Supporting respiratory health: PLT gets green light for Canadian claims

01 Sep 2020 --- PLT Health Solutions will now be able to market its AlbioLife ingredient as supporting respiratory health in Canada, after gaining a license from the Natural and Non-Prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) of Health Canada. The US-company makes the product from a combination of extracts of Boswellia serrata gum resin standardized to 30 percent 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid (AKBA) and Aegle marmelos dried fruit. Clinical work has shown the ingredient to help improve overall respiratory health, maintain clear airways, help against environmental exposure and soothe respiratory tissues.

It notes that as respiratory health is currently top of consumers’ minds, the ingredient works both as a standalone and as a compliment to immune-support ingredients.

“Respiratory health is at the top of everyone’s minds these days. AlvioLife is an interesting ingredient both as a standalone and as a compliment to immune support ingredients,” says Dr. Barbara Davis, Head of Clinical and Regulatory Sciences for PLT.

In Canada, the approved claims include:

• AlvioLife helps to support lower respiratory tract health.
• AlvioLife helps to support lower respiratory tract health that includes the bronchial tubes and the lungs’ health.

Dr. Davis continues that the granting of an NHP license by Health Canada is a significant milestone for AlvioLife, both because it opens up the Canadian market for this unique ingredient and for what it says about the science that supports AlvioLife. Last week, NutritionInsight reported that with consumers paying more attention to labels than ever before, health claims present a lucrative way for companies to set themselves apart. The license opens up the Canadian market for AlvioLife. 

Supporting respiratory health
The anti-inflammatory effects, particularly 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) inhibition by AKBA and quince fruit, are responsible for AlvioLife’s effectiveness in supporting respiratory health, according to Dr. Davis. “Accumulating and significant evidence suggests that 5-LOX has a profound influence on the onset and progression of airway inflammation.”

A 200 mg per day dose of the ingredient was previously part of a 56-day, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial examining its effects and safety in participants with respiratory issues. Statistically significant improvement was observed for several parameters of respiratory health in study participants taking AlvioLife compared to those receiving placebo. 

Response to environmental stimuli and breathing scores were significantly better in the AlvioLife group compared to the placebo group.  

Additionally, the study found that peak expiratory flow was significantly improved on day 56 in the AlvioLife group compared to the placebo and expiratory volume 1 (FEV1) was improved on day 56 in the AlvioLife group, but not in the placebo group. Quality of life issues were also examined. Both activity limitation and emotional function scores were significantly improved on day 14 and further improved on days 28 and 56, compared to the placebo group.

PLT also offers Dynaleve Muscle+Joint Formula, which is touted as a water-soluble, low-dose solution to post-exercise recovery. It recently launched a new formulation of its ingredient Zynamite that has been developed to improve sports performance in as little as one hour from a single dose. In June, Steve Fink, Vice President of Marketing, told NutritionInsight how the company’s Earthlight Whole Food Vitamin D is part of the “renaissance” around the vitamin in light of the COVID-19 conversation. 

Edited by Katherine Durrell