Beyond The Headlines: Brenntag acquires Ravenswood’s Life Science division, ESSNA joins sustainability initiative

04 Nov 2022 --- This week in nutrition news, Brenntag acquired Ravenswood’s Life Science division to enhance its position in the Australian and New Zealand specialties distribution market. Also, the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) joined the EU Code of Conduct for Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices to promote environmental sustainability. Meanwhile, a collaborative “Food is Medicine” initiative co-led by researchers at the Friedman School, US, received a US$6.6 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant. The funding will aim to reduce obesity and diabetes rates by increasing access to locally grown fruits and vegetables.

In brief: Business news
Chemicals and ingredients distributor Brenntag acquired Ravenswood’s Life Science and Coatings division to enhance its position in the Australian and New Zealand specialties distribution market. Ravenswood is an Australian and New Zealand-based specialty distributor with a solid background in blending. In the fiscal year 2022, the Ravenswood company generated approximately AUD 65 million (about US$41 million) in sales (ending June 30). The transaction is expected to close in December.

The Rollin Recovery supplement may alleviate post-party MDMA hangovers and restore serotonin levels.The European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA), the European trade association for the sports and active nutrition industry, promoted environmental sustainability by joining the EU Code of Conduct for Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices to undertake actions toward the industry’s inclusive and sustainable growth. As a signatory to the Code, ESSNA will advance the circular economy and a climate-neutral food chain to guarantee that the highest quality sports nutrition products support consumers’ active lifestyles and dietary objectives and have the least adverse effects on the environment and society.

In brief: New releases
Laboratoire PYC introduced two slimming supplements – the fat and sugar control supplements and the flat belly food supplement. The fat and sugar control food supplement has a grapefruit flavor and helps limit ingested fats and sugars. The flat belly food supplement addresses digestive issues (such as bloating) and the issue of belly fat (from the waist to the hip). The flat belly fat supplement contains a Sicilian blood orange extract which has a high concentration of anthocyanins. Anthocyanins influence metabolism and fat accumulation.

Restore Your Vitality released its Rollin Recovery supplement to alleviate post-party MDMA (Molly) hangovers and restore serotonin levels. According to the company, research has shown a connection between certain drugs and alcohol’s effects on the body and hangover symptoms. By carefully addressing these impacts, Rollin Recovery’s ingredients may enhance how the body feels while recuperating from recreational substances like MDMA or alcoholic beverages. The supplement includes 5-Hydroxytryptophan – produced from the tryptophan amino acid – that is converted into serotonin in the brain. Meanwhile, the supplement’s vitamin B complex improves brain function and energy levels, while the Ashwagandha extract combats stress by reducing cortisol levels.

In brief: Research and studies
The NIH awarded a US$6.6 million grant to US-based Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy in collaboration with the Reuben V. Anderson Institute for Social Justice at Tougaloo College, Delta Health Center, and the Center for Science in the Public Interest, to fund the collaborative development of community-based programs to increase local production and consumption of fruits and vegetables in Mississippi, US. If successful, the effort is expected to simultaneously lower risk factors contributing to the region having some of the highest rates of obesity and diabetes in the country – and ultimately save billions of dollars in healthcare costs. One hundred and fifty people will be enrolled in the intervention over 12 months. The participants and a control group who do not receive the intervention will have regular assessments of their body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin A1c – a measure of diabetes risk and control, dietary intake and other factors.Laboratoire PYC introduced its slimming supplements targeting fat and sugar control as well as belly fat.

Research from US-based Tulane University found a low-carbohydrate diet, if followed consistently, may be a practical dietary approach for preventing and treating Type 2 diabetes. The clinical trial investigated how low-carbohydrate diets affect blood sugar control. In the study, two groups – one assigned to a low-carb diet and the other continuing with their regular diet – were compared. Hemoglobin A1c dropped more in the low-carb diet group than in the regular diet group after six months. In addition to losing weight, the low-carbohydrate diet group reduced fasting glucose levels. A low-carb diet does not necessarily prevent diabetes, according to the researchers. However, it does pave the way for additional studies into reducing the health risks associated with prediabetes and diabetes in those who are not taking medication to treat them.

A University of Pittsburgh, US, study revealed that the drug semaglutide, which is approved for use in adults who are obese or overweight, also aids adolescents in losing weight and improving their hearts. Semaglutide is an obesity drug that mimics the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 to target areas of the brain that reduce appetite and improve eating control. The study involved obese adolescents who got once-weekly semaglutide and experienced a 16.1% decrease in BMI compared to those who received a placebo, whereas the BMI of those taking the latter increased by 0.6%. Compared to those who received a placebo, semaglutide-taking participants also demonstrated improved weight-related quality-of-life measures – such as increased physical comfort. The researchers point out that this is the first obesity medication associated with substantial gains in adolescent quality of life.Semaglutide is an obesity drug that targets areas of the brain that reduce appetite and improve eating control.

A “first of its kind” study conducted by Abbott, Javeriana University and San Ignacio Hospital in Colombia demonstrated that a simple nutrition care program is associated with improved nutritional status and other health benefits. The study showed that a simple nutrition care program could improve physical functionality, cognitive function, psychological well-being and quality of life. More than 600 malnourished or at-risk older adults participated in the study, which was the first of its kind in Latin America and was carried out in collaboration with Abbott, Colombia’s Javeriana University, and San Ignacio Hospital. Many participants had recently been hospitalized or were managing a chronic illness. More than half of the trial participants saw improvements in their nutritional status and in or maintenance of their body weight, BMI and leg muscle mass after completing the personalized nutrition care program.

Research funded by the US-based National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute – a division of the NIH found that dieters may overestimate how healthy their eating habits are. Researchers examined the diets of 116 adults aged 35-58 attempting to lose weight. The findings showed that while most people are aware that fruits and vegetables are healthy, there may be a discrepancy between what experts in the field of nutrition believe to be a healthy and balanced diet and what the general public believes. The preliminary research will be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2022, between November 5-7 in Chicago, US.

By Nicole Kerr