Weekly Roundup: Italian anti-adulteration body seizes 12,000 supplements, Probi Defendum can boost kids’ immunity

29 Nov 2019 --- In nutrition news this week, Italian regulatory body Nucleo Antisofisticazioni Sanità (NAS) revealed rising inconsistencies in supplement notification procedures after a confiscation of thousands of supplements from an undisclosed express delivery firm. In research, Probi Defendum, a mix of two bacterial strains, helped young Swedish children fight off winter colds, while a high intake of nuts proved beneficial to preventing cognitive function in the elderly. Canopy Growth Corporation launched its Cannabis 2.0 products and a K+S event brought industry players together to discuss climate change challenges and inaugurate a new company innovations park in Hanover, Germany.

In brief: Regulations
Italian anti-adulteration and health body NAS has reported a confiscation of 12,000 supplements worth €400,000 from an express delivery firm. This was after investigations revealed that the undisclosed company had launched these to the Italian market without meeting certain declarations required by current Italian legislation. The seizure has spotlighted inconsistencies in notification procedures required for cross-border food supplement e-commerce. While notifying authorities of food supplements when reaching the market is common in Italy, some EU Member States do not partake in this practice. The confiscation could usher in a shift in enforcement of food supplement legislation and tackle current difficulties within this space. 

Consuming nuts was associated with lower cognitive decline in the study.In brief: Research 
Daily consumption of the immune concept Probi Defendum for three months was beneficial to Swedish children and reduced the severity of common colds, a study published in the European Journal for Nutrition found. Probi Defendum is based on the combination of two strains, Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2. The study was conducted in Sweden during the winter season of 2013 to 2014, in healthy children one to six years old attending daycare. The results show that Probi Defendum may reduce nasal congestion and the need for concomitant medication. The children who took Probi Defendum also showed reduced absence from daycare and reduced severity of “crying more than usual.”

According to a study published in the Molecular Nutrition & Food Research journal, a high intake of nuts may help reduce cognitive decline in elderly people. The International Nut & Dried Fruit Council (INC)-funded research team observed 119 subjects aged 65 and older with dementia in Chianti, Italy. Over the span of three years, 38 participants experienced cognitive decline, with 28 being from the non-nut consumers group and just ten being from the nut consumers group. This indicates nuts’ potential capability in maintaining cognitive function among senior citizens.

The study found that XN and its derivatives show improvements in obesity and metabloic syndrome.Published in the same journal, research at Oregon State University (OSU) suggests that xanthohumol (XN), a compound found in hops, could help address metabolic syndrome and cancer. The results show that XN and two hydrogenated derivatives, α,β‐dihydro‐XN (DXN) and tetrahydro‐XN (TXN), decreased the amount and diversity of microbes, reduced inflammation and changed bile acid metabolism. A reduction in secondary bile acid production and an increase of conjugated bile acids seem to have indicated improved energy metabolism, glucose metabolism and cholesterol metabolism, the study found. 

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) manufacturer Jennewein Biotechnologie GmbH has published the results of its “Growth and Tolerance” study, a clinical trial first launched in July 2018. The study set out to investigate how HMOs affect the development of the intestinal microbiome and whether there is a link between HMOs in breast milk and the intestinal microbiome of children. Its results revealed that fortifying infant food with HMOs is suitable for babies, alleviating a key concern for mothers who cannot or do not wish to breastfeed their children.

In brief: Launches
Canopy Growth Corporation has launched its new portfolio of Cannabis 2.0 products, including its beverages incorporating tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), coined Distilled Cannabis, and CBD-infused chocolates. The company’s R&D team developed a proprietary process that distills whole flower cannabis into a clear liquid, which is used as an active ingredient in a wide variety of its THC- and CBD-infused drinks. In partnership with Hummingbird Chocolate, Canopy Growth successfully brought chocolate back to the former Hershey factory in Ontario, Canada, to create cannabis-infused chocolate.

Dr. Bernd Althusmann, Economy Minister of Lower-Saxony (left) and Dr. Burkhard Lohr, CEO of K+S at the Sigmundshall site.Prosol has launched a new format of its petMOD Leimun complementary feed line. Now featured in a new 100 g jar format, the Leimun line for pet food helps support the normal immune defenses of the animals and support them in periods of convalescence. The new jar is more versatile and offers a larger quantity of the pet food, which facilitates long-term treatments and cost reduction to pet owners. 

In brief: Sustainability
In a bid to address the current challenges climate change presents, minerals company K+S hosted an event congregating stakeholders from politics, science and business scene in Hanover, Germany. The event aimed to foster alliances between industry research and the start-up scene, while simultaneously marking the starting signal for the build-up of the new K+S Innopark in Sigmundshall to develop ideas for agriculture and the food of tomorrow. The company plans to develop concepts for securing world food supplies, technologies and processes. One of the first pilot projects in the new Innopark is a test plant for the cultivation of macroalgae, which are becoming increasingly important as a protein-rich alternative to meat, the company notes.

By Anni Schleicher