Golden power: OmniActive’s curcumin extract lands “Non-GMO Project Verified” accreditation

09 Jul 2019 --- OmniActive Health Technologies has announced that its CurcuWIN product, an enhanced absorption curcumin extract, is now Non-GMO Project Verified. The results of a human clinical trial showed that CurcuWIN offers 46 times greater relative absorption than standard curcumin. The product is manufactured using OmniActive’s proprietary UltraSOL technology, which enhances the absorption and solubility of curcuminoids, making them more bioavailable and longer-lasting, according to the company.

The growing consumer demand for natural options is exemplified in the wide range of non-GMO product offerings in both foods and dietary supplements, the company notes. The global non-GMO foods market is reportedly expected to grow approximately 16 percent between 2017 and 2021.

The Non-GMO Project Product Verification Program is North America’s only third-party verification for non-GMO foods and products. To ensure that the materials and facilities used to produce CurcuWIN are non-GMO compliant, the verification was completed and confirmed through a rigorous process by the US National Science Foundation (NSF) International.

The global non-GMO foods market is reportedly expected to grow approximately 16 percent between 2017 and 2021.“As we further differentiate our portfolio of branded ingredients to support various health benefits, we looked at what is driving purchasing decisions and found that trust in the integrity of a product is not only paramount, but also built in multiple layers. This is why delivering quality and safety assurance is a continuous process,” says Brian Appell, Marketing Manager, OmniActive. 

“Product improvement by going after the highest standard certifications is always ongoing at OmniActive, and this is what drove us to obtain not only USP verification but now Non-GMO Project Verified status,” he adds.

 Makrand Bhalerao, Vice President, Quality, OmniActive notes that having third-party organizations such as the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and the Non-GMO Project recognize CurcuWIN’s quality with their verification seals solidifies the extract’s standing in the crowded curcumin marketplace.

Science and NPD in the curcumin space
Curcumin, the yellow powder derivative of the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa) that is widely used as a food colorant and flavoring, is also touted for its health properties in a variety of areas, from heart and skin to gut health. Many companies have released curcumin extracts that boast increased efficiency and emerging science is supporting the ingredient’s health benefits. 

According to a gastric cancer study supported by the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) and the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), curcumin may also have therapeutic properties in helping prevent and combat stomach cancer. Moreover, curcumin may improve exercise intolerance – a hallmark of chronic heart failure – when taken by people who have experienced the condition, a study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology has found. 

In this space, Dolcas Tenshi Bioceuticals (DTB) recently expanded its nutraceutical portfolio with Curcugen, a 100 percent natural, water-dispersible curcumin ingredient. Sabinsa’s patented color-free Curcumin C3 Reduct tetrahydrocurcuminoids was also found to meet the criteria for GRAS status as per US Food And Drug Administration’s (FDA) scientific procedures. Arjuna Naturals Ltd.’s curcumin formulation is touted as holding possibilities for effectively managing symptoms associated with osteoarthritis of the knee. Lastly, ingredients manufacturer Lipofoods launched a bioavailable microencapsulated anti-aging curcumin product which targets the increasingly popular “beauty-from-within” market.

Edited by Kristiana Lalou