Weekly Roundup: Nuun receives B Corp certification, Cymbiotika unveils capsules for gut and immune support

19 Nov 2021 --- This week in nutrition news, Nuun, a brand of Nestlé Health Science, earned B Corporation (B Corp) certification due to its public transparency and verified standards. Nutritional supplement brand Cymbiotika is releasing Apple Cider Vinegar capsules that enhance metabolic function and digestion. Meanwhile, a study found that higher potassium intake can lower the risk of heart disease.

In brief: Business news
Functional hydration products producer Nuun received B Corp certification after meeting the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. The brand minimized its carbon footprint, waste and production energy while formulating products with a “plants-first” mindset. Earlier this year, Nuun was recognized as a Climate Neutral Certified brand for the second year in a row by Climate Neutral – a nonprofit organization working to decrease global carbon emissions.

In brief: Launches and releases
US-based Cymbiotika unveiled Apple Cider Vinegar capsules that feature chromium and thiamine – two compounds that help support blood sugar and metabolism while managing cravings. The compounds also improve insulin resistance, further supporting those affected by diabetes and high cholesterol. Created from organic apples that have undergone a two-step fermentation process, the capsules contain probiotics that support gut health and immune function.

Premier supplement brand Power Life, founded by celebrity personal trainer Tony Horton, is releasing Power Life Foundation Phytonutrients, the newest addition to performance-enhancing formulas. The formula is designed to assist muscle recovery, support a healthy metabolism and defend against oxidative stress. Ingredients used in the formulation include tart cherry, maqui berry, myo-inositol, d-chiro-inositol and PhytoServ fruit blend.Cymbiotika’s Apple Cider Vinegar capsules improve metabolism by supporting healthy digestion.

In brief: Industry insights
An Almond Board of California-funded study showed that eating almonds as a mid-morning snack, instead of a usual biscuit snack with equal calories, improved participants’ post-snack blood sugar responses and reduced energy intake over the remainder of the day. Therefore, replacing less healthy snacks with almonds may help support weight management efforts and help maintain healthy blood glucose levels. The study was conducted on 100 New Zealand adults aged between 18 and 65 years old. Results showed that the blood sugar response was lower among participants after eating the almond and biscuit snacks.

CBDistillery’s regular strength sleep synergy tincture was found to help people stay asleep, as well as helping 30 to 40 minutes of extra sleep on average. Notably, 81% of participants stated they achieved more quality sleep when using CBDistillery’s regular strength sleep tincture, and 78% would continue to use the tincture after the study. Among the participants, 61% felt refreshed in the morning after using the CBDistillery’s sleep tincture. The results were obtained after a 31-day sleep pathfinder mission in partnership with MoreBetter, an application for individuals to track and improve their use of cannabis and CBD.

In brief: Research and studies
A study funded by the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health found that lower salt consumption and higher potassium intake are linked with lower risk of strokes and heart disease. The study used multiple 24-hour urine collections on more than 10,000 healthy adults over some time. The findings confirm the link between salt intake and strokes and heart disease between the range of 5 g and 15 g per day. Thus, the lower the salt intake, the lower the risk. Potassium – found in fruits, leafy greens, beans and nuts – can help relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure.

Research in mice revealed how diet alters immune system function through a gut microbe. During a Harvard Medical School study, researchers found that what animals consume initiates the release of a metabolic byproduct from a specific gut microbe that, in turn, modulates the animals’ gut immunity. These findings offer a unifying explanation for the complex interplay between diet, gut microbiota and immune function. According to the researchers, if confirmed in larger animals and eventually in humans, the findings can help inform the design of small-molecule treatments that enhance both intestinal and overall immunity.Foundation Phytonutrients are formulated with a combination of plant-based antioxidants that offer support against oxidative stress and aid muscle recovery.

An American Association for the Advancement of Science review attempted to separate fact from fiction for “anti-aging” dietary interventions. For a while, caloric restriction and other dietary interventions have been known to extend life span and delay age-associated disease – at least in laboratory animals – but just how these interventions work remains unclear. The researchers, therefore, explore the fact and fiction of dietary prescriptions for a healthier and longer life. According to researchers, a common mechanism for anti-aging diets may be related to inhibiting the protein kinase mTOR. This evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway may provide a molecular target for drugs that could prove helpful for increasing health longevity in humans. The review concluded that the efficacy and safety of these diets for humans largely remain to be established.

In brief: Announcements and certification
A report from the Center for Science in the Public Interest acknowledged that most K-12 school food nutrition products standards are achievable. The 2021 School Meals Corporate Report Card analyzed 2,000 K-12 products offered by 28 major foodservice companies to see if they met existing requirements. The report found that all companies had over 75% compliance with the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) whole grain-rich requirements for most grain food groups. Companies were either close to or at 100% compliance with USDA’s current sodium targets for lunch.

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), a trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, announced the addition of ten new companies to its membership rolls. The members, added during the second and third quarters of 2021, include an array of supplement manufacturers and service providers and represent a growing CRN membership. The new voting members included are Arbonne International, Bodybuilding.com, Open Book Extracts and Metabolic Maintenance. The associate members joining CRN are Alston & Bird, Atlantia Clinical Trials, Covington & Burling, Creative Services and Scheril Murray Powell’s law office. The CRN Board of Directors also approved Well Peak Biotechnology as a new international member.

By Nicole Kerr