Beyond The Headlines: Sabinsa’s curcumin extract enters Brazil, Stratum Nutrition showcases Bimuno GOS at SANS

19 Jan 2024 --- This week in nutrition news, Sabinsa gained authorization from Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) for Curcumin C3 Reduct to enter the country’s market. Also, Stratum Nutrition revealed it will showcase the health benefits of Bimuno GOS (galactooligosaccharides) at the 2024 Sports & Active Nutrition Summit (SANS). Meanwhile, Kemin Industries unveiled its new global tagline to spotlight its commitment to innovation.

Nutrition news
Sabinsa announced that its curcumin product, Curcumin C3 Reduct, has been approved by Brazil’s ANVISA for inclusion in their IN28 list. The approval permits the introduction and commercialization of C3 Reduct in Brazil for use in foods and supplements, with a recommended dosage of 120 mg per day. The product consists of 95% tetrahydrocurcuminoids, which are colorless, hydrogenated compounds derived from Sabinsa’s Curcumin C3 Complex curcuminoids that offer enhanced bioavailability, longer-lasting antioxidant activity and can be delivered in smaller doses.

Stratum Nutrition, the North American distributor of Clasado Biosciences’ Bimuno GOS prebiotic ingredient will participate in the 2024 SANS in San Diego, California, US. The annual summit, which will take place from 12–14 February, brings together professionals from the sports and active nutrition sectors and is focused on science, business strategy and regulatory developments in the sector. Stratum Nutrition, as a sponsor, will showcase the benefits of Bimuno GOS, emphasizing its role in athletic health applications.

Kemin Industries introduced its new global tagline, “Compelled by Curiosity,” to convey the company’s curiosity, which it says drives innovation, collaboration and the exploration of possibilities in the nutrition space. Founded on a strong scientific base, the company aims to combine creativity with data to develop solutions for future needs and to improve life for people, pets, animals, plants and the planet. Kemin’s president and CEO emphasized that this curiosity has been central since its inception in 1961 and it continues to fuel its commitment to enhancing health and safety across various industries, using molecular science and core technologies.

Product launches
Activ’Inside launched Safr’Inside, a natural saffron extract enriched with safranal, a stress-reducing compound, at concentrations 10 times higher than usual. This extract also contains crocins and picrocrocins, enhancing mental and emotional well-being. The company points out that saffron, which has long been used in traditional medicine, has also been scientifically validated for its mood-enhancing benefits. The company launched the product on Blue Monday, often termed the most depressing day of the year and highlights that a University of Glasgow, Scotland, study involving 150,000 participants shows a winter spike in mood disorders and seasonal depression, which can affect up to 18% of adults.Standlee’s latest offerings target specific needs in equine nutrition.

Enzymedica entered into the functional foods market with Fiber Plus Cookies, aimed at addressing the low fiber intake among US adults. The cookies offer a tasty and convenient solution to boost daily fiber consumption and are not only rich in beneficial fiber but also feature a thin, crispy texture and appealing flavors. The cookies contain Enzymedica’s exclusive MB40 probiotics, which has been shown to effectively reduce belly bloat and promote gut regularity. Additionally, they include soluble corn fiber, a scientifically supported prebiotic. The company emphasized that the vegan-, soy- and dairy-free cookies are an easy way for consumers to fulfill their fiber needs without artificial fillers or colors.

Pet Nutrition
Standlee, a forage product company, introduced two innovative forage-based pellets — Smart Carb Performance and Forage Plus Gastric Support — developed by an equine nutritionist. The products cater to the specific nutritional needs of horses, emphasizing the importance of forage in their diet. The offerings are designed to complement a range of forages while enhancing digestion, palatability and microbiome function. Moreover, they are low in sugar and starch, grain-free and provide comprehensive nutrition. Smart Carb Performance is an alfalfa and teff-based blend enriched with probiotics to target carbohydrate-sensitive horses, including those with insulin resistance, Cushing’s Disease and Tying-Up Syndrome. Forage Plus Gastric Support is formulated with premium alfalfa and can buffer stomach acid, support digestive health and is ideal for horses with digestive sensitivities like gastric ulcers and leaky gut syndrome.

Bio-Cat partnered with Caldic North America to create proprietary probiotic strains and Optifeed branded solutions for the North America Companion Animal Health and Nutrition market. The pair stated that the collaboration will expedite Bio-Cat’s market entry by utilizing Caldic’s established market presence. Bio-Cat specializes in enzyme and probiotic formulations and offers a broad spectrum of products for animal digestive health. Its fermentation facility produces Association of American Feed Control Officials-approved probiotics, recognized for their safety, effectiveness, and physiological benefits in gastrointestinal and digestive health for both companion animals and humans.

Royal Canin and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) conducted a survey among 822 individuals who completed the AAFP Cat-Friendly Certificate Program. This initiative, aimed at improving veterinary care for cats, particularly focuses on reducing the stress associated with veterinary visits. The survey’s key findings revealed that 98% of participants found the program effective in reducing feline visit stress and 76% of respondents — including veterinarians and other veterinary staff — reported greater confidence in providing nutritional recommendations. Furthermore, 92% of respondents believe the program increased caregiver satisfaction with veterinary experiences and enhanced the skills of participants, with 98% reporting improved ability to handle feline patients, especially those under stress.Researchers in Canada said the country’s nutrition guidelines leave out necessary nutrients for aging populations.

Scientific studies
A study by the Monell Chemical Senses Center has unveiled key insights into why we overeat unhealthy foods, particularly those high in fats and sugars. The research, published in Cell Metabolism, reveals that our gut, rather than taste cells, plays a crucial role in driving cravings through distinct pathways in the brain. The results found separate neural pathways for fat and sugar cravings in the vagus nerve system, which transmits information from the gut to the brain. These pathways trigger dopamine release in the brain’s reward center, which could explain people’s strong desire for fatty and sugary foods. Using advanced technology, the team manipulated fat or sugar neurons in mice, demonstrating that these neurons activate different but parallel reward circuits. Simultaneously stimulating both fat and sugar circuits resulted in an intensified dopamine release and increased overeating in mice and this synergy might explain the difficulty in dieting and resisting high-fat, high-sugar foods. The research suggests that human brains are subconsciously inclined to seek these combinations and opens up possibilities for developing anti-obesity strategies targeting gut-brain reward circuits. 

Researchers at McGill University’s School of Human Nutrition in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, conducted a study to evaluate the effectiveness of Canada’s food guide in meeting the nutritional needs of older adults. Using dietary intake data from a 2015 national survey, the study focused on Canadians aged 65 years or older and found that while adherence to the food guide resulted in higher intakes of fiber, magnesium, vitamin B6 and potassium, it did not ensure sufficient consumption of calcium, vitamin D and folate. Published in the Journal of Nutrition, the researchers highlighted that these nutrients are crucial for older adults and that the findings indicate a gap in the food guide’s ability to cater to the specific needs of this demographic. The researchers also suggest the need for additional, tailored recommendations for older adults and that the current food guide offers flexible recommendations suitable for the general population, but lacks precision for subgroups like older adults. The next phase of the project will investigate the impact of following these guidelines on health outcomes, such as physical function, mobility and cognition and explore how the guidelines might be modified to enhance these aspects. By 

By William Bradford Nichols