Beyond The Headlines: AstaReal partners for Italian distribution, Brightseed launches organic hemp fiber for gut health

03 Mar 2023 --- This week in nutrition news, AstaReal revealed it has partnered with an Italian distributor to expand the market for the company’s natural astaxanthin offering. Brightseed released research findings showing an increase in consumer interest in bioactives, while launching a hemp fiber-based functional food ingredient. Meanwhile, Bunge unveiled an amino acid-rich nutritional lipid to support muscle health.

In brief: Nutrition news
AstaReal, a global leader in natural astaxanthin production and research, partnered with raw material distributor C.F.M. Co. Farmaceutica Milanese to provide technical, regulatory, scientific and logistical support to nutraceutical producers in Italy. The partnership is expected to meet the growing market demand for natural astaxanthin, an antioxidant with proven health benefits, and will help AstaReal become the leading natural astaxanthin brand in Italy. AstaReal’s natural astaxanthin is obtained from regrowing the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis, which the company says makes it an environmentally sustainable ingredient.

AstaReal said its partnership will help it meet the growing market demand for natural astaxanthin.Brightseed, a bioactives company, has released new research findings showing that a significant subset of consumers is interested in science-based natural solutions for health, called bioactives – compounds found in plants, fungi and microbes that promote health. According to the company, the study identified a new segment of consumers (about 27% of adults) it has dubbed “bioactivists.” Brightseed stated that bioactivists believe that “food can be as powerful as medicine” and are willing to pay a premium for novel bioactive health solutions. The company highlighted that its findings present a new opportunity for functional food and beverage brands to innovate products. Brightseed’s Forager A.I. technology connects these plant compounds and human biology, while clinical research on bioactive compounds validates their health benefits. At the same time, Brightseed is debuting a new certified organic version of Brightseed Bio 01, a hemp fiber ingredient for gut health that is formulated for use in functional foods, beverages and supplements.

Bunge’s nutrition business has launched NuliGo, a nutritional lipid it says has been shown to support muscle health. The product combines natural medium- and long-chain fatty acids to provide a balanced energy source for the body, which the company said makes it ideal for active adults targeting athletic performance, endurance or enhanced mobility. NuliGo lipids aid amino acids in muscle building, maintenance and recovery. The product is available in oil and powdered formats and is suitable for sports nutrition and active aging products. It will be showcased at the Natural Products Expo West Show in Anaheim, CA, US.

The American Heart Association’s (AHA) Teaching Gardens program has awarded $2,500 in grants to 50 schools and community gardens across the US to expand hands-on nutrition education. This program aims to address healthy eating challenges facing children and families by boosting garden-based learning and enabling equitable access to healthy foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, which are critical to a person’s health over their lifetime. The program has now funded 150 grants over three years, with support from Caulipower, makers of plant-powered food items. The grants will help turn the outdoors into a classroom with an interactive nutrition curriculum, encouraging kids to make healthy food choices and build positive lifelong nutrition habits. According to AHA’s Heart Disease and Stroke 2023 Statistical Update, most children consume less than one serving of fruits or vegetables per day, which increases their risk of cardiovascular risk factors, such as childhood diabetes and high blood pressure. Developing cardiovascular risk factors early in life increases a child’s risk of heart disease and stroke in adulthood.

In brief: Industry news
Unigen has partnered with Lehvoss Nutrition to promote three of its patented and clinically proven ingredients in Europe. The ingredients include Univestin for fast-acting joint support, Attenutin for respiratory health support and Anivestin for joint discomfort and oral health in companion animals. Unigen stated that it develops its proprietary ingredients through rigorous scientific research using its PhytoLogix Technology Platform, which comprises a comprehensive botanical database with over 12,000 plants and 15,000 extracts. Additionally, both Unigen and Lehvoss Nutrition have worked for almost a year to ensure regulatory compliance on these ingredients.According to the AHA, most children consume less than one serving of fruits or vegetables per day.

Hologram Sciences and Haleon entered into a strategic collaboration the companies say will help develop consumer-centric and outcome-driven personalized wellness concepts in the United States. Hologram Sciences will leverage its personalized nutrition innovation process, while Haleon will contribute its data on deep human insights and trusted science. The partnership will explore commercial opportunities in the United States by addressing unmet consumer needs under Haleon’s world-leading brands. The company said the collaboration will also involve co-developing future supplementation concepts that offer holistic, science-backed, personalized solutions to help people meet their individual wellness goals.

In brief: Research and studies
A recent study published in Nutrients investigated the impact of TSI Group’s patented  β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate (HMB) and vitamin D3 formula on middle-aged women. The results of the study indicate that the formula reduces intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) in middle-aged women with vitamin D3 sufficiency, independent of exercise. Increased IMAT can have a detrimental effect on metabolism, muscle quality and function as people age. Previous studies have established the muscle health benefits for older adults, with the combination of calcium HMB and vitamin D improving muscle function, even without exercise. Furthermore, the company states that preserving muscle mass and function in middle age may have the greatest impact on quality of life, as it gives adults more time to take steps to maintain muscle health.

A study published in the American Economic Review shows that switching from physical food aid to digital debit cards significantly reduced hunger in Indonesia. The old system of delivering bags of rice to villages had only been successful in getting the full amount of food to recipients 24% of the time, with portions of the rice being given locally to many who weren’t officially eligible for the program. In contrast, the new debit card program allowed people to purchase food themselves, and the MIT economists behind the study found that they received the full amount they were entitled to 81% of the time. The switch led to a 20% reduction in hunger among the study’s poorest 15% of households. The researchers discovered this by conducting a randomized controlled trial, comparing the results of the new and old systems, while the government implemented the new program in stages.

By William Bradford Nichols