Pharmactive expands to sports nutrition market after Affron study reveals impact on athletic performance

11 Jul 2022 --- Pharmactive’s Affron ingredient may enhance the enjoyment of sports activities and decrease post-workout stress and anxiety in adult males, according to a company-backed study.

The results are paving the way for the company to expand the item’s use from the eye health segment to sports nutrition.

“Affron has a broad target audience since it has multiple applications for mood, sleep, menopause, and sports performance. We target adults or adolescents who want to maintain their health and keep up a vibrant active lifestyle,” Jean-Marie Raymond, CEO, Pharmactive Biotech Products, tells NutritionInsight.

Investing in ingredientsThe supplement is touted as helping people to stick to their sports and exercise regimens.
The study was conducted in Australia and included 59 people aged 18 to 65. All of the participants were nonprofessional, healthy and athletic men who performed moderate to intense aerobic exercise at least four times per week. During the six weeks the participants took two 14 mg doses of affron a day. 

“The most important finding in our last clinical study concludes that the results from this six-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is that affron supplementation in recreationally active males was associated with increases in self-reported exercise enjoyment and heart rate variability (HRV),” Raymond adds.

The company says that HRV is an indicator of workout recovery. Previous research suggested affron promotes better sleep and recovery. 

“We will continue to innovate and invest in our premium ingredients, with the aim of offering the market ingredients with scientific evidence and of the highest quality,” says Raymond. “For example, ABG+, our aged black garlic extract, whose latest clinical study shows the possible beneficial effects on maintaining healthy blood pressure levels.” 

Aiming for a broader target 
Though the product was tested exclusively on men, Raymond believes the study’s findings have implications for all, especially athletes looking for improved nutrition and supplements to help them better enjoy exercise and sports.

“For example, while we age or we suffer occasional stressful situations, we see increased oxidative stress, poor sleep quality, low mood and energy, depressive symptoms, and physiological side effects after menopause,” explains Raymond.

Impact on nervous systemThe study reveals that affron decreases post-workout HRV, boosting heart health and relieving stress.
Alberto Espinel, Head of Strategic R&D in Active and Functional Natural Ingredients, Pharmactive, states that: “Aafron’s positive effect on heart rate and work out enjoyment could be attributed to various physiological mechanisms at play.” 

However, he states that, “previous animal studies have endorsed its role in reducing stress hormones such as cortisol while raising the ‘happy hormones’ serotonin and dopamine. The botanical also demonstrated a relaxant effect on smooth muscles and blood vessels.” 

He also touted that the ingredient is a potent antioxidant that may even have a positive effect on gut flora, affecting the nervous system. Moreover saffron is touted as a potent anti-oxidant anti-inflammatory.”

The study also used the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PAES) to measure the participants’ subjective enjoyment of their workouts while taking affron. While the placebo group’s PAES did not change at all, those taking affron experienced “a statistically significant increase in PAES score over time.” 

By William Bradford Nichols