CK Nutraceuticals partners with Kunpoong to distribute chitosan oligosaccharide

28 Sep 2017 --- South Korea’s Kunpoong Bio Co. Ltd., a global operator in the chitosan oligosaccharide market, has appointed Toronto-based CK Nutraceuticals (CK) as its exclusive North America sales, marketing and distribution partner for its Go2Ka1 ingredient (branded as KitoMax in North America).

CK focuses on supplying functional and nutritional ingredients for the functional food, beverage, dietary supplement and sports nutrition markets in North America. Kunpoong, based in Seoul, produces and supplies chitosan oligosaccharide for use in pharmaceutical, food and agricultural applications.

Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, CK is to promote advanced glucose management nutraceutical KitoMax to its extensive base of dietary supplement clients in both the US and Canada.

Solution backed by science
“We see increasing consumer and industry interest in the blood glucose management category, and we believe that KitoMax is a safe, effective and scientifically-proven solution in this important health category,” Michael Chernyak, President of CK Nutraceuticals, tells NutritionInsight.

KitoMax is a patent-pending chitosan-oligosaccharide produced using advanced enzymatic technology, the CK press release states. It has a well-defined mechanism of action, and is supported by three published clinical studies that demonstrate meaningful blood glucose control benefits.

CK adds that the applications of KitoMax include capsules, tablets, nutrition bars, stick packs, powdered drink mixes, gummies and more.

Several compelling structure/function claims have been defined for KitoMax in the US, and in Canada it has received a license from Health Canada with the approved claims “Helps to support healthy glucose metabolism,” “Helps to maintain healthy glucose metabolism,” “Helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels” and “Helps support healthy blood sugar levels.”

Chernyak also points to three published clinical trials that demonstrate: immediate effect on post-prandial blood glucose levels post-meal (sugar and bread/starch); and long-term administration effect, especially in reducing HbA1c and waist circumference.

“What is also important to note is that the long-term clinical trial was performed in a pre-diabetic population that was receiving no other medical intervention (to our knowledge, this is the only report of a natural product reducing HbA1c in pre-diabetic population),” Chernyak adds.

There is a team of scientists who collectively have more than 100 publications in the field of Type 2 diabetes prevention on board, Chernyak points out.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Kunpoong Bio on this terrific ingredient, which we believe is very timely,” says Chernyak. “Our mission is to supply our North American clients with superior raw materials that are backed by scientific research of the very highest quality, and KitoMax certainly fits the bill.”