Weekly Roundup: AHPA names industry award winners, Gencor’s prostate product approved for health claims

12 Mar 2021 --- This week in nutrition news, the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) announced the winners of its AHPA Awards, while Gencor had its herbal extract AGEprost approved for prostate health claims. Meanwhile, Aker BioMarine set new sustainability targets, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050.

In brief: Awards and approvals
The AHPA Awards, given to individuals and organizations that made significant contributions to the herbal products industry’s continued success, were handed out with a new award category for diversity and inclusion. Winners included Dr. Rob Wildman for the Hero Award, HerbaLife Nutrition for the Herbal Industry Leadership Award; Safety Call International for the Herbal Insight Award; Naturade for the Diversity and Inclusion Award; and Indena for the Centennial Award.

Gencor announced that its AGEprost product, a herbal extract of the plant Ageratum conyzoides, traditionally used in the Caribbean for prostate and urinary-related health concerns, has been listed on Health Canada’s Licensed Natural Health Products Database (LNHPD) for claims of prostate health. The claims include helping to relieve the urologic symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia. The listing comes following a placebo-controlled double-blind trial on over 100 men. 

Aker BioMarine announced new sustainability goals, including reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and reducing emissions per ton of krill by 50 percent before 2030. The company will also deploy green ammonia to power its vessels and further reduce fossil fuel usage by employing drones to locate ocean krill. Moreover, Aker will support circularity company AION, which will repurpose products and plastic waste. 

Horizon’s Growing Years portfolio of dairy products for infants.In brief: Launches and releases 
Sibelius Natural Products’ chamomile ingredient was featured in a new product from FutureYou Cambridge, targeting restful sleep and relaxation. FutureYou Cambridge’s Restful Night+ is a blend of Sibelius: Chamomile – a proprietary Roman chamomile extract – lavender oil and vitamin B6, developed to provide a calm night’s sleep and stress relief naturally. The newly-introduced formulation is available in a mouth spray, enabling the quick delivery and absorption of its actives for better sleep support. 

Holle will launch its toddler milk products across the US in Whole Foods supermarkets. With a popular portfolio in Europe, the company says it is answering high demand in the US. Holle Cow and Goat Toddler Milk Drinks are targeted at growing children and are non-GMO, pesticide-free and contain no added sugar, hormones or corn syrup. They also include DHA and a full range of micronutrients, including calcium, iron, vitamins A, C, and D.

SimpleHealth, a US-based telehealth provider of women’s reproductive products, unveiled a line of over-the-counter supplements. These include The Daily 5, a daily multivitamin; Urinary Tract Support, a cranberry pill supplement for urinary tract health; and the Probiotic Blend, designed to improve gut health. The new portfolio will add to SimpleHealth’s birth control and other prescription offerings.

Horizon Organic expanded its Growing Years line with the introduction of low-fat yogurt pouches, cultured dairy smoothies, reduced-fat milk half gallons and single-serve whole milk boxes. The new portfolio is targeted at infants transitioning from formula or breast milk to dairy milk, which can be challenging for parents. The products are available at supermarkets throughout the US. Sibelius and FutureYou's chamomile mouth spray.

Premier Protein extended its line of ready-to-drink oat protein shakes with a new flavor, Chocolate Hazelnut. Packed with 20 g of protein, 8 g of whole grain oats and 7 g of fiber, Premier Protein Shakes with Oats is the brand’s first ready-to-drink protein shake served both hot or cold. With 150 calories and 1 g of sugar, Chocolate Hazelnut also contains 24 vitamins and minerals.

Kaneka Probiotics debuted Lactobacillus plantarum DR7, following the completion of a multi-year research project that resulted in journal publications demonstrating its effectiveness in clinical trials, says the company. The strain, extracted initially from fresh bovine milk, showed positive effects on upper respiratory tract infections in a randomized-controlled clinical trial. DR7 can promote healthy brain metabolism by upregulating the tryptophan-serotonin pathway by driving the tryptophan metabolic pathway toward serotonin instead of the kynurenine degradation pathway. 

In brief: Research and studies 
A study from Yale University, US, showed that daily consumption of the soy drink Q-Can could bring health benefits to the oral and fecal microbiome. In two pools of lean and obese participants, an increase in the stool microbiome of Bifidobacteria and Blautia was found, along with a decrease in pathogens such as Costridia. Q-Can contains a combination of isoflavones such as genistein and daidzein, amino acids, trace elements, minerals, bioactive peptides and branched-chain fatty acids. 

People living with patients undergoing a weight loss program through a Mediterranean diet were found to lose an average of 4 kg, despite not following the diet themselves. This was demonstrated by Spanish researchers who analyzed data from 148 family members of patients included in the weight loss and lifestyle program PREDIMED-Plus over two years. The study authors point to a halo effect whereby the patients’ cohabitants pick up the same dietary habits. 

By Louis Gore-Langton