Inspired by food: Wacker validates nature-identical olive oil compound for heart health

17 Mar 2021 --- Wacker is addressing the global demand for heart health solutions with its HTEssence hydroxytyrosol, which is nature-identical to the hydroxytyrosol found in olive oil.

The phenolic compound – containing antioxidant properties – was found in two human clinical studies to reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

It has been developed to address an increasingly elderly population, which is more prone to heart disease. 

Hydroxytyrosol naturally found in olive oil may be one of the reasons the Mediterranean diet is associated with reduced factors for cardiovascular disease. 

“Phenolic antioxidants, such as hydroxytyrosol, have been shown to have a positive effect on blood lipids,” explains Rachela Mohr, manager for technical marketing and scientific management bioingredients at Wacker.

Isolating healthy diet components
Hydroxytyrosol has also exhibited anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to stimulate the proliferation of bone-forming cells, thus helping to prevent osteoporosis, notes Mohr. 

The compound’s natural form – from olive oil or olive leaf extract – has most extensively been studied in relation to lowering LDL cholesterol. 

In comparison to naturally sourced hydroxytyrosol, HTEssence achieves 98 percent purity through its synthesis process.

“Natural sources like olive extract are mostly available only with a maximum content of 40 percent hydroxytyrosol, and unfortunately can come with a range of unwanted impurities,” Mohr adds. 

The Mediterranean diet is typically high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, fish and olive oil.The growing market for heart health
By 2050, one in six people on earth will be over the age of 65 and cardiovascular disease is significantly more present in older populations, Mohr notes. 

“Prevention is better than cure. In regard to cardiovascular diseases, people are already fully aware of that fact.”

“A 2019 survey showed that 65 percent of global consumers are concerned about developing high cholesterol, and already 21 percent are actively buying products that address this.”

She further adds 80 percent of cardiovascular diseases are preventable and that risk can be reduced by adjusting lifestyle habits that lower LDL cholesterol levels, such as diet and exercise. 

Exploring effects on cholesterol 
Putting HTEssence to the test, two clinical studies have demonstrated that Wacker's hydroxytyrosol HTEssence has a positive effect on LDL cholesterol. 

“The most remarkable fact is that these LDL-lowering results are already seen after four weeks of supplementation,” says Mohr. 

In the initial randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in 2018, 29 healthy volunteers consumed 30 mg of hydroxytyrosol per day for a total of four weeks.

Last year, a similarly devised study with 92 healthy volunteers were prescribed 30 mg of hydroxytyrosol in research that confirmed the previous study's findings. 

“The take-home message from these studies is that HTessence hydroxytyrosol has a short and midterm modifying effect on the LDL cholesterol levels without reported side effects,” says Mohr.  

Other ingredients for heart health
In addition to the Mediterranean diet, Wacker has drawn inspiration from India’s Ayurvedic tradition with its CavaCurmin ingredient. 

This ingredient, formulated by combining curcumin with cyclodextrin, was demonstrated in a clinical study to yield a 40-fold improvement in absorption. 

Wacker is also positioning its CavaQ10 supplement solution, which combines coenzyme Q10 with cyclodextrins, to increase bioavailability of CoQ10 by a factor of 18 relative to traditional products. 

The cyclodextrin addition can therefore increase efficacy while necessitating less product for a similar effect. 

Food as medicine 
Food’s natural healing abilities was recently highlighted by The American College of Lifestyle Medicine, which emphasized the right diet can address a host of chronic diseases. 

Last November, researchers at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital uncovered biomarkers explaining the longstanding link between Mediterranean diets and lowered risk of Type 2 diabetes. 

By Missy Green