Weekly Roundup: Campbell Soup Foundation announces community impact grant recipients, Vitamin K2 may reduce cardiovascular complications

03 May 2019 --- In nutrition news this week, the Campbell Soup Foundation announced the 31 recipients of 2019’s Community Impact Grants, totaling US$595,000. An American Heart Association (AHA) study found that improving Vitamin K2 status may significantly reduce cardiovascular complications. Kyowa Hakko is expanding the reach of its Setria Glutathione ingredient to more markets and a wider demographic by offering information in six additional languages, while Embria Health Sciences, which manufactures EpiCor and Probiotical S.p.A. developed a product formulation for immune and gut health.

In brief: Grants and endorsements
The Campbell Soup Foundation has announced the 31 recipients of 2019’s Community Impact Grants, totaling US$595,000. Campbell Soup Foundation’s grantmaking aligns with three focus areas: increasing healthy food access, encouraging healthy living and nurturing Campbell neighborhoods. This year’s 31 recipients are located in Campbell’s hometown communities of Camden and East Brunswick, New Jersey; Bloomfield and Norwalk, Connecticut; Charlotte and Maxton, North Carolina; Napoleon and Willard, Ohio; Tualatin and Salem, Oregon; Hanover and Downingtown, Pennsylvania; Paris, Texas; Richmond, Utah; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “The Campbell Soup Foundation is a community partner not only in Camden but in many Campbell hometown communities,” says Kim Fortunato, President, Campbell Soup Foundation and Director, Community Affairs. “In addition to financial support, we are proud of our volunteer engagement program that supports our community partners in a variety of ways.”

In brief: Research
According to a new study endorsed by the American Heart Association (AHA) and Natto Pharma, improving Vitamin K2 status may significantly benefit arterial stiffening and calcification and reduce cardiovascular complications. The study examined the effect that excessive inactive Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) has on cardiovascular health, namely increased stiffening and calcification of large arteries. This stiffening increases cardiovascular stress, which can be accurately assessed using pulse wave velocity measurements and can be alleviated by improving one’s vitamin K2 levels. The study evaluated vitamin K status (dp-ucMGP) in 835 randomly recruited Flemish individuals. The researchers concluded that higher inactive dp-ucMGP was associated with greater pulse wave velocity (PWV), central pressure, forward pulse wave and backward pulse wave. The authors found that, along with the current body of literature, the study’s findings show in people representative for the general population, higher inactive dp-ucMGP was associated with greater PWV, central pulse pressure, forward pulse wave and backward pulse wave. These observations highlight new avenues for preserving vascular integrity and preventing cardiovascular complications (e.g., by improving a person’s vitamin K status). 

In combination with a diet low in saturated fats, eating walnuts may help lower blood pressure in people at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a new Pennsylvania State University, US study. In a randomized, controlled trial, researchers examined the effects of replacing some of the saturated fats in participants’ diets with walnuts. They found that when participants consumed whole walnuts daily in combination with lower overall amounts of saturated fat, they had lower central blood pressure. According to the researchers, central pressure is the pressure that is exerted on organs such as the heart. This measure, like blood pressure measured in the arm the traditional way, provides information about a person's risk of developing CVD. Penny Kris-Etherton, a Professor of Nutrition at Penn State, says the study suggests that because walnuts lowered central pressure, their risk of CVD may have also decreased. “When participants ate whole walnuts, they saw greater benefits than when they consumed a diet with a similar fatty acid profile as walnuts without eating the nut itself,” Kris-Etherton notes. “So it seems like there's a little something extra in walnuts that are beneficial – maybe their bioactive compounds, maybe the fiber, maybe something else – that you don't get in the fatty acids alone.”

In brief: Miscellaneous 
Kyowa Hakko is expanding the reach of its Setria Glutathione ingredient to more markets and a wider demographic by offering information in an additional six languages. This will enable consumers and healthcare professionals to more easily find products that contain Setria Glutathione. The health benefits, where to find it and the science supporting Setria are now available in Spanish, German, Italian, French, Thai and Bahasa Indonesian. Broadening language options made sense since health-conscious consumers aren’t unique to one country or culture, according to Karen Todd, Senior Director Global Brand Marketing, Kyowa Hakko US. “Active individuals around the world are embracing the physical and mental benefits of Setria, so it made sense to provide information in multiple languages,” she explains. “More than 100 brands incorporate Setria into dietary supplements, workout powders and beverages.” New icons, graphics, and images make it easy to locate relevant information, especially for active individuals looking for additional ways to boost immune health and reduce oxidative stress, says Todd. Glutathione, found in almost every cell of the human body, is known for protecting cells from oxidative stress and toxins. Clinical studies have shown that daily supplementation with Setria dramatically increases glutathione levels in cells and tissue. 

A partnership between Embria Health Sciences, which manufactures EpiCor and Probiotical S.p.A. in Italy, has developed a product formulation containing three scientifically proven ingredients for immune and gut health: EpiCor, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BS01 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus LR04. The formula also includes fructooligosaccharides (FOS), a prebiotic. EpiCor is a unique and natural fermentation ingredient comprised of dozens of compounds and metabolites that work together to help strengthen the immune system by balancing immune response. The new product will be unveiled at Vitafoods Europe next week, May 7-9, in Geneva, Switzerland.