.”
•    Dr. Wensen He, Jiangsu University, China, “Co-administration of phytosterols and tea extract synergistically modulate lipid metabolism.”
•    Dr. Xiaoqiang Chen, Hubei University of Technology, China, “Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of phytosterols compounded with tea polysaccharide conjugates.”

During the awards ceremony, the winners from the 2013 program will present their results, and this year’s recipients will be honored. Winning proposals are selected based on peer review for scientific merit conducted by BASF’s Scientific Advisory Committee. The committee is composed of scientists from academia, government and industry. Each researcher received a grant to fund a 12-month study. Researchers will present their findings at the 2015 grant program ceremony.

“As we begin our 3rd year of the Newtrition Asia Research Grant Program, we are breaking ground on exciting new territory,” said David Cai, PhD, Senior Regional Manager, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, BASF Human Nutrition, Asia Pacific. “During year 1 and 2, we confirmed the more well-known benefits of phytosterols and explored potential new health benefits. This year we continue digging deeper to the impact of phytosterols intake on inflammation, metabolic syndrome, and other health concerns based on findings from previous years' findings.”