Beyond The Headlines: Aker BioMarine releases delivery platform for supplements bioavailability, Nuritas’ PeptiStrong gains GRAS status

18 Nov 2022 --- This week in nutrition news, Aker BioMarine introduced a new delivery platform for improved bioavailability of ingredients in dietary supplements. Nuritas achieved self-affirmed Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status for its PeptiStrong muscle health ingredient. Meanwhile, Finland-based research unveiled that giving carnitine to very preterm infants in the early weeks after birth encourages better growth and larger brain size at term equivalent ages.

In brief: New releases
Aker BioMarine unveiled the technology platform called PL+ that uses the potential of phospholipids from krill oil (PLs) as a delivery platform to innovate the nutraceuticals market. PLs are emulsifiers and can form micelles for a maximum surface area for better absorption of low-solubility and low-permeable compounds because they are water and fat-soluble. The platform allows for increasing and enhancing ingredient uptake by up to 25 times by mixing PLs with other ingredients with lower bioavailability and absorption rates into the body (such as curcumin, CoQ10, CBD, lutein and various omega sources), bringing new cost-effective supplements to market.

Naturade’s reformulated Plant-Based Weight Loss High Protein Shake.In brief: Business news
DOJO Labs entered a distribution agreement with GNC, a global health and wellness company, making its new line of nootropic-based supplements available in over 1,000 GNC stores across North America beginning in December 2022. This product category will enable more significant holistic wellness choices that will help people achieve their goals as part of GNC’s aim of assisting consumers to “live well.” The range of DOJO Labs supplements available at GNC will include capsule and liquid formats. The Energy & Focus Nootropic Capsules contain nootropics, adaptogens, vitamins and 150 mg of caffeine. Meanwhile, the Rest & Recharge Deep Sleep Nootropic Tincture includes ingredients that promote relaxation, such as lavender, chamomile and valerian root.

The DRIPBaR, an IV vitamin therapy provider, teamed up with Fullscript, a supplement planning and delivery tool for patient-centered care that enables consumers to pair supplements with their preferred IV vitamin drip. DRIPBaR and Fullscript have identified several high-quality vitamins and supplements that work well with specific IV drip protocols to support heart, brain and gut health, improve energy and immune function and aid in anti-aging and weight loss efforts. By allowing clients to order supplements while in a DRIPBaR location and have them mailed to their homes, Fullscript makes it easier for them to receive supplements that have been carefully reviewed and selected by licensed medical professionals. Consumers will benefit from the new partnership because they will no longer have to wait for supplements to become available in stores, providing them with convenience.

In brief: Accreditation and appointments
Nuritas achieved self-affirmed GRAS status for its PeptiStrong muscle health intelligent ingredient. Nuritas’ exclusive natural peptides extracted from the fava bean power PeptiStrong’s cell-signaling technology. PeptiStrong received GRAS accreditation following a thorough safety examination by an independent team of scientific experts. The panel determined that the fava bean protein hydrolysate was safe for the proposed use in food and beverages by the US Food and Drug Administration. PeptiStrong may improve recovery after strenuous exercise, boost energy and support the synthesis of protein that helps maintain and grow muscle, among other several effects on muscle health. These findings highlight the potential of various healthy aging approaches and functional foods and beverages in sports nutrition. PeptiStrong was recently introduced by Nuritas at SSW 2022 in Las Vegas, featuring applications in shake powder, cereal bars and gel powders.

The Energy & Focus capsules from DOJO Labs provide sustained energy and focus for more than six hours, while the Rest & Recharge tincture promotes restful deep sleep.Naturade hired three new people, including Peter Hartman as its new vice president of sales. Travis May and Mike Billing have also been hired as the director of e-commerce and supply chain, respectively. Naturade’s reformulated Plant-Based Weight Loss High Protein Shake is available in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, San Diego and Utah Costco Wholesale Clubs. According to the company, the plant-based product aids in weight loss and preventing diet-related diseases. 

In brief: Research and studies 
Mymee, a company that specializes in self-evidence-based research for people who struggle with symptoms linked to long-term COVID and rheumatic autoimmune diseases, revealed the results of its multi-year retrospective study. The 202 patients in the study all had symptoms like weariness, pain, brain fog, difficulties regulating symptoms and anxiety. The research was conducted to evaluate the program’s impact on health-related quality of life and the use of personal data to identify individuals’ specific sensitivities to hidden triggers in their environment and food. Mymee patients discovered sensitivities to food products like sunflower seed butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, kale, ginger, probiotics and supplements. Significant reductions in fatigue, one of the most common and difficult-to-treat symptoms associated with rheumatic autoimmune disease and long COVID, were among the improvements shown after participants followed a personalized diet. 

PeptiStrong may improve recovery after strenuous exercise, boost energy and support the synthesis of protein that helps maintain and grow muscle.A study by the University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital, Finland, found that feeding very preterm infants carnitine within the first few weeks after birth promotes better growth and larger brain size at term equivalent ages. Intake of carnitine from breast milk, in particular, appears to be linked to improved growth. Carnitine is an amino acid-like compound whose primary function in the body is to transport long-chain fatty acids to the cell’s powerhouse mitochondria for energy production. Furthermore, previous research suggested that carnitine may play a role in nervous system development. Carnitine is obtained from food as well as produced by the body. Breast milk and carnitine-containing infant formula are the primary sources of carnitine in preterm infants.

A Spain-based study found that adolescents’ consumption of ultra-processed food (UPF) may interact with mental health issues. Moreover, the current study’s associations suggest that the effects of food processing on mental health may go beyond internalizing problems and increase the presence of externalizing problems. Future research in adolescents with instruments that assess the amount of long-term UPF consumption is also needed to confirm our findings on mental health and the sex-specific effects. During the study, the researchers evaluated the consumption of UPF products the day prior, fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity among 560 Spanish adolescents aged 14 to 17. The Pediatric Symptom Checklist-Youth self-report measure was used to evaluate psychosocial functioning (total and subscales). Higher UPF intake was linked to more depression symptoms being present.

In brief: Community outreach
B&G Foods will collaborate with America’s Grow-a-Row (AGAR) to give those in need more than 1 million servings of fresh produce. B&G Foods will give AGAR US$250,000 in 2023, and as a result, 1.25 million servings of fresh produce will be planted, grown, harvested and distributed to underserved communities across the US. B&G Foods will also contribute to funding educational programs for adults and children as part of the partnership. These programs range from a “day on the farm” experience for children in underserved communities to healthy cooking demonstrations. 

By Nicole Kerr