Beyond The Headlines: CRN files US Court of Appeals reply, AHA warns of Indigenous Americans’ heart failure rates

23 Aug 2024 --- This week in nutrition news, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) filed a reply brief to stop the enforcement of New York’s (US) age restriction law for certain supplements, the American Heart Association (AHA) warned of a high rate of heart failure among the US Indigenous population and Abbott and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) joined forces to increase the understanding of nutritional needs for diabetics.

Meanwhile, Stratum Nutrition entered into an exclusive North America distribution agreement with OraTicx and the nutrition and muscle building platform David raised US$10 million in seed funding.

At the same time, Doctor’s Best unveiled a women’s health supplement line and MegaFood launched a range of fruiting body mushroom supplements.

Lastly, a study found that Prolacta Bioscience’s Prolact CR reduced malnutrition and improved growth for infants with very low birth weight (VLBW) and researchers found that gluten can trigger inflammatory responses.

Nutrition news

The CRN filed a reply brief with the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, seeking a preliminary injunction to halt the enforcement of New York’s new age-restriction law on certain dietary supplements. The law, enacted in April 2024, prohibits the sale of “weight-loss and muscle-building” supplements to consumers under 18, requiring age verification for online and physical retailers. CRN’s brief challenged the New York Attorney General’s defense of a lower court’s denial of CRN’ s injunction request, asserting that the law is unconstitutional. The organization emphasized that the law unfairly targets supplements based on marketing rather than actual health concerns. CRN’s president and CEO criticized the law for limiting consumer access to health-supporting products and argued it violates free speech rights, noting the absence of evidence linking supplement marketing to eating disorders and asserting that the law unnecessarily restricts access to safe products for all consumers.

The AHA revealed the results of a recent analysis, which found that heart failure rates among American Indian populations may be two to three times higher than those found in Black, Hispanic or White adults. The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, utilized a risk prediction tool specifically designed for American Indians. It identified major risk factors for heart failure, including smoking, body mass index, kidney damage and type 2 diabetes management. The study analyzed data from the Strong Heart Study, which included 3,059 adults aged 45 to 74 from various American Indian tribes. Overall, 16.5% of participants developed heart failure, with the highest rates linked to uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and kidney damage. The analysis underscored the historical and social factors contributing to health disparities in American Indian communities, highlighting the need for more research representation.

Abbott and the ADA announced a collaboration to enhance the understanding of the nutritional needs of individuals with diabetes and obesity. Recognizing that many people with these conditions may have undiagnosed nutritional deficiencies affecting their overall health, the partnership looks to provide healthcare professionals with essential nutrition tools. Abbott pledged a US$1.6 million grant to fund research on the impact of nutrition formulas on health outcomes for those living with diabetes and obesity. The ADA plans to review and consolidate the latest evidence regarding the unique nutritional requirements associated with these conditions. This initiative followed a previous collaboration focused on diabetes technology, emphasizing the importance of nutrition in managing diabetes and obesity.

Business news

Stratum Nutrition unveiled an exclusive distribution agreement with Korea-based OraTicx, a specialist in advanced oral probiotics. This partnership made Stratum Nutrition the sole distributor of OraTicx’s innovative oral health products, which include the live strains oraCMU (Weissella cibaria CMU) and oraCMS1 (Weissella cibaria CMS1), as well as the postbiotic form of oraCMU, throughout North America. OraTicx’s oral probiotic formulations are scientifically validated to support oral and overall health. The company points out that several clinical trials have demonstrated oraCMU’s effectiveness in balancing the oral microbiome, promoting dental health and improving breath quality.

David, a platform focused on designing tools to increase muscle and decrease fat, has raised US$10 million in a seed funding round. The round included participation from Valor Siren Ventures, Dr. Peter Attia and Dr. Andrew Huberman. The funding will be utilized to develop science-based food products and to expand its team of experts. David’s first product is a protein bar designed to contain the most protein per calorie of any available option, featuring a formula that is sugar-free, gluten-free and free from artificial sweeteners and flavors.

Product launches

Doctor’s Best launched its Women’s Collection supplements range, which it says is designed to address women’s specific health needs throughout key life stages. This collection includes supplements such as Women’s Menopause Support, Beauty Sleep, Digestive Probiotic Prebiotic, Heart Complex and Hair, Skin and Nails. According to the company, the new line was developed to support essential health needs during transitions like perimenopause and menopause, with unique formulations, including probiotics for digestive health and CoQ10 (co-enzyme Q10) for heart health.

MegaFood unveiled its first plant-powered mushroom supplement line featuring four new Superfood Mushroom products made with 100% fruiting body mushrooms, which it states are known to contain higher levels of beta-glucans compared to mycelium on grain fillers. The Superfood Mushroom line features four distinct formulations. Superfood Mushroom Focus Support combines fruiting body Lion’s mane mushroom and Bacognize (Bacopa monnieri) to boost focus, attention and memory. Superfood Mushroom Stress Relief incorporates fruiting body Reishi mushroom and KSM-66 ashwagandha. Superfood Mushroom Immune Support blends Maitake mushroom with elderberry and holy basil and Superfood Mushroom Energy Support contains Cordyceps mushroom and Panax ginseng.

Scientific studies

Prolacta Bioscience touted the results of a study published in Nutrients, which demonstrated the proactive use of its human milk-derived cream, Prolact CR. The study found that the solution improved growth in infants with VLBW while reducing malnutrition rates and hospital costs. The study also highlighted a feeding protocol that included Prolact CR, resulting in an improved z-score weight change from birth to discharge. Severe malnutrition rates dropped from 3.3% to 2.7%, and moderate malnutrition decreased from 36.6% to 8.3%. Additionally, the need for higher-calorie fortifiers fell from 43% to 14%, which the study said equaled an average cost saving of US$2,968 per infant. The study compared two groups of VLBW infants on Prolacta’s Exclusive Human Milk Diet, with one group receiving Prolact CR proactively. The results show it can serve as a highly potent caloric fortifier that enhances growth without increasing feeding volumes and supports individualized feeding protocols for vulnerable infants.

A recent study published in the Journal of Translational Gastroenterology highlighted the role of gluten in regulating inflammatory responses, particularly in chronic inflammatory diseases. Researchers explored the pro-inflammatory effects of gluten, particularly gliadin — a major component of gluten found in wheat, barley and rye — which has been linked to celiac disease (CD) and other autoimmune conditions. The study indicated that gluten, especially gliadin peptides, can trigger harmful immune responses in CD, leading to intestinal injury and elevated proinflammatory cytokines. Withdrawal of gluten has been shown to alleviate these inflammatory responses, underscoring its critical role in the disease’s pathogenesis. Furthermore, the adverse effects of gluten extend beyond CD, potentially affecting various organs and leading to autoimmune responses through mechanisms like compromised gut permeability and immunogenic molecule distribution. The study suggested that while gluten avoidance is essential for those with gluten-related disorders, a gluten-free Mediterranean diet might be a healthier alternative, ensuring nutritional adequacy without compromising well-being.

By William Bradford Nichols