Weekly Roundup: RedLeaf lands US$485,000 for expansion, Clasado Biosciences’ prebiotics eyed for sports

26 Aug 2022 --- In nutrition news this week, RedLeaf received US$485,000 in funding from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board for regional agricultural expansion. A study investigating Clasado Biosciences’s prebiotics found that they may be suitable for aiding athletes’ upper respiratory and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Meanwhile, a study found that in children, a caffeine metabolite may decrease the progression of short-sightedness – myopia.

In brief: Business news
Agricultural technology company RedLeaf Biologics received US$485,000 in funding through the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund (KADF) to expand agriculture and production operations in Kentucky. RedLeaf produces botanical extracts from red sorghum biomass. The financial injection will support its efforts to expand the planted acreage of the RedNatural sorghum variety across central Kentucky and continue to build the infrastructure required for large-scale harvest and processing of the agricultural product. RedLeaf’s proprietary RedNatural sorghum varietal is a non-GMO row crop.

RedLeaf’s funding will be used to expand its agriculture and production operations in Kentucky.GNC strengthened its collaboration with The Honest Company – a brand focused on the clean lifestyle movement – through a retail partnership launching four products. The two companies initially partnered in May by offering six products primarily targeted toward new and expectant mothers. The new supplements include three for general wellness and one for postpartum. The Nightly Sleep Health supplement is formulated with theanine and valerian, which may aid relaxation and improved sleep. The Daily Mood Balance supplement contains a blend of Rhodiola and phosphatidylcholine to aid with daily stress and maintain a stable mood. Meanwhile, the Daily Immune Support and the Postnatal Hair Wellness supplement may support the immune system and improve hair and scalp health, respectively.

Hovione and Zerion Pharma partnered to utilize Zerion’s Dispersome technology that recently expanded to include the nutraceutical and dietary supplement sectors. According to the companies, many dietary supplements have poor solubility. As a result, poor bioavailability reduces the supplement’s potential to have a physiological impact. To overcome these limitations, the two companies will work together to create and market-specific nutraceutical products using the solubility-improving Dispersome technology. Hovione and Zerion will use the Dispersome platform to scale up and develop commercial formulations for a joint development antioxidant, which will then be distributed globally by partners.

In brief: Launches and releases
GNC and The Honest Company added four new supplements, including three that target general wellness and one for postpartum health.Health brand Clean Simple Eats introduced two supplemental drink mixes, Energy and Hydrate, which are touted as suitable for increasing energy levels during workouts. The products contain caffeine, electrolytes and trace minerals. Both drink mixes are available in coconut lime, sour cherry, strawberry watermelon and sweet kiwi flavors. The Hydrate beverage mix may enhance hydration and aid with muscle recovery. Meanwhile, the Energy product may improve exercise performance, intensity and mood.

Wellness company Shaklee released the Essential MultiV drink: a “convenient” peach mango flavored vitamin powder. This supplement drink mix contains essential nutrients that may fill nutritional gaps within diets. The Essential MultiV drink is pegged as a suitable multivitamin solution as it contains essential vitamins and minerals for overall health and well-being. It is a solution for those who prefer alternative delivery forms and those looking for convenient, on-the-go vitamin solutions. It is specifically designed for people who have difficulty swallowing tablets. The company adds that the product contains 17 vitamins and minerals, all eight B vitamins and four major and trace minerals. 

In brief: Research and studies
According to research published in Wiley, Hofseth BioCare’s OmeGo fish oil is the “only commercially available” fish oil that offers all the nutritional benefits of eating whole salmon and particular anti-allergenic benefits provided by a newly discovered lipopeptide. According to the research, OmeGo is described as more effective than krill oil and has better anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities than standard fish oil supplements like cod liver oil and Omega 3 oil, according to the company. In contrast to conventional fish oils, the gentle enzymatic liberation of OmeGo prevents harm to the various polyunsaturated fatty acid elements, according to studies based on two animal models of eosinophilic inflammation. Therefore, it retains the substantial anti-inflammatory benefits linked to eating fresh fish.

A study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology unveiled that the caffeine metabolite 7-methylxanthine (7-MX) may become a beneficial supplement in preventing children from progressing to high myopia. The research involved comprehensive eye exams performed on the children, including axial length measurement. During the study, 624 participants took 7-MX tablets up to 1200 mg daily (average 470 mg), while 87 did not. The results revealed that 7-MX has the potential to be a valuable treatment for a condition for which there are only a few current options if it is shown to be safe and effective in large clinical trials. Myopia, which commonly begins at age six to seven and progresses until age 16 to 20, is a disease in which the eye elongates abnormally, stretching and thinning it. It has a higher chance of developing several diseases such as macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and retinal detachment that impact vision and eye health.

The OmeGo fish oil improves lung, cardiovascular, joint and cognitive performance.A Clasado study, in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University, UK, investigated Clasado Biosciences’ prebiotics and found that they may be suitable for aiding athletes’ upper respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. The findings highlighted the potential role of Clasado’s prebiotics in supporting sports and athletic health. The researchers used a randomized controlled methodology to assess the effects of a 24-week prebiotic intervention on immune markers, upper respiratory symptoms and gastrointestinal symptoms in professional rugby union players. The study’s conclusion shows promising effects in the measured outcomes after a consistent course of prebiotics. The study adds to the portfolio of science behind Bimuno GOS, further solidifying the potential use of prebiotics in formulations that target athletic health.

A US-based University of Delaware study unveiled that recent changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Cash-Value Benefit (CVB), which provides participants with money to spend on fruits and vegetables, have the potential to reduce disparities in healthy food access and food insecurity that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of this study showed that WIC participants strongly support the increase in CVB allotments during the COVID-19 pandemic and that higher CVB allotments increased participants’ purchasing and consumption of fruits and vegetables as their dietary variety. Furthermore, the findings suggest that, while participants appreciated the increased CVB allotment during the COVID-19 pandemic, many believe it should be increased further to meet the needs of their families.

By Nicole Kerr