Weekly Roundup: Milk Specialties Global pushes into lactoferrin market, Researchers develop at-home diabetes glucose monitor

07 May 2021 --- In nutrition news this week, Milk Specialties Global began marketing its lactoferrin products after investing in its production capacity. Meanwhile, a series of annual meetings decided the future of share pricing and board membership for Lonza, BioGaia and Royal DSM. Also, researchers developed an at-home glucose measurement tool for diabetes patients.

In brief: Business news 
Milk Specialties Global entered the lactoferrin market following a multi-million dollar investment at the company’s Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin facility. Lactoferrin comprises only a tiny portion of the overall whey protein but offers powerful health benefits when concentrated. Lactoferrin is part of Milk Specialties Global’s NutriPRO family of products and comes in a wide range of concentration options – from 0.15 percent purity up to 95 percent purity. Recent studies have brought lactoferrin’s antiviral properties to the forefront, demonstrating that it can favorably influence human cell response to COVID-19 infection, says the company. 

Smarty Pants Vitamins’ new line of sleep aiding supplements for children and adults.Lonza hosted its annual general meeting and reported that shareholders accepted all motions proposed by its board of directors. 47,080,080 shareholders delegated their votes to the independent proxy, representing 63.22 percent of the share capital. Shareholders re-elected all existing board of directors. Albert Baehny was also re-elected as chairman. A dividend of CHF 3.00 (US$3.31) per share will be paid out starting from May 12, 2021.

BioGaia held its general meeting and voted to approve a slew of proposals, including a dividend of SEK 3.41 (US$0.41) per share and a grant of SEK 2.8 million (US$331,168) to The Foundation to Prevent Antibiotic Resistance that BioGaia founded in 2017. The purpose of the foundation is to reduce antibiotic resistance through support to research, education and information activities. The re-election of the board chairman Peter Rothschild and other board members was also confirmed. 

Royal DSM also held its annual shareholder meeting and reached agreements on amendments to its articles of association, adopting financial statements from 2020, and reappointing its managing and supervisory board members. 

In brief: Launches and releases
SmartyPants Vitamins announced it would be expanding its functional supplement portfolio with the launch of “SmartyPants For” functionals line to include Healthy Sleep and Healthy Kids Sleep. These new formulas use clinically tested ingredients focused on supporting relaxation before bedtime and are non-habit forming: melatonin, L-theanine, probiotics, zinc and vitamins B6, C and D3. A melatonin-free SmartyPants Healthy Kids Sleep formula is also available as a herbal and nutrient blend. Agar-based gummies are built with L-theanine, saffron extract, magnesium, chamomile flower and lemon balm extract.

South American plant-based food company Nature’s Heart launched its first line of snack bars in the US, branded Nature’s Heart Crunch. All varieties are non-GMO and certified keto, vegan and gluten-free. Each bag is easily packable, resealable and offers four servings, all under 200 calories. Flavors include Golden Chai Pecan, Everything Bagel Cashew and Blueberry Lemon Chia Crunch. 

In brief: Research and studies
The glucose measuring device developed for diabetes patients.A clinical study showed the visual benefits of BGG and one of Japan’s leading supplement brand’s synergistic combination, containing 200 mg MyrtiPro, which is BGG’s standardized bilberry extract containing 36 percent of anthocyanins by HPLC, 6 mg Astazine natural astaxanthin and 10 mg lutein. The study was done on 44 healthy subjects experiencing eye fatigue during visual display terminal operations who were supplemented for six weeks. Results show that the supplementation improved visual acuity, reduced trouble focusing the eyes and improved in the percentage of pupillary response after use of visual display terminals.

A trial by a clinical research organization by KGK Science Canada showed that Nic’s Keto Diet effectively improves cardiovascular health markers. Healthy men and women with mildly elevated LDL cholesterol levels were examined on a diet over 140 days, showing that participants had a significant 4.41 percent reduction in body fat percentage. Participants’ body weight was also significantly reduced by 8.55 kg. 

US researchers have developed a device that can measure glucose in sweat with the touch of a fingertip. Then a personalized algorithm provides an accurate estimate of blood glucose levels. The invention avoids the pain of finger prick systems that draw blood from consumers and instead uses a touch-based sweat glucose sensor with a polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel on top of an electrochemical sensor, which was screen-printed onto a flexible plastic strip. Researchers hope it will help the 34 million US residents who have diabetes. 

Researchers from Edith Cowan University, Denmark, found that by eating one cup of nitrate-rich vegetables each day, such as leafy greens and beetroot, people can significantly reduce their risk of heart disease. The study examined data from over 50,000 people residing in Denmark and found people who consumed the most nitrate-rich vegetables had about a 2.5 mmHg lower systolic blood pressure and between 12 to 26 percent lower risk of heart disease.

By Louis Gore-Langton