Weekly Roundup: Elysium Health receives US$3M from ChromaDex, Laboratoire PYC expands functional smoothie portfolio

01 Oct 2021 --- This week in nutrition news, Elysium Health, a life science company focused on translational aging research, received a total of US$3 million in damages after the US jury ruled against ChromaDex. Laboratoire PYC released new flavors of protein smoothies, and, Bioiberica sponsored the 28th Symposium on Glycosaminoglycans.

In brief: Business highlights
Swiss biotech company Evolva issued 40 million new shares out of authorized capital to cover present and future share delivery obligations under the convertible loan agreement with Nice & Green, an independent Swiss company.

Bioiberica sponsored the 28th Symposium on Glycosaminoglycans. The event is an opportunity to establish collaboration agreements with companies and institutions. These institutions are interested in promoting new scientific developments related to the long linear polysaccharides and exploring new applications projects related to heparin, an active pharmaceutical ingredient. The long linear polysaccharides are associated with cell growth and wound repair.

Bazelet Health Systems partnered with Sattviko to produce a line of superfoods infused with Bazelet’s non-psychoactive legal cannabis ingredients. Sattviko is one of India’s fastest-growing global food brands reaching across the US, Canada, UAE, Australia and India. Bazelet and Sattviko are furthering the global superfood revolution with products prepared from naturally sourced raw materials and modern technologies that preserve nutrients.

In brief: Launches and releases
Natural nutrition company Shaklee launched Meology Kids, an all-in-one, personalized vitamin gummy pack for kids. Following the success of Meology, a patent-pending fully customized supplement plan, health and wellness pioneer Shaklee developed Meology Kids to broaden its nutrition program. Suitable for children aged four years and older, Meology Kids comes in customizable packaging with icons and a child’s name. The product offers 100% of the daily value of eight core nutrients, three times more DHA and EPA, and one-third less sugar than other brands on the market.Professor Cathie Martin has won an award for her research in making fruit and vegetables more nutritious (Credit: John Innes Centre).

Laboratoire PYC released new flavors of protein smoothies: apple-lemon, peach-citrus, red fruit and strawberry-banana. The smoothies, branded Proti’Smooth, are high in protein and enriched with active ingredients. The four offerings are Proti’Smooth Immunity, which combines ginger and vitamin D properties to help boost immunity; Proti’Smooth Slim Tonic, for a “slimming boost”; Proti’Smooth Antioxidant, which is enriched with vitamin C for its antioxidant action; and Proti’Smooth Relax, which contributes to the well-being of body and mind. The Proti’Smooth Relax contains magnesium and vitamin B6.

Ingredient supplier Ingredion EMEA identified new opportunities for manufacturers in the growing sports nutrition category in its market insights report and revealed how they could formulate for success. Ingredion found that the health and wellness trend is a key driver, opening up new mainstream product development opportunities as consumers increasingly look for food and beverages that offer functional health and lifestyle benefits. This blurring of category boundaries is expected to see the value of sports nutrition and reach approximately €35 million (US$41 million) by 2025.

In brief: Announcements and certifications
Professor Cathie Martin was awarded the Rank Prize for Nutrition for her globally significant research in making fruit and vegetables more nutritious. She is set to formally receive the award for 2022 at a ceremony early next year. Martin’s research into plant genetics and metabolism uses plant science tools to improve human diet and health, emphasizing biofortification and using plant metabolic engineering to enhance foods nutritionally. The award recognizes those who have made a significant contribution to human and animal nutrition, where their ideas have been carried through to practical applications of benefit to humankind.

Dietary supplements manufacturer, Lief Labs received the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) ISO/IEC 17025 Biological Field of Testing certification. The certification is a nationally and internationally recognized standard for continuous improvement and self-correction. The A2LA ISO/IEC 17025 standard specifies both management and technical requirements, including running effective quality management systems, ensuring staff and equipment competency, documenting organization, and establishing steps for corrective action.Shaklee’s Meology Kids is a personalized vitamin gummy pack for kids.

Elysium Health, a life science company focused on translational aging research, announced the US jury verdict in the company’s nearly five-year litigation against ChromaDex, a dietary supplement company. After a four-day trial, a jury awarded Elysium nearly US$2 million in damages for ChromaDex’s breach of contract and fraudulent inducement, including punitive damages of over US$1 million. These arose out of statements made by ChromaDex concerning its intellectual property licensing practices. In addition to awarding Elysium Health for the pricing breaches, the jury also agreed with Elysium Health on its claim that ChromaDex had fraudulently induced Elysium Health to enter into a trademark license and royalty agreement at the outset of the parties’ relationship.

In brief: Research and studies
A National Institutes of Health study suggested that juice consumption before six months of age is linked with sweet beverage consumption in later childhood. The study analyzed 5,000 children’s juice intake. It found that compared to children first given juice at 12 months, those given juice before six months were 1.5 times more likely to drink an additional cup of juice per day at 24, 30 and 36 months and at seven years. Children who were given juice before they were six months old drank more juice and soda, and less water, by early and mid-childhood, on average, than children first given juice at or after 12 months. Piper Bioscience’s Cholesterol Wellness Gummies may help lower cholesterol.

Stanford University researchers presented study results at the National Lipid Association Scientific Sessions that revealed Piper Bioscience’s Cholesterol Wellness Gummies may help lower cholesterol. The study demonstrated that plant sterol gummy reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in South Asians with high cholesterol. The investigators noted that South Asians have a higher risk for cardiometabolic disease. The 50 participants who completed the three month study showed a statistically significant reduction in LDL-C cholesterol of 5.8%.

Researchers from the UK-based Quadram Institute will embark on a study to understand how broccoli consumption can help normalize blood sugar levels in people with pre-diabetes. The research team is recruiting people with pre-diabetes to take part in a 36-week trial split into three 12-week periods where they will eat broccoli and zucchini soups to include in their diet. The researchers will analyze blood and urine samples during the study to look at the participants’ blood sugar levels. The Broccoli Effect on Glycated Haemoglobin study is funded by Big C, Norfolk’s cancer charity, and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, part of UK Research & Innovation.

By Nicole Kerr