Weekly Roundup: Study finds DuPont's betafin ingredient’s potential to treat obesity

21 Dec 2018 --- This week in nutrition, a DuPont study has found its betafin ingredient to reduce inflammation in mice on a high-fat diet. Artemis International has cemented a partnership with its BerryDark Aronia 15 percent ingredient and Weider’s Artery Health formulation. Lastly, Nestlé research and the University of Lausanne have signed a Ph.D. and MD-PhD framework agreement, which hopes to propel innovative scientific discoveries in the nutrition sphere.

In brief: Research studies
Betafin, part of DuPont’s Danisco portfolio, has significant effects on fat metabolism by reducing inflammation in mice being fed a high fat “western” diet, recent research has found. Betaine, a N-trimethylated amino acid, is produced in various plant species as a response to, for example, environmental stresses such as dehydration. The favorable metabolic changes brought about by betaine in the mice included increasing fat tissue carnitine which may prevent lipid accumulation in fat tissues, and therefore offers potential benefits in reducing obesity, the researchers conclude.

In brief: Mergers, expansions and partnerships
Artemis International, supplier of Aronia extract, powders and concentrates, has cemented a partnership with its BerryDark Aronia 15 percent ingredient and Weider’s Artery Health formulation. Artemis’ offering is a key ingredient in Weider’s Artery Health formulation, helping to ensure its customers maintain proper cardiovascular health, the companies explain. Artemis predicts that Aronia is poised to be “the next big ingredient” for cardiovascular support, with increasing science backing up claims such as cholesterol and blood pressure lowering.

In brief: Miscellaneous
Nestlé research and the University of Lausanne have signed a Ph.D. and MD-PhD framework agreement. The agreement sets the basis for students from UNIL's Faculty of Biology and Medicine to obtain their Ph.D. or MD-PhD title from UNIL while performing their project at Nestlé Research. Nestlé Research, primarily based in Switzerland, performs fundamental science to accelerate the translation of discoveries into “breakthrough innovations.” UNIL students will be able to apply for Ph.D./ MD-PhD training positions within Nestlé Research’s Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS), with the opportunity to carry out projects in areas related to brain health, gastrointestinal health, metabolic health, musculo-skeletal health, nutrition & dietary recommendations, multi-omics profiling and cell biology.