Weekly Roundup: Glanbia Nutritionals optimizes KSM-66 Ashwagandha, Mérieux NutriSciences acquires Dyad Labs

10 Dec 2021 --- This week in nutrition news, Glanbia Nutritionals partnered with Ixoreal Biomed to optimize KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract with NutraShield technology to provide functional and application dosage improvements. Mérieux NutriSciences, a food safety and quality company, will acquire Dyad Labs, a dietary supplement solutions provider. Meanwhile, OmegaQuant launched a new vitamin B12 test, with a sample collection kit that allows testing at home.

In brief: Business news
Glanbia Nutritionals partnered with Ixoreal Biomed to improve the Ashwagandha root extract with its NutraShield Technology. Glanbia Nutritionals has utilized powder extract as a carrier of their flavor masker during an encapsulation process. When included in a formulation containing other vitamins and minerals with off-notes, this provides additional support and protection. It allows for a higher ashwagandha inclusion rate in products to meet efficacy dose requirements better. The KSM-66 Ashwagandha Root Extract powered by NutraShield Technology benefits include increased bioavailability, extensive research and sustainability. Additionally, Glanbia plc has signed binding legal agreements to dispose of its 40% holding in Glanbia Ireland to Glanbia Co-op for €307 million (US$351 million) that was announced last week.

Mérieux NutriSciences acquired Dyad Labs, and this acquisition will provide the service offering and expand Mérieux NutriSciences’ footprint in the US to better serve the dietary supplement market. Commenting on the acquisition, Sébastien Moulard, president of Mérieux NutriSciences, North America, states that the acquisition supports the company’s position as a major player in the dietary supplement market.

China-based Happiness Development Group Limited (HAAP) signed a sales of goods agreement with several trading companies to export its lucidum products with a total value of approximately US$1.2 million to the overseas market. HAAP engages in the production of nutraceutical and dietary supplements, providing e-commerce solutions and the sales of automobiles.Yogurt has the potential to reduce high blood pressure.

Provider of ancillary services and analytical tester for cannabis and pharmaceutical companies Evio is set to sell its ownership in C3 Labs to Digipath in exchange for the assumption of debt and stock in Digipath. This sale marks its next step toward its restructuring plans in January 2021. The sale of C3 Labs means that the company will be able to divest over US$2 million in debt and future lease obligations and gain a yet-to-be disclosed equity stake in Digipath. Also, the company is planning a roll-out of its blockchain technology offerings during the first quarter of 2022.

GC Rieber VivoMega, a global supplier of omega 3, is concentrating on developing its facilities and tanks for increased VivoMega omega 3 over the next few years. Previously, the company took its expansion plans a step further with larger facilities and updated technology. These upgrades enabled the launch of its Platinum range of VivoMega concentrates, its highest ever offering at 800 mg/g minimum EPA and DHA content.

In brief: Launches and releases
OmegaQuant, a nutritional status testing company, launched a vitamin B12 test with a sample collection kit that allows for testing at home. This convenient test measures a substance called methylmalonic acid (MMA) in the urine, a more accurate way of detecting low B12 status. The more MMA one has, the more likely they will be low in this critical nutrient. Vitamin B12 is essential for many processes in the cell. When there is not enough, it causes MMA to accumulate in the cell and spill out into the blood, where it eventually gets filtered by the kidney into the urine – where it is measured.

In brief: Research and studies
A US study found that a pro-inflammatory diet – a diet rich in simple carbohydrates or saturated fats – is associated with increased frailty onset in middle-aged and older adults. Therefore, regular consumption of nutrients such as dietary fiber and antioxidants may prevent older adults from becoming weak and frail. The study authors add that frailty affects between 10-15% of community-living older adults – making it a significant public health issue. Frailty is a condition of impaired ability function, which carries an increased risk of falls, hospitalizations and mortality.Regular consumption of nutrients such as dietary fiber and antioxidants may prevent older adults from becoming weak and frail.

Research from the University of South Australia concluded a daily dose of yogurt could be the next go-to food for people with high blood pressure. The study was conducted on 915 community-dwelling adults in partnership with the University of Maine and found that yogurt is associated with lower blood pressure for those with hypertension. Globally, more than a billion people suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure), putting them at greater risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as heart attack and stroke.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) completed its review of a notification regarding specific health claims related to the introduction of peanuts to infants and reducing the risk of developing food allergies. The FDA has concluded that manufacturers may use certain claims based on authoritative statements from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. These claims are in addition to the qualified health claim that the agency allowed in 2017 that links early peanut introduction and reduced risk of developing a peanut allergy. Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies, and, in the majority of individuals, it begins early in life and persists throughout life.

In brief: Appointments and awards
Biochemical company Kyowa Hakko Bio changed its president and CEO at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders held on December 6. The change will occur due to the Kirin Group’s health science business working to resolve global social issues by leveraging its advanced biochemical technologies. To execute the medium-term business plan starting in 2022, Yuki Kanzaki, the current senior executive officer and general manager of the Corporate Planning Department, will serve as president and CEO. Under her leadership, Kyowa Hakko Bio aims to further develop its business toward 2024 and beyond.

By Nicole Kerr