Weekly Roundup: Valensa launches flavor-free Saw Palmetto extract, low-FODMAP diet eases stomach discomfort in runners

22 Feb 2019 --- In nutrition news this week, Valensa launched Microencapsulated USPlus Saw Palmetto lipid extract for testosterone and prostate health benefits in men and Spinato added a broccoli crust base to its range of pizzas. In research news, the phytochemicals in blueberries responsible for their blue color could help lower blood pressure, while a low-FODMAP diet could benefit runners who suffer from gastrointestinal issues while exercising.

In brief: Product launches
Valensa International has launched Microencapsulated USPlus Saw Palmetto lipid extract which aims to help manufacturers deliver the testosterone and prostate health benefits of saw palmetto extract in wider applications. Using a microencapsulation process, Valensa notes that it is the first company to develop a virtually tasteless powder form of saw palmetto which maintains the necessary high profile of fatty acids to deliver health benefits. According to Stephen Hill, Valensa’s Vice President of Quality and Product Development, an estimated three-quarter teaspoon of the microencapsulated extract would meet the daily recommended dose of Saw Palmetto extract to promote prostate health. “This dose in a concentrated, flavor-neutral powder is a tremendous advancement in product innovation and with numerous product applications,” Hill says.

In a nod to the popularity of low-carb diets, US-based Spinato’s has released a new broccoli crust pizza base. The vegetable-based crust is touted as being gluten-free and higher in vitamin D and calcium than other pizza base options due to the addition of carotenoids. The crust is available across four varieties: Slow-roasted Margherita, Mediterranean Supreme, Primavera & Aged Asiago and Romano & Mozzarella.

In brief: Research news
Cutting out specific foods can alleviate the gastrointestinal issues that some people experience while exercising, research from UK University Anglia Ruskin has found. Runners, in particular, can be susceptible to symptoms which are similar to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Previous research has shown that a low-FODMAP diet can help people with IBS. The study’s findings supported that a low-FODMAP diet reduces some of the issues caused by exercise, such as stomach cramps and bloating and improves a person’s perceived ability to exercise. Of the exercising participants, 69 percent of those following a low-FODMAP diet experienced an improvement in symptoms and said they were able to exercise more frequently and at a higher intensity.

Eating 200g of blueberries every day for a month can lead to an improvement in blood vessel function and a decrease in systolic blood pressure in healthy people. Researchers from King's College London (KCL) studied 40 healthy volunteers for one month who were randomly given either a daily drink containing 200g of blueberries or a matched control drink. In a further study, researchers compared the effects of a blueberry drink with those of purified anthocyanins, a type of phytochemical responsible for the blue color in the berries. They also compared this with control drinks containing either similar levels of fiber, mineral or vitamins found in blueberries. Among the essential findings were that the effects on blood vessel function were quickly seen after the consumption of blueberry drinks and were sustained for one month, even after an overnight fast. It was also found that the majority of blood pressure lowering effects came from the anthocyanins. “If the changes we saw in blood vessel function after eating blueberries every day could be sustained for a person's whole life, it could reduce their risk of developing cardiovascular disease by up to 20 percent,” says lead researcher Dr. Ana Rodriguez-Mateos from the Department of Nutritional Sciences at KCL.

In brief: Other news
An “unscrupulous” East London health supplements company that secured £128,000 from elderly and vulnerable customers has been shut down by the British courts. Registered to a residential address in East London, GoNutri Limited wound up in the High Court on 12 February 2019 for trading with a lack of commercial probity, objectionable trading practices and improper sales techniques. Following confidential enquiries, investigators from the Insolvency Service found that GoNutri targeted elderly and vulnerable people, bombarding them with cold calls and high-pressure sales techniques to coerce them to purchase vitamin and mineral supplements. Investigators established that GoNutri targeted circa 409 customers, with an average age of 85, and between May 2016 and June 2018, the health supplements company generated sales of approximately £128,000.