Beyond The Headlines: Kaneka Nutrients spotlights Ubiquinol for reproductive health, Balchem teams up with the ANA

17 Nov 2023 --- This week in nutrition news, Balchem announced a partnership with the American Nutrition Association (ANA) and entrance into its Nutrition Leaders Council (NLC). At the same time, Kaneka Nutrients emphasized Kaneka Ubiquinol’s potential for improving reproductive health. Meanwhile, Lessafre revealed the company is expanding its operations and presence in the US and its accompanying markets

Nutrition news
Kaneka Nutrients highlighted scientific findings on Kaneka Ubiquinol in reproductive health. At this year’s SupplySide West tradeshow, the company emphasized ubiquinol’s role beyond heart health, particularly its efficacy in combating oxidative stress related to aging and reproductive challenges. It also spotlighted research demonstrating the nutrient’s effectiveness in improving sperm motility and count. A natural form of CoQ10, ubiquinol is crucial for reproductive health, protecting sperm and ova from oxidative damage. The company also noted that as ubiquinol levels decline with age, sperm and ovum quality also decline. Kaneka is now emphasizing the potential of integrating Kaneka Ubiquinol into reproductive health supplements, underlining its unique absorption benefits and the importance of informing stakeholders about these advancements.

The Balchem Corporation announced the company has joined forces with the ANA and entered into the ANA NLC, which consists of influential companies in the nutrition sector working with the ANA to integrate nutrition into healthcare and cultural practices. Balchem stated that it looks forward to raising consumer awareness of the health benefits of its mineral and nutrient products through the partnership. The company’s global SVP and GM said he anticipates the collaboration will facilitate the development of evidence-based results that promote the enhancement of global human health.

Business news
Lesaffre is expanding its presence in the US through investments and acquisitions, focusing on nutrition, health and biotechnology. The company revealed that, in support of its goal of feeding 9 billion people by 2050, it is investing in new equipment and R&D that will ensure sustainable and environmentally-friendly solutions. Significant 2023 investments include a 10th fermentor at the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, yeast plant of Red Star Yeast, which will increase fermentation capacity and address food challenges. Additionally, a new dryer in the same location aims to meet the rising demand in animal nutrition while reducing CO2 emissions. Lesaffre also acquired genome engineering technology from a Massachusetts-based bioscience company. Moreover, it stated that the Lesaffre Institute of Science and Technology will explore plant metabolites produced via precision fermentation, advancing research in microorganism interactions in the coming years.Gundry MD launched a Blueberry Lemonade version of its MCT Wellness drink mix (Image Credit: Gundry MD).

Eremid Genomic Services announced a strategic partnership with Semaphore Solutions, a leader in informatics services for life sciences. Eremid will integrate Semaphore’s Labbit LIMS (laboratory information management system) into its research, clinical and training labs to enhance its contract research operations. Eremid says that Labbit will elevate its clinical genomics services, streamlining workflows and boosting collaboration while meeting the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments’ quality standards. Semaphore’s Labbit LIMS is designed for maintenance ease, flexibility, scalability and adherence to FAIR (findability, accessibility, interoperability and reusability) data principles that support regulatory compliance and quality assurance needs.

Product launches
Gundry MD introduced a Blueberry Lemonade flavor to its popular MCT Wellness supplement line, which also includes Watermelon Lemonade and Raspberry Medley flavors. MCT Wellness is designed to aid in healthy weight management, improve digestion and boost mental clarity. It features MCT C8, a medium-chain triglyceride caprylic acid — known for its effectiveness in increasing ketone production and enhancing fat burning. The formula also includes grape seed and currant extracts to stimulate nitric oxide production, facilitating efficient ketone delivery and providing a sustained energy boost. Additionally, it contains Cognigrape, a polyphenol, for enhanced mental energy. Additionally, the company says the supplement’s key ingredients, C8 MCT Oil and Acacia Fiber, work together to maintain ketone levels.

Optimum Nutrition, a leading sports nutrition brand under Glanbia Performance Nutrition, unveiled four new limited-edition flavors across its Gold Standard 100% Whey and Amin.O. Energy lines. The flavors include Fruity Cereal and Cinnamon Roll for Gold Standard 100% Whey, and Tropical Sunrise and Citrus Spritz for Amin.O. Energy. The new Gold Standard 100% Whey flavors offer 24 grams of protein that can be consumed in different ways, including mixing with milk or water or as part of a smoothie, while Amin.O. Energy’s latest offerings contain 100 mg of caffeine and five grams of amino acids and electrolytes per serving.

CAFI announced a significant expansion into the health and wellness sector with new products under its subsidiary supplement and nutrition brand, 51. The range includes Mushroom Immune Booster, which it said addresses the growing demand for mushroom supplements. Additionally, the company introduced creatine and glutamine supplements, as well as probiotic and collagen gummies for wellness and beauty. The products are meant to provide a comprehensive approach to health that covers performance enhancement, development acceleration, beauty improvement and focus sharpening.Researchers found the bta-glucanase could potentially curb concerns of antibiotic resistance in poultry production.

Scientific studies
A study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior examined the effectiveness of a hybrid home-use testing method for recipe development involving peer educators. Led by the University of Georgia, US, the study engaged 40 peer educators to select, prepare and evaluate eight recipes over a period of four weeks. Participants received detailed recipes and non-perishable ingredients, purchasing perishables themselves. The educators completed two surveys per recipe — one before and one after preparation. These surveys assessed perceived acceptance of the recipe’s title, appearance, flavor and texture, as well as the likelihood of preparing it for Food Talk — a nutrition education initiative. The study found no significant difference in overall liking or acceptance of the recipes between the pre- and post-surveys. The pre-preparation responses offered insights into perceptions of the recipes before tasting, while post-preparation feedback suggested specific modifications for cultural adaptation, cooking time improvement, or making titles more descriptive. The researchers concluded that the method provides a valuable, underutilized way of evaluating recipes in community nutrition settings and suggests that online processes can predict recipe performance without the need for centralized testing.

Lastly, in response to growing concerns about antibiotic resistance, Canadian researchers have discovered the benefits of adding purified beta-glucanase to chicken feed. Published in Animal Nutrition, the study explores how this enzyme improves the utilization of beta-glucan in wheat-based chicken diets, leading to better digestion, healthier gut microbiota and overall improved chicken growth and health. The researchers highlight that beta-glucanase not only effectively breaks down beta-glucan in wheat but also outperforms traditional antibiotics used in chicken feed, particularly during early growth stages. While the enzyme reduced short-chain fatty acids — a byproduct of carbohydrate fermentation in the chicken’s digestive system — this did not negatively impact the chickens. Instead, it resulted in better weight gain and increased feed efficiency. The study suggests that incorporating purified beta-glucanase into chicken feed may enhance chicken performance while reducing the reliance on antibiotics and other medications.

By William Bradford Nichols

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