Beyond The Headlines: Aker BioMarine scores US patent, IFTSA announces Smart Snacks finalists

31 May 2024 --- This week in nutrition news, the US Patent and Trademark Office granted Aker BioMarine its first patent for its PL+ EPA/DHA delivery technology, and the US Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA) announced the finalists of its Smart Snacks for Kids Product Development Competition.

Meanwhile, the BrainPhyt supplement for cognitive health by Microphyt and the GlucosaGreen glucosamine product by TSI Group received non-GMO certifications, while the latter was also granted two certificates of sustainability.

Additionally, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) secretary Tom Vilsack requested information from the public that could assist the implementation of the Growing Climate Solutions Act (GCSA), while Australia’s Monash University announced that it will conduct a human skin care trial alongside PhytoGaia.

At the same time, the findings of two recent studies shed new light on nutritional support for cognitive performance and the use of botanicals for joint issues. Another study conducted in the US called for primary care clinics in the country to support low-income families with nutrition support benefits applications.

Nutrition News
Aker BioMarine received a patent for its PL+ EPA/DHA delivery technology innovation for the development of bioavailable combination products for the nutraceuticals industry. Aker BioMarine’s first patent for its proprietary technology was granted this week by the US Patent and Trademark Office, revealing the scientific credibility of the ingredients derived through PL+ technology, launched in late 2022. It uses natural marine phospholipids to maximize the uptake of other ingredients. It allows for dual solubility in water and fats, acting as an emulsifier and a booster of absorption to improve the uptake of supplements by up to 25 times.

BrainPhyt is an ingredient sourced from the microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum, facilitating and enhancing cognitive function.Students of IFTSA, a student-governed community of members of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) plan to unveil new nutritious food options for children as part of a product development competition. The IFTSA Smart Snacks for Kids Product Development Competition challenged students to develop F&B products aimed at children and teens that are both fun and nutritious. These are also expected to abide by the USDA “Guide to Smart Snacks in School” recommendations, focused on the provision of more whole grains, fruits and vegetables, leaner protein and low-fat dairy while limiting foods with too much sugar, fat and salt. The six finalists will travel to the IFT FIRST: Annual Event and Expo, a science, technology, and innovation showcase being held July 14–17, 2024, in Chicago. Each of the six teams will pitch their product to a panel of experts. 

BrainPhyt, the flagship product of the French R&D company Microphyt, has received a GMO-free certificate from the Non-GMO Project. Microphyt specializes in natural and bioactive ingredients derived from microalgae, and its patented BrainPhyt is an ingredient sourced from the microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum. It is standardized at 2% of fucoxanthin, facilitating and enhancing cognitive function. A preclinical study and human clinical trial have demonstrated the brain health benefits of BrainPhyt, suggesting it may improve short-term and spatial memory. The product has been linked to stress management, as well as being touted for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Similarly, TSI Group’s GlucosaGreen glucosamine dietary supplement recently earned a number of certificated of sustainability, namely an NSF’s Carbon Footprint Statement and an ISCC PLUS Certified Sustainability, alongside an SGS’s Non-GMO Certification and Vegan Certification (V-Level Criteria). GlucosaGreen was launched in 2016 as the first commercially manufactured sustainable glucosamine produced by direct fermentation process technology. The product made from corn is bio-equivalent to all other glucosamine sources while achieving a 70% reduction in carbon footprint compared with traditional shellfish-derived options. Its manufacturing uses 90% less water and hydrochloric acid and produces more than 98% less waste byproducts.

Regulatory News
The USDA made a request for information to support its next steps in the implementation of the GCSA, announced agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack on Tuesday morning at an event at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington DC. The governmental organization may consider information from the public on protocols for inclusion in the upcoming step in the implementation of the GCSA, which establishes the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program. The GCSA is part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. The new program aims to improve technical assistance by sharing a list of qualified technical assistance providers and third-party verifiers who work with producers to generate credible carbon credits. The USDA will also list widely accepted voluntary carbon credit protocols to ensure consistency, reliability, effectiveness, efficiency and transparency.

A human trial sets out to investigate the effectiveness of STGaia, a novel palm-based phytonutrient for skin health.Scientific Studies
Monash University, Australia, has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with biotechnology company PhytoGaia to investigate the effectiveness of STGaia, a novel palm-based phytonutrient for skin health. STGaia was developed by PhytoGaia to address skin concerns related to dryness and aging through the use of two synergistic active compounds — natural squalene and tocotrienols. The MOA sets off a placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with STGaiaTM on human participants experiencing dry, scaly and itchy skin. The research aims to evaluate, collect data and analyze evidence to provide new insights into the functionality of the product, as well as its potential effects on gene expression and skin health at the molecular level.

Meanwhile, a new study published in the Food Science and Nutrition and conducted at the Sichuan University’s West China School of Pharmacy investigated the possibility of improvement of human and animal memory through the synergy between fructooligosaccharide and L-theanine function. The findings suggest that GBL-Memory, the combination of L-theanine and fructooligosaccharides, can improve memory by up to 10.1%. GBL-Memory is a nutraceutical product launched recently by the UK-based Green Bioactives Limited.

A subgroup meta-analysis and a systematic review of multiple clinical trials and different brands, published in the journal Explore, evaluated the efficacy of standardized Boswellia serrata ingredients in the treatment of joint pain. The research team, part of the India-based Sundyota Numandis Probioceuticals, evaluated nine such ingredients based on their ability to ameliorate pain, stiffness and functionality. Their findings suggest that the AprèsFlex 5-Day Joint Support Boswellia serrata product (also known as Aflapin) is most effective. 

Another academic paper, titled “Connecting Families to Benefit Programs Through a Standardized Nutrition Screener,” conducted by the department of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania, US, alongside the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, was published this week in The Annals of Family Medicine. The research findings assert that primary care clinics have the ability to help low-income families receive nutritional support benefits by helping them navigate the application process.

By Milana Nikolova