B2B Nutramedic&Cosmetics No. 7 by InPharma

Nutramedic B2B &Cosmetics No.7 / NOVEMBER 2023

Mental Health / Stress, Anxiety and Sleep Allergens in Cosmetics / Healthy Ageing Synbiotics / Psychobiotics and (second) Brain Low Molecular Weight Collagen

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

Editor's word Dear readers and business partners, I am pleased to present the new issue of B2B Nutramedic&Cosmetics magazine, intended for industry professionals in the health, nutrition and cosmetics sec tor. More than a year has passed since our first issue. Thank to all readers and to all the companies who advertise on our pages. We hope that we meet your expectations with the se lection and preparation of the topics and that the informa tions we bring are useful for your daily work. We would like to thank our advertisers, without whom the re alisation of this project would not be possible, for their com mercial cooperation and for choosing the B2B Nutrame dic&Cosmetics magazine as a suitable medium to present their news, technical papers and innovation presentations to existing and future customers. We'll be happy to hear your wishes and ideas on the topics you would like to read about or on the materials you would like to present to our readers. Until the next edition,

Daria Šurić, MPharm

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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Healthy Ageing and Supplementation

Actiful® Reduces Important Marker for Healthy Ageing

Low Molecular Weight Collagen

Promising Potential of Mobilee®

Contents

Revolutionizing Endurance

What Makes Synbiotics Such an Exciting Prospect?

Darmell

Psychobiotics and Our (Second) Brain

New Probiotic Concept within Cognitive Health

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Fine Foods: A Balance Between Hard and Soft Skills

Levagen+® Positively Impacts URTIs

Sidebyside Capsule Technology

B2B Events Calendar

New Partnership: Centric Software® and FoodChain ID

Eliminating Leaking Softgels

NHCO Nutrition® Lab. and Centric PLM Cooperation

Taking Care of Mental Health

Stress, Anxiety and Sleep

ABG10+® May Improve Blood Pressure Levels

European Patent for Use of Neumentix™

Ferrous Bisglycinate In Pregnancy

Plantbased Protein for Sports Nutrition

ThymoQuin®-OCare for Oral Health

Solution for Cosmetics Technologists

Fragrance Allergens in Cosmetics

Three Skincare Trends for 2024

New Findings for AURIST™ AGC

Planet-friendly Nutrition with Algal Astaxanthin

757 Natural Cosmetics

Photo Herbarium Passiflora

¡Hola Barcelona!: Vitafoods Europe 2025 3

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How Can We Support Healthy Ageing and Longevity with Supplementation? The text discusses the concept of ageing and its hallmarks, emphasizing the importance of healthy ageing and potential supplements to support it. It highlights blueberries, L-carnitine, protein, Coenzyme Q10, NAD, and curcumin as supplements that may positively impact age-related health issues. AUTHOR:

Daria Šurić, MPharm

geing, which we broadly define as the timedependent functional decline that affects most living organisms, has attracted curiosity and excited imagination throughout the history of human kind. Ageing research has experienced an unpreceden ted advance over recent years, particularly with the discovery that the rate of ageing is controlled, at least to some extent, by genetic pathways and bio chemical processes conserved in evolution. The following review1 enumerates nine tentative hallmarks that represent common denominators of ageing in different organisms, with special emphasis on mammalian ageing. These hallmarks are genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, loss of proteostasis, deregulated nutrient-sensing, mi tochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, and altered intercellular communication.

A major challenge is to dissect the interconnect edness between the candidate hallmarks and their relative contribution to ageing, with the final goal of identifying pharmaceutical targets to improve human health during ageing with minimal side-effects1. A global view of the nine candidate hallmarks of ageing enumerated in this review allows grouping them into three categories: primary, antagonistic, and integrative. (Figure 2.) The primary hallmarks' common characteristic is that they are all unequivocally negative. This is the case of DNA damage, including chromosomal aneu ploidies, mitochondrial DNA mutations and telomere loss, epigenetic drift, and defective proteostasis. In contrast to the primary hallmarks, antagonistic hallmarks have opposite effects depending on their intensity. At low levels, they mediate beneficial ef fects, but at high levels, they become deleterious.

Nutramedic &Cosmetics FIGURE 1 The Hallmarks of Aging

The scheme enumerates the nine hallmarks described in this review: genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, loss of proteostasis, deregulated nutrient-sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, and altered intercellular communication.

Taken from López-Otín C, Blasco MA, Partridge L, Serrano M, Kroemer G. The hallmarks of aging. Cell. 2013;153(6):1194-1217. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2013.05.0391

This is the case for senescence, which protects the organism from cancer, but in excess can promote age ing; similarly, reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediate cell signalling and survival, but at chronic high levels can produce cellular damage; likewise, optimal nutri ent-sensing and anabolism is obviously important for survival but in excess and during time can become pathological. These hallmarks can be viewed as de signed to protect the organism from damage or nu trient scarcity, but when exacerbated or chronic, they subvert their purpose and generate further damage. A third category comprises the integrative hall marks, stem cell exhaustion and altered intercellular communication, which directly affect tissue homeo stasis and function. Notwithstanding the intercon nectedness between all hallmarks, we propose some degree of hierarchical relation between them (Figu re 2). The primary hallmarks could be the initiating triggers whose damaging events progressively ac cumulate with time. The antagonistic hallmarks, be ing in principle beneficial, become progressively ne gative in a process that is partly promoted or accele rated by the primary hallmarks. Finally, integrative hallmarks arise when the accu mulated damage caused by the primary and antago nistic hallmarks cannot be compensated by tissue homeostatic mechanisms. Because the hallmarks co- occur during ageing and are interconnected, under standing their exact causal network is an exciting challenge for future work1. The definition of hallmarks of ageing may contribu te to building a framework for future studies on the molecular mechanisms of ageing as well as for de signing interventions to improve human healthspan.

Healthy ageing

Healthy ageing refers to the process of growing older in a way that maintains physical, mental, and emotional well-being and quality of life. It involves adopting a range of lifestyle practices and making informed choices to promote longevity and overall health. Healthy ageing is not just the absence of disease but the presence of a fulfilling and purposeful life as one grows older. It involves taking a proactive ap proach to one's health and well-being and making choices that support a high quality of life in the later years. It's essential to consult with healthcare pro fessionals for guidance and to tailor these principles to individual needs and circumstances.

Supplement’s role in healthy ageing

As we come to understand the mechanisms of ageing in the human body, it becomes easier to de fine potential supplements which could help and support healthy ageing. Some of them will be pre sented in more detail in the following text.

Blueberries

Blueberries are a popular and nutritious fruit known for their sweet taste and numerous health benefits. Blueberries are low in calories and packed with essential nutrients. They are an excellent sour ce of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vi tamin K, and manganese. They are also high in di etary fiber. Blueberries are renowned for their high levels of antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins. These anti

Nutramedic &Cosmetics FIGURE 2 Functional Interconnections between the Hallmarks of Aging

The proposed nine hallmarks of ageing are grouped into three categories. At the top, those hallmarks are considered to be the primary causes of cellular damage. In the middle, are those considered to be part of compensatory or antagonistic responses to the damage. These responses initially mitigate the damage, but eventually, if chronic or exacerbated, they become deleterious themselves. At the bottom, there are integrative hallmarks that are the end result of the previous two groups of hallmarks and are ultimately responsible for the functional decline associated with ageing.

Taken from López-Otín C, Blasco MA, Partridge L, Serrano M, Kroemer G. The hallmarks of aging. Cell. 2013;153(6):1194-1217. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2013.05.0391

oxidants help protect the body from oxidative stress, which can lead to various health issues, including age ing and certain diseases. Blueberries can be supplemented through a blue berry extract, isolated anthocyanins, or frozen or fresh blueberries. The health benefits of anthocyanins have been broadly defined, particularly in the prevention of ox idative stress-related disorders, such as neurodege nerative diseases. Bowtell et al. showed that 12 weeks of daily intake of blueberry concentrate supplementation impro ved the international shopping list task with no sig nificant difference compared to the placebo among 26 healthy older adults. The primary limitation of this study was the small sample size. Thirty millilitres of blueberry concentrate were consumed once per day for 12 weeks and provided 387 mg of anthocyani dins. Chronic supplementation with blueberry con centrate providing 387 mg anthocyanins per day ex erted favourable effects on cerebrovascular and cognitive function in healthy older adults. In conclu sion, blueberry concentrate consumed once per day (30 mL, providing 387 mg anthocyanins) for 12 weeks increased activation of brain areas associated with cognitive processes including memory and execu tive function, which tend to deteriorate with age. These effects of blueberry appear to be mediated by improved vascular function as suggested by the improved resting perfusion of grey matter in the pa rietal and occipital lobes of the brain2. Another study demonstrated that blueberry sup plementation has neurocognitive benefits in middle-

aged individuals with insulin resistance and elevated risk for future dementia. Preliminary studies indi cate that blueberry supplementation can improve cognitive performance and influence metabolism and brain function and therefore may have a role in ear ly intervention to prevent neurodegeneration. The findings suggest that supplementation has the potential for protection against future neuro cognitive decline in vulnerable individuals. Further, the level of blueberry supplementation employed in animal studies typically has not been greater than that employed in the current human trial and would be feasible for most individuals. In addition, we ob tained data concerning mechanistic factors includ ing correction of hyperinsulinemia and possibly be nefits for mitochondrial function. Future research assessing blueberry supplementation over longer pe riods with longitudinal cognitive assessments would be valuable not only to assess its influence on the progression of cognitive decline but also to investi gate further the mechanisms of neurocognitive be nefit. The role of blueberry anthocyanins and proan thocyanidins in the enhancement of metabolic and mitochondrial function seems particularly salient, as these factors are intrinsic to neurodegenerative processes3.

L-carnitine

L-carnitine is an endogenous molecule and is an important contributor to cellular energy metabo lism. It is present ubiquitously in the organism, and the main concentrations are found in the most ac

Nutramedic &Cosmetics tive metabolic tissue, such as the myocardium and skeletal muscle. L-carnitine is indispensable for the transport of long-chain fatty acids across the inner mitochondrial membrane to their site of oxidation and the production of energy in the form of ATP. Among all the substances whose concentration de creases with age, L-carnitine diminution is fundamen tally important, given its function in the production of energy. One of the most important consequences of carnitine deficiency is therefore manifested in the alteration of the metabolic pathways that lead to the production of energy. L-carnitine is a compound produced in the body from lysine and methionine. It is also found in food, primarily in meat products, and can be taken as a supplement. L-carnitine is an amino acid derivative that plays a crucial role in the metabolism of fatty acids. Although the main dietary source of carnitine is meat, people who follow a strict plant-based diet typically do not have a higher risk of carnitine defi ciency because sufficient amounts of carnitine can be synthesized in the body from other amino acids (e.g., lysine and methionine). With age, there can be a decline in the body's natu ral production of L-carnitine. This decline has led to the hypothesis that supplementing with L-carnitine may help counteract some aspects of age-related metabolic changes. However, the scientific evidence supporting this claim is mixed. Mitochondrial dys function is a key factor in the ageing process. Some research has suggested that L-carnitine might sup port mitochondrial function, potentially reducing the impact of age-related cellular damage. However, the extent and significance of these effects remain un certain. It's possible that L-carnitine could support brain health by aiding energy production in brain cells, but more research is needed in this area. L-carnitine has been studied in the context of cardiovascular health. Some studies suggest it may have a positive impact

on factors such as blood pressure and lipid profiles, which are relevant to ageing-related cardiovascular issues. L-carnitine also possesses antioxidant pro perties, which could help reduce oxidative stress and cellular damage associated with ageing. Side effects are generally rare, but some cases of upset stomachs have been reported. Carnitine and its derivatives might interact negatively with some pharmaceuticals, including anticoagulants (such as warfarin). People on thyroid medication or with hy pothyroidism may also wish to forgo carnitine, as it might depress thyroid hormone levels. The placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, 2-phase study that recruited sixty-six centenarians with onset of fatigue after even slight physical ac tivity were recruited to the study. Study results indi cate that oral administration of levocarnitine pro duces a reduction of total fat mass, increases total muscular mass, and facilitates an increased capacity for physical and cognitive activity by reducing fa tigue and improving cognitive functions4.

Protein

In seniors, higher protein intakes are associated with greater muscle mass and greater muscle mass with greater longevity and bone mineral density. Age-related muscle loss, also known as sarcope nia, affects about 50% of males and 70% of females past the age of sixty, but it can start as early as in the twenties. Reduced relative skeletal muscle mass in older Americans is a common occurrence that is signifi cantly and independently associated with function al impairment and disability, particularly in older wo men. These observations provide strong support for the prevailing view that sarcopenia may be an im portant and potentially reversible cause of morbidi ty and mortality in older persons5. Increased intake of protein is recommended for the elderly. In case it is not possible to get enough

Nutramedic &Cosmetics FIGURE 3 The Multiple Roles of Ubiquinone in the Cell

Taken from Barcelos IPd, Haas RH. CoQ10 and Aging. Biology. 2019; 8(2):28. https://doi. org/10.3390/biology80200287

from food sources, it can be supplemented in pow der form. Protein supplements such as whey protein, casein protein, soy protein, pea protein or protein shakes may be considered. These can help older adults meet their protein needs. Combining protein intake with resistance exercise is essential for build ing and maintaining muscle mass in elderly individu als with sarcopenia. Regular strength training can enhance the effects of protein intake. Sarcopenia management should be individualized, taking into account a person's overall health, nutritional status, and specific dietary preferences and restrictions. It's often best to consult with a healthcare profes sional or a registered dietitian for personalized gui dance and protein dosage.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a naturally occurring compound found in every cell of the body. It plays a critical role in producing energy, as it is a key compo nent of the electron transport chain, which is essen tial for generating adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the body's primary source of cellular energy. As indivi duals age, the levels of CoQ10 in the body can decline, and this decline has led to an interest in the poten tial benefits of CoQ10 supplementation, especially in elderly individuals. CoQ10 is involved in the produc tion of ATP, which is necessary for various cellular processes. In elderly individuals, maintaining optimal CoQ10 levels may help support energy production and combat age-related fatigue and reduced physi cal performance. CoQ10 has been studied for its po tential role in supporting cardiovascular health. It may help improve the function of the heart and blood vessels, making it beneficial for elderly individuals who may be at greater risk of heart-related issues. Statin medications, which are commonly prescribed

to lower cholesterol, can deplete CoQ10 levels in the body. Older adults who are taking statins may bene fit from CoQ10 supplementation to help mitigate potential side effects. Dose-dependence is not commonly observed with CoQ10 supplementation and 90 mg tends to be the best cost-effective dose. Higher dosages can be indi cated for some conditions like cardiovascular issues. There is growing evidence that oxidative stress is a major component of cellular senescence6. Oxida tive damage in endothelial cells is proposed to play an important role in endothelial dysfunction and atherogenesis. CoQ10 could be a promising agent for reducing oxidative stress on the cellular level. CoQ10 supplementation has been shown to have epigenetic effects in genes involved with signalling, intermediary metabolism, transport, transcription control, disease mutation, phosphorylation, and em bryonal development indicating a role in the modu lation of gene expression. In addition to its major function in the ETC, CoQ10 has an important anti-ox idant role in stabilizing the plasma membrane and other intracellular membranes protecting mem brane phospholipids from peroxidation. Other func tions include modulation of the permeability transi tion pore, thus playing a role in apoptosis7. CoQ10′s main functions are summarized in Figure 3. There is accumulating evidence that some disea ses of ageing may benefit from supplemental ubiqui nol or CoQ10 treatment. Studies to date have sup ported the safety and the potential of CoQ10 in re ducing oxidative stress biomarkers. There remains a lack of adequate large-scale clinical trials preferably utilizing ubiquinol as the better-absorbed form of CoQ10. Despite the lack of evidence, large numbers of people in the population are taking CoQ10 and other vitamins and cofactors in the hope that these agents will slow senescence and expand longevity7.

NAD/NADH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide)

NAD (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) is a mo lecule that plays a crucial role in various cellular pro cesses, including energy production and DNA repair. It has gained significant attention in recent years for its potential role in promoting healthy ageing. Low NAD levels have been associated with a range of age- related diseases, including neurodegenerative dise ases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, metabolic dis orders, cardiovascular diseases, and more. Research into NAD supplementation aims to explore whether it can mitigate the risk or progression of these dise ases. The cofactor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is an important metabolic regulator of cellular redox reactions and a co-factor or a co-substrate for key enzymes essential for normal cellular function in different tissues. Known as NAD+ in its oxidized state and NADH in its reduced state, it was first de scribed more than a century ago as a molecule in the electron transport chain in the metabolic reduc tion-oxidation reactions in mitochondria. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs), a group of enzymes that catalyze the transfer of ADP-ribose to target proteins, use NAD as a cofactor. PARPs regu late many important cellular functions, including ex pression of transcription factors, gene expression

Nutramedic &Cosmetics and DNA repair. More recent interest in NAD emerged from research into the role of sirtuins, NAD-depen dent deacylases, after the discovery that Sirtuin 2 is an NAD+-dependent histone deacetylase. Sirtuins influence many important cellular processes, inclu ding inflammation, bioenergetics, circadian rhythm generation, and cell growth, all fundamental to cel lular ageing. These pathways place NAD at the cen ter of cellular metabolism, mitochondrial function, and biological processes of ageing. Most human cells must rely on de novo creation of NAD from a variety of building blocks. NAD levels decline with increasing age. Most researchers consider that for NAD or NAD precursors to exert beneficial effects, they must be taken up by cells to participate in pathways relevant to aging and age-related conditions. It remains to be robustly determined as to how oral supplementa tion of NAD produces benefits, as comparatively lit tle work has taken place to characterize NAD+ trans port into cells8.

Curcumin

Curcumin is the primary bioactive substance in turmeric. It has anti-inflammatory properties, and there is decent evidence that it can alleviate various conditions, from chronic pain to depression. Cur cumin has poor bioavailability on its own, and thus it is often combined with Black Pepper or with lipids. Curcuma longa is a flowering plant of the ginger family best known as a spice used in curry. It is a polyphenol with anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to increase the amount of antioxidants that the body produces9. Curcumin, a polyphenol, has been shown to target multiple signalling molecules while also demon strating activity at the cellular level, which has hel ped to support its multiple health benefits10. Cur cumin is one of the most studied supplement ingre dients in various human trials.

A controlled clinical study evaluating the healthpromoting efficacy of lipidated curcumin was done in healthy middle-aged participants (40–60 years old). In this study, the participants were given either lipi dated curcumin (80 mg/day) or placebo for 4 weeks. Curcumin, but not placebo, produced a decrease in salivary amylase and in the plasma levels of trigly cerides, beta-amyloid, and alanine aminotransfer ase. Furthermore, curcumin administration in these participants increased salivary radical scavenging capacities and activities in plasma catalase, myelo peroxidase, and nitric oxide production. Overall, these results demonstrated the health-promoting effects of lipidated curcumin in healthy middle-aged people. Curcumin, but not placebo, produced the following statistically significant changes: lowering of plasma triglyceride values, lowering of salivary amylase lev els, raising of salivary radical scavenging capacities, the raising of plasma catalase activities, lowering of plasma beta-amyloid protein concentrations, lower ing of plasma sICAM readings, increased plasma my eloperoxidase without increased c-reactive protein levels, increased plasma nitric oxide, and decreased plasma alanine aminotransferase activities. The con clusion is these results demonstrate that a low dose of a curcumin-lipid preparation can produce a varie ty of potentially health-promoting effects in healt hy middle-aged people11. An overview of the impact of curcumin on ageing and age-related diseases (ARD) at the organismal and cellular level is summarized in Figure 4. What is the future of curcumin in anti-ageing stra tegy? The positive impact of curcumin on ageing can not be neglected. Undoubtedly, some precautions in curcumin exploitation necessarily take into account the biphasic response due to its hormetic proper ties. Curcumin applied in the diet is beneficial. It can lead to the reduction of low-grade inflammation, which is associated with ageing, and to the allevia tion of symptoms of age-related diseases, including

Nutramedic &Cosmetics FIGURE 3 Overview of the impact of curcumin on ageing and age-related

diseases (ARD) at the organismal and cellular level.

On the organismal level, curcumin mimics caloric restriction (CR) and im proves the effectiveness of physical activity (which in fact mimics CR). The potential senolytic activity of curcumin is still unclear, but curcumin can re duce inflammation and SASP, which are also considered as elements of se notherapy. Moreover, curcumin maintains the diversity of the microbiome and, in turn, the microbiota secrete β-glucuronidase, an enzyme, which, by deglucuronisation increases the level of curcumin in tissues. Curcumin is able to protect against cancer and to reduce the progression of already ex isting tumors. On the cellular level, curcumin elevates the level/activity of some anti-ageing proteins (e.g., sirtuins, AMPK) and inhibits pro-ageing ones (e.g., NF-κB, mTOR). Autophagy, considered as an anti-ageing mechanism, is modulated by curcumin, with the effect of preventing cell senescence. Alto gether, by delaying ageing and ARD, curcumin can elongate the healthspan and probably also the lifespan.

ets, regular physical activity, strong social ties, and a sense of purpose. The concept has inspired many communities and individuals to adopt these princi ples to improve their own health and increase their chances of living longer, healthier lives. Factors that can contribute to longevity include: • Genetics: Your family history and genetic makeup can play a role in how long you may live. Some in dividuals are genetically predisposed to live lon ger than others. • Lifestyle: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can sig nificantly impact longevity. This includes eating a balanced diet, regular exercise, not smoking, and moderate alcohol consumption. • Access to Healthcare: Adequate access to health care and regular check-ups can help catch and ad dress health issues before they become serious. • Mental Health: A positive mental outlook and so cial connections can also contribute to a longer and healthier life.

Conclusion

Food supplements can play a role in promoting lon gevity by providing essential nutrients and compo unds that support overall health. While they are not a magic solution for living longer, they can contribute to a longer and healthier life when used in conjun ction with a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

References: 1

López-Otín C, Blasco MA, Partridge L, Serrano M, Kroemer G. The hallmarks of aging. Cell. 2013;153(6):1194-1217. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2013. 05.039

Joanna L. Bowtell, Zainie Aboo-Bakkar, Myra E. Conway, Anna- Lynne R. Adlam, and Jonathan Fulford. 2017. Enhanced task-related brain activation and resting perfusion in healthy older adults af ter chronic blueberry supplementation. Applied Physiology, Nutri tion, and Metabolism. 42(7): 773-779. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm2016-0550

Krikorian R, Skelton MR, Summer SS, Shidler MD, Sullivan PG. Blue berry Supplementation in Midlife for Dementia Risk Reduction. Nutrients. 2022;14(8):1619. Published 2022 Apr 13. doi:10.3390/ nu14081619

Malaguarnera M, Cammalleri L, Gargante MP, Vacante M, Colonna V, Motta M. L-Carnitine treatment reduces severity of physical and mental fatigue and increases cognitive functions in centenarians: a randomized and controlled clinical trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;86(6):1738-1744. doi:10.1093/ajcn/86.5.1738

Janssen I, Heymsfield SB, Ross R. Low relative skeletal muscle mass (sarcopenia) in older persons is associated with functional impairment and physical disability. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2002;50(5):889-896. doi:10.1046/j.1532-5415.2002.50216.x

Huo J, Xu Z, Hosoe K, et al. Coenzyme Q10 Prevents Senescence and Dysfunction Caused by Oxidative Stress in Vascular Endothe lial Cells. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2018;2018:3181759. Published 2018 Jul 8. doi:10.1155/2018/3181759

Barcelos IPd, Haas RH. CoQ10 and Aging. Biology. 2019; 8(2):28. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8020028

Radenkovic D, Reason, Verdin E. Clinical Evidence for Targeting NAD Therapeutically. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2020;13(9):247. Pub lished 2020 Sep 15. doi:10.3390/ph13090247

Hewlings SJ, Kalman DS. Curcumin: A Review of Its Effects on Hu man Health. Foods. 2017;6(10):92. Published 2017 Oct 22. doi:10.3390/ foods6100092

Gupta SC, Patchva S, Aggarwal BB. Therapeutic roles of curcumin: lessons learned from clinical trials. AAPS J. 2013;15(1):195-218. doi: 10.1208/s12248-012-9432-8

Taken from Bielak-Zmijewska A, Grabowska W, Ciolko A, et al. The Role of Curcumin in the Modulation of Ageing. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(5):1239. Published 2019 Mar 12. doi:10.3390/ ijms20051239

frailty. Moreover, the impact of curcumin on the mi crobiome seems to be very promising in the context of the modulation of the ageing process11.

Longevity

In summary, longevity refers to a long and healthy life, while Blue Zones are specific regions where people tend to live exceptionally long lives due to lifestyle and environmental factors. Blue Zones are regions around the world where people tend to live longer and healthier lives, often well into their 90s or even 100s. These areas were identified by Dan Buettner, a National Geographic fellow, and author12. The term "Blue Zones" comes from the blue circles that Buettner used to mark these regions on a map. Blue Zones provide valuable insights into the com mon habits and practices that seem to promote lon gevity in these areas. These include plant-based di

Nutr J. 2012;11:79. Published 2012 Sep 26. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-11-79

Buettner D, Skemp S. Blue Zones: Lessons From the World's Lon gest Lived. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2016;10(5):318-321. Published 2016 Jul 7. doi:10.1177/1559827616637066

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Menopause is an inevitable event in every woman's life occurring on average around the age of 51. However, menopause symptoms can start much earlier, during perimenopause, when estrogen levels start to decline. The decline in estrogen can also cause a number of health problems later in life, specifically, in postmenopause. At Medex, we have developed BeeHarmony™, an innovative product that combines the healing power of royal jelly and saffron extract to relieve the symptoms of menopause. Royal jelly already has a hormonal effect in bees by influencing the expression of genes that allow the larva to develop into a fertile queen instead of a sterile worker bee. Several clinical studies have shown that royal jelly also has a beneficial effect on hormonal balance in humans. During the fertile period, it alleviates symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in women (Taavoni et al., 2014), and at the end of the fertile period, it helps toalleviate symptoms of menopause (Sharif et al., 2019). The hormonal activity of royal jelly is due to its high content of unique short-chain fatty acids (10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid or 10-HDA), which bind weakly to estrogen receptor beta. In case of estrogen deficiency (menopause), they simulate the action of estrogen and alleviate the symptoms of estrogen deficiency. In the case of too much estrogen (PMS), they block the binding to these receptors, thus alleviating the symptoms of excess estrogen. Similarly, saffron extract has beneficial effects on many aspects of hormonal balance. The most effective is a standardised extract of saffron threads (the orange-red threads in the flower), which helps alleviate symptoms of PMS, depression, improve sleep and in-

crease libido (Hosseini et al., 2007; Pachikian et al., 2021; Kashani et al., 2013, 2016). We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomisedclinical trialwith theBeeHarmony™product cotaining standardised royal jelly and saffron threads extract. The trial involved women aged 45 to 60 with menopausal symptoms. During a period of two months , they took 2 capsules a day and reported monthly the intensity of the eleven most common menopausal symptoms using the internationally recognised MRS questionnaire under the supervision of a gynaecologist. After two months of treatment, the intensity of symptoms in the test group decreased from 53% to 79%. The greatest reductions were in depression, physical and mental exhaustion and dry vagina (70-79% reduction), followed by reductions in rapid heart rate, irritability, anxiety, sexual and urinary problems (60-69% reduction) and hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, joint and muscle problems (50-59% reduction). BeeHarmony™ capsules have proven to be an effective natural aid in alleviating menopausal symptoms.

BeeHarmony – clinical trial

T56

(double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised)

After 56 days of treatment, symptom intensity in the BeeHarmony group was reduced by 53% to 79% percent (compared with symptom intensity at baseline) 60

Total MRS questionnaire score

50 40 30

-54 % -60 %

-53 %

-70 %

-66 %

-69 %

-68 %

-70 %

-79 %

-58 % -61 %

10 0 Hot flashes, sweating

Rapid or irregular heartbeat

Insomnia

Depression

Irritability

Anxiety

Physical and mental exhaustion

Sexual problems

Bladder problems

Dry vagina

Joint and muscle problems

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

Actiful Reduces Methylglyoxal, an Important Marker for Healthy Ageing Actiful® is used globally by leading supplement brands in a vast array of products supporting an active lifestyle and healthy aging. A randomized double blinded crossover study showed the potential of Actiful® as a dietary modulator against advanced glycation end-products (AGEs).

randomized double blinded crossover study performed by Maastricht University, showed the potential of Actiful® as a dietary modula tor against advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). AGEs are associated with various age-related chronic diseases. After a 4-week period of Actiful® consump tion in healthy elderly subjects, plasma levels of meth ylglyoxal (MGO) decreased significantly by 9.8% (p = 0.042). These new clinical results highlight Actiful®’s potential to mitigate age-related diseases like dia betes, vascular dysfunction and neurodegeneration.

Actiful®: an energy-boosting ingredient developed by BioActor

Actiful® is a clinically validated blend of Citrus si nensis (sweet orange) and Punica granatum (pomegra nate) extracts. These plants are abundant in bioac tive polyphenolic components, mainly flavonoids1,2. Actiful® has a dual mode of action: by increasing syn thesis of nitric oxide and by improving ATP produc tion through an increased mitochondrial respiration efficiency3. In the first clinical study, Actiful® demon strated to improve energy, mood and antioxidant sta tus in healthy elderly individuals. Actiful® is used glo bally by leading supplement brands in a vast array of products supporting an active lifestyle and healthy aging.

The study: A Citrus and Pomegranate Complex Reduces Methylglyoxal in Healthy Elderly Subjects: Secondary Analysis of a Double-Blind Randomized Cross-Over Clinical Trial Introduction This study4 was published in the International Jour nal of Molecular Sciences . It focuses on the evalua tion of additional biomarkers and the effect of Actiful® in reducing the concentrations of reactive α-dicar bonyl compounds (specifically methylglyoxal, glyox al, and 3-deoxyglucosone) in the blood of healthy el derly participants. These α-dicarbonyls are known to contribute to the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), which are associated with vari ous chronic diseases, including diabetes and cardio vascular diseases5.

Methods Thirty-six healthy elderly subjects were recruited for this double-blind, randomized crossover clinical trial. They received either 700 mg of Actiful® in cap sules, or a placebo for four weeks, with a 4-week washout period in between. Blood samples were collected during the test day to measure α-Dicarbonyls in plasma. This was achie ved via ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Results A significant reduction in plasma methylglyoxal concentrations was observed during a 4-week sup plementation period. This reduction suggests a po tential benefit in terms of reducing the formation of harmful AGEs, which could be attributed to the anti oxidant properties of the active compounds in the supplement. The observed reduction in methylgly oxal was around 9.8%, which could be of clinical rele vance in preventing or managing age-related condi tions related to AGEs formation, like cardiovascular related diseases, diabetes and neurodegeneration. This confirms the importance of exploring promis ing nutraceuticals like Actiful® as potential healthy ageing strategies to mitigate the impact of reactive α-dicarbonyl compounds on health.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the great potential of Actiful® for playing a role in healthy ageing. This is in dicated by the significant reduction in AGEs, specifi cally MGO, found in the present study. Read the complete publication: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/17/13168

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

Low Molecular Weight Collagen – the Future of Collagen Hydrolysate Collagen tri- and dipeptides have been identified as bioactive components of collagen food supplements, mediating beneficial health effects e.g. in joints, muscle, bone, and skin. Low molecular weight (LMW) collagen contains a high amount of bioactive peptides that are quickly absorbed, highly bioavailable, stable, and actively transported to the skin. LMW collagen (<1000 Da) is a promising food supplement, especially for skin healthcare.

s part of an active lifestyle, many consumers choose collagen-enriched diets to support healthy aging, skin beauty or overall mobility and fitness. While beneficial effects of standard molecular weight (SMW) collagen hydrolysate food supplements have long been supported by scientific data, recent studies on its mode of action reveal a central role of small bioactive collagen di- or tripep tides. Highly efficient low molecular weight (LMW) collagen hydrolysate with a favorable peptide pro file, quick uptake, and high bioavailability appears to be the next generation food supplement. Collagen hydrolysates are produced from animal tissues in a multi-step process that involves gela ti nization and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis of na tive collagen, yielding peptides with an average mo lecular weight of approximately 3 kDa (SMW). Tailored enzymatic digestion with collagenase during this process preserves the collagen-specific sequence Gly-Pro-Hyp (GPH) and yields a LMW hy drolysate that is enriched with this bioactive tripep tide that exerts beneficial effects in various tissues, including skin, muscles, joints or bones.1,2,3 This short review provides a brief overview of re cent findings regarding uptake, bioavailability, mo

de-of-action, and efficacy profile of bioactive pep tides in LMW collagen hydrolysates.

Uptake & bioavailability

A study on rats with radioactively marked Carbon (14C) as tracer could map LMW collagen in muscles, joints, bones and cartilage where it remains while disappearing in plasma and organs.4 Radioactivity is retained at a high level in the skin until 14 days after administration (70% of the level observed at 6 h). Human trials focussing on GPH have found that af ter ingestion, the tripeptide is very efficiently ab sorbed, rapidly transported into the blood and de tectable in a dose-dependent manner in plasma and skin. 2,5 In the skin GPH is further hydrolyzed to the bioactive dipeptide Pro-Hyp (PH). While SMW collagen is degraded in the gastrointestinal tract but not readily cleaved into bioactive peptides, GPH and PH enriched in LMW collagen easi ly cross the intestinal barrier into the blood stream via the peptide transporter PEPT1 and remain intact over the entire gastrointestinal pathway.1,4,5 The method of collagen hydrolysate preparation apparently influences the peptide profile in the blood stream. 2,5

Target tissues and mode of action

Collagen tri- and dipeptides are stable, quickly absorbed and bioactively available at target organs, such as skin, muscles, joints and bones.

Several physiological activities of metabolized collagen di- and tripeptides have been described: Cardiovascular system: In vivo studies found that collagen tripeptides inhibit thrombosis, decrease the number of macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques and can reduce blood pressure.6,7,8 Joints & Bones: One of the most established bene fits of collagen hydrolysate is the promotion of joint and bone health and regeneration (reviewed by Mos kowitz).9 The specific effect of bioactive collagen peptides has been shown, e.g. by Watanabe-Kamiya ma et al. who demonstrated that an oral administra tion for 20 weeks improves bone composition with an increase in organic substance.4 Collagen tripepti des have also been shown to reduce inflammation and

Nutramedic &Cosmetics SMW products, including quicker and more efficient peptide uptake, higher bioavailability, as well as en hanced stability and efficacy, especially in the skin.

References:

stimulate cartilage formation and bone healing.10,11,12 Skin: The support of skin health by collagen food supplementation is well documented in the litera ture (reviewed by Sibilla et al.).13 Regarding bioactive collagen di- and tripeptides there appears to be a triple mode of action: Induction of collagen expression via the p38 MAPK pathway,14 providing free amino acids as building blocks for the formation of collagen and elastin fi bers, and acting as ligands for fibroblast receptors, stimu lating growth, the production of new collagen and hyaluronic acid synthesis. 2,15,16,17,18 In clinical stu dies, collagen tripeptides could improve skin elastici ty and hydration and were effective in wrinkle re duction and the promotion of wound healing (re viewed by Choi).18 The efficacy of a collagen hydroly sate appears to be proportional to its concentration of bioactive peptides.

Final remarks

Until now, all manufacturers of hydrolyzed colla gen have focused on optimizing the organoleptic charac teristics of the supplement, achieving the best smell and taste in standard molecular weights. Viscofan has developed a LMW collagen hydrolysa te taking into account all scientific insights and focus sing on the desired effects – even though the supple ment has undesirable organoleptic characteristics (bitterness/acidity) that can be masked using availa ble technologies or different pharmaceutical forms.

Sontakke S B et al., 2016, Orally Available Collagen Tripeptide: En zymatic Stability, Intestinal Permeability, and Absorption of GlyPro-Hyp and Pro-Hyp; J Agric Food Chem., 64:7127−7133

Yazaki M et al., 2017, Oral Ingestion of Collagen Hydrolysate Leads to the Transportation of Highly Concentrated Gly-Pro-Hyp and Its Hydrolyzed Form of Pro-Hyp into the Bloodstream and Skin; J Ag ric Food Chem, 65:2315−2322

Choi S Y et al., 2014, Effects of collagen tripeptide supplement on skin properties: a prospective, randomized, controlled study; J Cosmet Laser Ther, 16: 132−137

Watanabe-Kamiyama M et al., 2010, Absorption and effectiveness of orally administered low molecular weight collagen hydrolysate in rats; J Agric Food Chem, 58(2):835-841

Yamamoto S et al., 2015, Absorption and plasma kinetics of colla gen tripeptide after peroral or intraperitoneal administration in rats; Biosci Biotechnol, Biochem, 79:2026−2033

Hongdong S et al., 2022, Tripeptide Hyp-Asp-Gly from collagen pep tides inhibited platelet activation via regulation of PI3K/Akt-MAPK/ ERK1/2 signaling pathway; https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.16215

Ichimura T et al., 2009, Antihypertensive effect of enzymatic hy drolysate of collagen and Gly-Pro in spontaneously hypertensive rats; Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 73:2317–2319

Tang L et al., 2015, Effects of oral administration of tripeptides de rived from type I collagen (collagen tripeptide) on atherosclerosis development in hypercholesterolemic rabbits; J Biosci Bioeng, 119: 558–563

Moskowitz R W, 2000; Role of collagen hydrolysate in bone and joint disease; Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism, Vol. 30(2):8799. WB Saunders

Kouguchi T et al., 2012, Chicken collagen hydrolysate-derived pep tides inhibit tumor necrosis factor-α-induced inflammatory re sponse in endothelial cells; Food Sci Technol Res, 18:667–671

Nakatani S et al., 2009, Chondroprotective effect of the bioactive peptide prolyl–hydroxyproline in mouse articular cartilage in vi tro and in vivo; Os- teoarthritis Cartilage, 17:1620–1627

Hata S et al., 2008, Effect of oral administration of high ad vanced-collagen tripeptide (HACP) on bone healing process in rat; J Hard Tissue Biol, 17:17–22

Sibilla S et al., 2015, An overview of the beneficial effects of hydro lysed collagen as a nutraceutical on skin properties: Scientific back ground and clinical studies; The Open Nutraceuticals Journal, 8:29-42

Morikiri Y et al., 2018, The collagen-derived compound collagen tripeptide induces collagen expression and extends lifespan via a conserved p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade; Bio chem Biophys Res Comm, 505 (4):1168-1173

Yasutaka S et al., 2009, Effect of Prolyl-hydroxyproline (Pro-Hyp), a Food-Derived Collagen Peptide in Human Blood, on Growth of Fibroblasts from Mouse Skin; J Agric Food Chem, 57:444–449

Ohara H et al., 2010, Collagen-derived dipeptide, proline–hydroxy proline stimulates cell proliferation and hyaluronic acidsynthesis in cultured human dermal fibroblasts; J Dermatol, 37: 330–338

Sato K et al., 2020, Collagen-Derived Di-Peptide, Prolylhydroxy proline (Pro-Hyp): A New Low Molecular Weight Growth-Initiating Factor for Specific Fibroblasts Associated With Wound Healing; Frontiers in Cell and Develop- mental Biology, 8:548975

Choi S Y et al., 2014, Effects of collagen tripeptide supplement on skin properties: a prospective, randomized, controlled study; J Cosmet Laser Ther, 16:132−137

Conclusion

SMW collagen hydrolysate is an evi dence-based oral health food supplement. The current body of lite rature supports that its beneficial effects are most ly mediated by metabolized bioactive collagen trior dipeptides, in particular GPH or PH. LMW collagen hydrolysate with a high concentration of these characteristic peptides has major advantages over

Naturin Viscofan GmbH Badeniastraße 13, 69469 Weinheim, Germany T. +49 6201 86 358 contact@collinstant.com www.collinstant.com

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

Promising Potential of ® Mobilee in Muscle Health New research indicates that Mobilee® – Bioiberica’s hyaluronic acid matrix ingredient for mobility – supports muscle health and may play a role against sarcopenia – a progressive musculoskeletal disorder characterised by loss of muscle strength, mass and function.

he results, which were presented at the world’s leading clinical conference for bone, joint and muscle health, WCO-IOF-ESCEO (4-7 May, Bar celona), highlight the exciting potential of Mobilee® in nutritional solutions targeted towards muscle health, and overall mobility. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the effect of Mobilee® on muscle health specifically, using in vitro models of health and sarcopenia. Myo cytes (muscle cells) were treated with 6 µg/mL di gested Mobilee® for 24 hours. Effect in muscle ho meostasis (measured by assessing the proliferation and hyperplasia of myocytes) and protection against muscle damage and atrophy were evaluated. The re sults showed that Mobilee® promoted myocyte hy perplasia (increase in myocyte size) by 7% and myo cyte proliferation (production of new cells) by more than 20%. The ingredient also showed an effect against muscle atrophy, muscle damage and cell death in the sarcopenia model. “We are one of the first organisations to explore the role of hyaluronic acid-rich solutions on muscle health,” says Daniel Martinez-Puig, Head of R&D Hu man Health, Bioiberica. “Mobilee® is the result of 15plus years of research and development and is back ed by robust scientific research demonstrating its unique benefits in joint and muscle health. This lat est evidence points towards its potential to play a supportive role in muscles too; where it may be ef fective for balancing muscle cell turnover and protect

ing against common characteristics of sarcopenia.” Jaume Reguant, Healthcare Director, Bioiberica adds: “Western societies are ageing and there is a progres sive rise in the prevalence of muscle disorders, like sarcopenia – which significantly impact an individu al’s overall mobility, independence and quality of life. Simultaneously, there is a greater focus on exercise and remaining active, both in younger, healthier po pulations and older generations. Consumers recog nise that good mobility goes beyond looking after joint health alone and they understand that nutritio nal support can aid their mobility. With this in mind, it’s an exciting time to innovate with a premium, ea sy-to-formulate ingredient, like Mobilee®. It taps into multiple market trends and consumer preferences – from the active nutrition movement to rising demand for multi-ingredient solutions that bring holistic health benefits, as well as increasing appetite for conveni ent, low dose and science-backed products.” Mobilee® is the first hyaluronic acid matrix ingre dient available for innovation in the mobility market; demonstrated to support joint and muscle health at a low dose of only 80 mg/day. A patented ingredient made up of three naturally-occurring components – hyaluronic acid (60-75%), polysaccharides and colla gen – Mobilee® is powering new advancements in the joint and muscle health and mobility categories. It is suitable for dietary supplement and functional food applications. www.bioiberica.com

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

Revolutionizing Endurance GELITA introduces PeptENDURE®, the first collagen protein solution for enhanced endurance performance.

ELITA, the innovation leader in collagen pep tides, is launching a new ingredient that ele vates the body’s ability to train harder and go further. PeptENDURE® is the market’s first collagen pro tein that enhances the effects of endurance train ing long-term and increases performance as a result of adaptive changes in the muscles. It therefore of fers a foundational, lasting change strategy, rather than a quick fix. The neutral-tasting powder can be used in a variety of ways, including supplement pow ders, RTD concepts, gels and bars. PeptENDURE® is first releasing in the United States and Europe. PeptENDURE® are Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP®) that improve endurance performance by positively influencing metabolic processes. This is supported by two RCT studies (one in men, one in women) where study participants took either 15g PeptENDURE® or a placebo daily for 12 weeks alongside resistance and endurance training 3 times a week. Results showed that the PeptENDURE® groups we re able to increase the distance run in a one-hour time trial significantly compared to the placebo group: the men by an average of 662m, the women by 331m. Additionally, both PeptENDURE® groups had an in crease in distance of more than 14 percent over the baseline run. Participants also showed improved en ergy metabolism and significant improvements in body composition, with reductions in fat mass among both men and women.

PeptENDURE® is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), certified kosher, non-GMO, and gluten-free. Further, it is accepted by the World Anti-Doping Agen cy (WADA). As a natural ingredient, it is free from E-numbers and suitable for clean label products. GELITA is excited to be offering brands a new in gredient that will help them leverage a white space in the buoyant global sports nutrition market. Cur rently valued at around USD 40bn, the market is ex pected to grow at a CAGR of around 8 percent bet ween 2023 and 2030.1 1

https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/ sports-nutrition-market-1532.

www.Gelita.com

Versatile to use

The benefits of these novel BCP® are relevant to participants in any sport that requires sustained performance – from endurance sports like distance running and triathlon to team events like football and hockey and high-intensity gym-based activities like rowing. PeptENDURE® can be used in various ap plications, such as powder, beverages, gels and sport bars. It combines easily with other nutrients, has ex cellent bioavailability and its safety is well docu mented in human and animal studies. To achieve re sults, it should be consumed daily. Martin Walter, GELITA Category Manager Healthy Aging & Sports Nutrition, says: “PeptENDURE® offers a whitespace opportunity for manufacturers to tar get a broader range of consumers with a wider spec trum of benefits than typically associated with pro tein and/or collagen. As a daily use product, it also promotes long-term brand loyalty.”

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

What Makes Synbiotics such an Exciting Prospect? Synbiotics represent a growing area in the quest for better gut health, with an 8.2% projected annual growth rate. The gut-brain axis may open opportunities for synbiotics to support cognitive health, making it a core commercial opportunity for health and nutrition brands and formulators. AUTHOR:

Per Rehné, Clasado Biosciences, CEO

he future of health and nutrition is undoub tedly intertwined with the gut microbiome, a complex community of microbes residing in our digestive system. As scientific understanding deepens and the gut health field advances, we are understanding more about how this intricate ecosystem of bacteria, vi ruses, and fungi not only influences digestive health but also plays a pivotal role in overall well-being. Certain types of bacteria in the gut microbiome, known as beneficial bacteria or more colloquially as ‘good’ gut bacteria, are known to have particular health benefits to the host. Through gut bacteria’s interplay with the body, the benefits of a well-supported gut in addition to digestive health - include supporting the body’s natural defences in the immune system, and interestingly, cognition and mental health. We are fast approaching an industry tipping point in consumer awareness of the gut microbiome's im portance, and the demand for better gut health sup port in the form of nutraceuticals is on the rise. So, what do health and nutrition formulators need to look out for? One rapidly category is synbiotics, and it’s a clear area of opportunity. The category is poised to further advance gut health support by combining the benefits of prebiotics and probiotics in a single formulation. Prebiotics play an important role in the future of health and nutrition and com bining them into Synbiotics futher leverages the po tential benefits, so let’s explore what they are, their potential, and the opportunities they present for health and nutrition formulators.

The evolving nature of synbiotics

The term 'synbiotic' originates from the Latin words 'syn' and 'biotic,' meaning united or combined and re ferring to biological material, specifically bacteria. The current definition of a synbiotic, according to ISAPP (International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics), is a combination of prebiotics and probi otics in one product, designed to confer a specific health benefit to the host. Interestingly, this defini tion could expand in the future, to also cover the in clusion of other elements, such as postbiotics. These combinations harness the scientific bene fits of both prebiotics and probiotics in one product, increasing the population of beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome and nourishing them at the same time,

ultimately supporting overall wellbeing. At present, there are two acknowledged types of synbiotics - syn ergistic synbiotics and complementary synbiotics. Synergistic synbiotics involve live probiotics and co-administered prebiotic substrates, working to gether to provide targeted benefits. Conversely, com plementary synbiotics have each component work ing independently, with the prebiotic supporting re sident beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Synbiotics: an industry tipping point

For health and nutrition formulators, the market has to be available and ready; it’s no use harnessing the latest in gut health science if it can’t directly meet the needs of a proactive health audience. The synbiotic category shines and is set for rapid expan sion globally. While both prebiotic and probiotic products are proving successful in their own right, synbiotics of fer a unique opportunity to combine multiple empiri cally proven products into one convenient supple ment for consumers. By combining scientifically sub stantiated pre and probitics and testing the combi nation, formulators can produce a finished product that can be scientifially substantiated and which may confer additional benefits. Indicating the scale of the opportunity, research firm Mordor Intelligence predicts a robust 8.2% com pound annual growth rate (CAGR) for synbiotics un til 2027, suggesting the ideal time for formulators to explore this category is now.

Evidence meets convenience

Key to unlocking the potential of synbiotics is un derstanding the evolving needs of today's health- conscious consumers. With increasingly busy life styles, consumers seek convenience and simplicity in product delivery methods, underpinned by clear scientific evidence. Multivitamins, for example, have been successful in providing consumers with a com prehensive solution to meet their daily nutritional requirements without the hassle of taking multiple supplements individually. In the same vein, synbiotics offer a holistic ap proach to gut health by addressing both the reple nishment of beneficial bacteria and the nourishment of existing gut flora. This convergence of conve nience-seeking consumers and growing gut health

Nutramedic &Cosmetics awareness creates an exciting opportunity for health and nutrition brands, to tap into an engaged and proactive health market. As we are learning about beneficial bacteria in the gut, there is the opportunity to develop synbiotics for more targeted health applications. One fascinat ing route is in supporting cognitive health. The brain and the gut have a bi-directional rela tionship, known as the ‘gut-brain axis’. This system can exchange signals through the central and enter ic nervous systems and goes some way to explaining why emotions are so often connected with the gut, such as having nausea or being sick when worried, or ‘butterflies in the stomach’ when nervous. As the synbiotic category develops, it could well expand into cognitive health, with supplements designed to support better mental health by supporting the gutbrain axis. Our partnership with probiotic expert, Probi AB, has led to the co-creation of proven synergistic and complementary synbiotics. Available as complete ‘off the shelf’ standalone solutions, the scientific legwork has already been done, making the combinations of Bimuno® GOS and Digestis® and Bimuno® GOS and Defendum® great ‘plug in and play’ options for for mulators. Science and evidence must be at the heart of new product development, ensuring that products like Bimuno® GOS, which selectively nourishes beneficial gut bacteria associated with digestive health, immu ne function, and cognition, are comprehensively stud ied and proven. In fact, the combination of Bimuno® GOS and Digestis® is backed by close to 300 scienti fic publications, showing how simple it can be to put science at the centre of new product formulations.

The future of gut microbiome modulation

It’s an exciting era in the nutritional industry, and the future of health could lie in the modulation of the gut microbiome. As the synbiotic category emerges - just one example of the power of ‘biotics’ - it's clear that formulators can capitalise on enormous com mercial viability. At Clasado, we’ve seen the formation of this mar ket, and its subsequent eruption, first-hand. We have made our name as the go-to partner in prebiotics, with the most comprehensively studied prebiotic in gredient of its kind. Our focus on research has led to Bimuno® GOS being the subject of more than 110 stud ies on its efficacy and safety, including more than 20 clinical trials. From our key position in the nutraceu tical supply chain, we’re excited to see how busines ses capitalise on the remarkable potential of the syn biotic category in the months and years to come. If newly developed products can be underpinned with robust scientific backing, formulators can make the most of this emerging category and deliver key first-to-market products. Synbiotics have the po tential to revolutionise gut health and overall well being by speaking directly to the needs of today’s health audience, creating a brighter and healthier future for us all. Health and nutrition brands and for mulators take note; the synbiotic category is not just 'one to watch,' but a core commercial opportuni ty not to be missed. www.clasado.com

Darmell

Expert in the Nutritional Supplements Field

holistic approach to health has always been our first choice when it comes to ways to support it. Nutritional supplements are an extremely important factor that can contribute to maintaining optimal health and are a good ally in the fight against various health disorders. That is why professional path of Darmell is focused on developing new nutri tional supplements and informing interested industry workers about ingredients, evidence of effectiveness, news, regulation and other relevant information in the field. By combining many years of business experience, continuous acquisition of knowledge and cultivating business acquaintances, we are able to provide a vari ety of services. Services we offer: • Consulting in the elaboration of ideas and concepts for the development of new products - from the selection of ingredients to the launch of the finished product, with the help of finding the appropriate manufacturer of medicinal forms. • Consulting related to the registration of dietary supplements. • Writing content for various purposes, in the field of dietary supplements and functional foods, related to individual ingredients and finished products. • Help in finding a suitable distributor for finished products. We also actively deal with: • Representing renowned companies producing branded ingredients/raw mate rials for nutritional supplements. • Publishing professional publications in the field of nutritional supplements, functional food and cosmetics. Darmell Ltd. 20+ years of experience in developing new concepts for food supplements Mob: + 385 91 68 12 444 darmell@protonmail.com www.dar-mell.com

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

Psychobiotics and Our (Second) Brain

Modern science is researching the complex connection between the gut and the brain and the development of psychobiotics, microorganisms that can have a positive effect on mental health. Research to date shows that psychobiotics support the digestive system and help to reduce mental fatigue and a general feeling of tiredness, thus promoting overall mental health.

E AUTHOR:

Andrija Karačić, M.D., specializing in abdominal surgery and the founder of the Gut Microbiome Center in Zagreb

ven with significant advances in science, we still do not fully understand how the human brain functions. Emotional health, psychologi cal, and neurodegenerative diseases remain areas filled with mysteries and open questions. However, it becomes even more complex when we include the so-called second brain in the story. Modern science claims that we possess not one but two brains. The popular term "second brain" refers to an indepen dent, complex nervous system in the lining of our in testines. The first and second brains communicate with each other through different neurohumoral signals via the gut-brain axis. This means that both the brain and the intestines quickly learn when their partner on the other side of the axis is in trouble. Today, scientists and clinicians, in addition to dis covering how the gut-brain axis functions, are also working on finding methods to treat this axis and re lated diseases. Cognitive-behavioural psychothera py, antibiotics, and faecal transplantation are often mentioned in this context. A less radical but equally effective method could be the use of psychobiotics.

Have you heard of psychobiotics?

Considering that many scientific papers have been published on the topic of probiotics and the gut-brain axis, the field of psychobiotics has only "exploded" in

the last decade. Before 2013, there was not a single scientific paper on this topic, and in 2022, as many as 72 publicly available scientific papers were publi shed exclusively on the topic of psychobiotics. Psychobiotics were defined by a group of scien tists from the University of Cork in Ireland, a leading global centre for studying the gut-brain axis, as far back as 2013. Similar to probiotics, psychobiotics are living microorganisms that, when ingested in suffi cient quantities, have beneficial effects on the body. In the case of psycho-probiotics, they have an impact on mental health. This subset of probiotics has the capacity to produce and deliver neuroactive substan ces, neurotransmitters, and neuromodulators such as serotonin, the "happiness" hormone, and GABA. Because of this, these microorganisms can influen ce the functioning of the gut-brain axis, primarily the function of the vagus nerve. In addition to the vagus nerve as the main anatomical axis of the gutbrain connection, psychobiotic metabolites reach the "first" brain through circulation, or indirectly through the spinal cord, or directly through the blood-brain barrier. In addition to the secretion of neuroactive metabo lites, psychobiotics achieve their effects through anti- inflammatory actions and by their ability to reduce the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis due to the neuroendocrine action of their metabolites.

Nutramedic &Cosmetics At that time, the definition of psychobiotics was primarily based on the results of preclinical re search on laboratory animals, which suggested the potential of psychobiotics in the treatment of de pression and anxiety. In humans, the effects of psy chobiotics have been mainly investigated in collabo rative psychiatry, particularly in the treatment of so matic diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome. These days, we already have the first meta-analy ses in the field of psychobiotics. Several meta-ana lyses have pointed to the effectiveness of psychobi otics in reducing symptoms of depression. For in stance, one meta-analysis of 10 randomized place bo-controlled studies that investigated the impact of psychobiotics in alleviating symptoms of major depressive disorder showed that psychobiotics are indeed significantly more effective than a placebo, especially in male patients and with longer-term therapy. However, a meta-analysis of 12 randomized placebo-controlled studies did not demonstrate the same effectiveness of psychobiotics in treating an xiety, similar to the meta-analysis on psychobiotics in the treatment of anxiety in young individuals. A review of the literature gives the impression that psychobiotics are more effective in treating depres sion than anxiety. It is believed that psychobiotics are particularly effective in treating depression be cause their anti-inflammatory action influences its inflammatory component. On the market, there are products that contain psychobiotics whose efficacy has been scientifically proven. OMNi-BiOTiC® STRESS contains 9 different bacte rial strains of human origin, the effectiveness of which has been scientifically demonstrated through clinical studies. Numerous research studies have shown its positive impact not only on gastrointesti nal issues but also on reducing mental fatigue and overall tiredness, as well as on improving sleep. The addition of B-group vitamins, it protects cells from oxidative stress and contributes to normal psycho logical function and the normal functioning of the nervous system, normal metabolism, energy pro duction, reduction of fatigue and exhaustion, and the normal function of the immune system.

References:

Dinan et al., 2013, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23759244/ Misera et al., 2021, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34681176/ Liu et al., 2018, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29995348/ Kadosh et al., 2021, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34131108/ Nadeem et al., 2019, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30499231/ Sikorska et al., 2023, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36834489/

Centar Mikrobiom d.o.o. Sky Office, Toranj B R. F. Mihanovića 9, Zagreb, Croatia Mob.: + 385 98 13 73 344 Tel.: + 385 1 78 99 694 https://www.ccm.hr/

New Probiotic Concept within Cognitive Health Probi® Sensia offers a diversified solution for a wide range of consumer needs, from dietary supplements to functional foods and beverages.

ental health supplements have emerged as the fastest-growing benefit within the global dietary supplements market. Over five years (20172021), we’ve seen a 30 percent growth in probiotic launches positioned within Brain-Mood Health1, showing how psychobiotics is a fast-rising niche2. Within the scientific community, the connection between gut and neurocogni tive functions has been a major research topic during the last couple of years. Stress, anxiety and depression-like symptoms were the first to be addressed, but today there are more and more research being carried out in healthy individuals, as the focus has shifted towards finding solutions to the “everyday” issues that many of us struggle with - poor sleep quality, moody-behavior and issues with cog nitive functions such as memory and focus. Probi® Sensia is a new probiotic concept by Probi® based on clinical and scien tific data that supports improved cognition by boosting learning and working memory as well as improved mood and sleep. These cognitive functions are im portant in enhancing people´s overall mental health. The new probiotic solution is available to meet diverse consumer needs, supported by global health-related claims and customizable with local support. Furthermore, it can be combined with selected vitamins, minerals or other ingredients, and is ideal for dietary sup plement formats like capsules, stick packs and functional foods such as beverag es and powder products. Probi® Sensia is based on the well-documented probiotic strain Lactiplantiba cillus plantarum HEAL9 (HEAL9™). Three clinical studies and totally five scientific articles have repeatably showed that intake of HEAL9™ affects the so-called gut- brain axis in a positive way. The clinical endpoints include decreased cortisol and stress-induced inflamma tion in chronically stressed but otherwise healthy students, as well as decreased symptoms of depression and anxiety. In the latest publication healthy individuals with moderate stress were evaluated. Improved memory and cognitive function, improved sleep quality and decreased daytime dysfunction, as well as improved mood was found after intake of the HEAL9™ strain. “We are proud to launch our new concept Probi® Sensia, based on a strong clini cally proven effect, which optimizes and maintains important cognitive functi ons such as memory as well as mood, sleep and stress. With Probi® Sensia we now offer a wide-ranging solution to help our customers to meet diverse consumer needs from a health-related perspective with a broad usage from dietary supple ments to functional foods and beverages." said Anita Johansen, CEO of Probi. The latest study “Intake of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9 Improves Cog nition in Moderately Stressed Subjects: A Randomized Controlled Study was re cently published in Nutrients (2023) 15 (15), 3466. Read the complete study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10421450/

References: 1

Innova Market Insight 2022

Further insights: “The gut-brain axis: Psychobiotic opportunity in 25 countries” (March 2022)

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

Technology Transfer at Fine Foods

A Balance Between Hard and Soft Skills One of Fine Foods' key success factors is the correct mix of technical expertise, experience and innovative capacity, customer care and team passion.

ine Foods & Pharmaceuticals N.T.M. S.p.A. is an Italian independent Contract Development & Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO). It deve lops and manufactures contract products for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetics indus tries. The Group, and particularly the pharmaceutical di vision, considers it essential to introduce new pro ducts through technology transfer development. The pharmaceutical sector is proceeding along two parallel lines - the search for innovative therapeutic strategies, which is the prerogative of multinationals able to invest significant resources in the long term, and maintaining a therapeutic level with primary ca re drugs that guarantee suitable solutions and drug quality. Transferring a drug normally used in established therapeutic practice, entails a careful assessment of partners. Moving from an original production site to a CMO requires evaluating financial and the receiv

ing organisation’s quality and reliability parameters. When a technology transfer process is applied to drugs that have been on the market for decades, a se ries of aspects must be considered. This includes equipment that has changed and improved (even if the basic technologies remain unchanged) and the availability of excipients that can improve the drug’s features, without changing its formula. While following the specifications and the scope of sustainable regulatory changes, it is possible to improve product quality and add value to a drug that will continue to play its therapeutic role over the years. The correct mix of experience, process knowledge and involvement of organisation components deci des the success of the technology transfer process. It is a complex activity involving a series of codified steps that must not be taken for granted. A technology transfer project consists of four criti cal steps, and each is crucial for the project continu ation.

Nutramedic &Cosmetics • Feasibility and Gap Analysis is a key step that must clarify the process applicability with the available production equipment and the critical issues that may emerge during the subsequent project phases; • Transfer of analytical methods and Batch engine ering is essential to validate/transfer the recorded analytical methods before starting the preliminary production phases. The subsequent production of batches on a pilot or industrial scale is particularly complex. Its purpose is to identify and resolve any critical issues that may arise during production. These steps identify details that will have to be fine-tuned to optimise future stages; • Industrialisation phase and validation batches. This is the real "litmus test", every detail and production step must be perfect. This is a non-return phase, everything must be consistent with the objective, there can be no "questionable" information or spe cifications, and what has been established in the production process must be sufficiently strong to be replicated in all future situations; • Documentation preparation for the submission of the regulatory file for including a new manufac turer. An important step, the result of a strategy in cluded in the Gap Analysis that must be managed competently and intelligently to avoid problems that could lead to project slowdowns. At the end of these phases, the production of com mercial batches will follow. Involving the entire organisation from the early

stages is crucial to achieving Fine Foods’ successful results. Coordinated by a project leader, all company departments will take part in the process including procurement, the pharmaceutical technology labo ratory, technical services, and the customer-fronting sales team streamlining and balancing the flow of in formation needed to develop the transfer plan. This is the reason why the Group created a dedi cated team which has a proactive and constructive approach to the search for innovative and valuable solutions that can meet and anticipate customer needs and builds on the experience developed in ma jor international companies. The average number of transfer projects at Fine Foods in the last few years was eight to ten annually. This commitment guarantees the pipeline develop ment and is at the heart of the pharmaceutical divi sion's business model. This is possible due to the or ganisational solidity, established flows and teams that combine extensive experience, expertise, disci pline and the desire to improve underlining the Fine Foods’ pharmaceutical model. Fine Foods & Pharmaceuticals N.T.M. S.p.A. Via Berlino, 39 24040 Zingonia/Verdellino – Bergamo – Italy www.finefoods.it info@finefoods.it

Fine Foods & Pharmaceuticals N.T.M. S.p.A., listed on Borsa Italiana’s Euronext STAR Milan is an Italian independent CDMO that develops and manufactures contract products for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetics industries. Founded in 1984, Fine Foods proved to be a reliable and capable strategic partner for customers in the reference sectors. 23 The company's organisation can provide successful design process and solid, long-term partnerships.

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

Sidebyside

Capsule Technology Sidebyside capsules technology is an innovative approach that allows incompatible ingredients to coexist within a single capsule using a unique three-piece design. It maximizes dose volumes and enables customization of dose sizes, making it suitable for combining sensitive ingredients. We are discussing the details with Mr. Tobie Louw, Vice-President Operations, Vantage Nutrition LLC (An ACG Group Company). What is Sidebyside capsules technology?

Sidebyside capsules are the world’s first separat ed oral dose health products. They are a three-piece capsule; the third piece being a cup-shaped divider membrane which is made up of the same material as the capsule. This divider enables incompatible acti ves, or dry and wet ingredients to be housed – as the name suggests – side by side in the one product.

Why is Sidebyside considered to be so pioneering?

The three-piece Sidebyside capsule maximizes the dose volumes on both sides of the membrane. The ability to move this membrane and reposition it wit hin the capsule also enables customized dose sizes. This makes the product format is ideal for com bining generally sensitive ingredients, such as probi otics with other incompatible nutrients and actives. With Sidebyside technology, the capsule shell of

both chambers dissolve at the same time, enabling the ingredients to disperse and work together simul taneously, which can deliver benefits such as better absorption of key nutrients in the presence of oils.

What’s the difference between Sidebyside and capsule-in-capsule products?

The dual capsule-in-a-capsule is where a small capsule containing a powder dose is placed inside a larger one containing a liquid dose. This form factor results in the outer liquid capsule and dose being dissolved before the inner powder capsule and dose. The outer oil protects the inner capsule after inges tion and the powder is thereafter released for diges tion, which can help the does to travel as a delayed release solution. With these products, the separated ingredients dissolve sequentially. There are application needs

Nutramedic &Cosmetics for the sequential dissolution dynamic, especially when the inner chamber is required for late release. With Sidebysides, the separate ingredients oper ate together after ingestion. The chambers dissolve together. The Sidebyside product format and tech nology can enable both parallel or sequential relea se and can discharge either chamber ahead of the other depending on the need. Often Sidebyside products can help solve incom patibilities, for example where ingredients haven’t previously been able to combine. The dividing mem brane makes it possible to retain the identity and ef ficiency of the separated doses that may otherwise have been compromised if they had been combined and started reacting together sooner. This plays a role in enhanced product stability and shelf life.

How is ACG involved with Sidebyside?

ACG acquired ComboCap, the company that inven ted and commercialized Sidebyside technology and products, in early 2023. ComboCap has developed and received 80 tech nology patent awards internationally. The company developed, designed, and produced the unique Side byside technology and manufacturing process as well as the machines used to produce Sidebyside products in their own world-first plant in New Jer sey, USA.

What can some of the enhanced combinations with sidbyside technology achieve?

To date, Sidebyside products launched by brand companies have covered a range of applications, in cluding: general vitality, immunity, pre-natal and sleep. Select pharmacuetical Sidebyside applications are also being considered. One example is VASCEPA® (icosapent ethyl) a pharmaceutical grade fish oil. Published research by Amarin shows that VASCEPA® DHA, when co-used with statins, brings patients a substantial enhancement in the benefits of the sta tin.

Where next?

Delayed release is now being considered with si debyside technology. This will cover the delayed re lease of the whole capsule, and the release of the two independent chambers at different stages. ACG is currently exploring a number of exciting controlled released options. These include bringing single-stage, two-stage and triple-delayed release sidebysides to market. Triple-delayed release side bysides can utilize a number of ingredient formats including liquids, powders and ‘beadlets’, where a mix of delayed-release ‘beadlets’ are used to achieve the second and third stage release following the early stage release of a liquid dose. We are also progressing the development of pow der-powder Sidebyside health products, which don’t currently exist in the market. And we are looking at developing the science be hind exciting combinations such as prebiotic/probi otic Sidebysides in powder-powder form.

B2B Events Calendar Overview of B2B live events taking place through the end of 2023 and early 2024. 15-16 November 2023, Malmo, Sweden https://www.nordicorganicexpo.com/ 28-30 November 2023, Frankfurt, Germany https://www.figlobal.com

8-9 November 2023, Chartres, France https://www.congres-parfumscosmetiques.com 14-15 November 2023, Coventry, United Kingdom https://www.scsformulate.co.uk/ 18-19 November 2023, Berlin, Germany https://www.cosmetica.de/cosmetica-berlin/

13-15 February 2024, Mumbai, India https://www.vitafoodsindia.com

12-16 March 2024, Anaheim, CA USA https://www.expowest.com/en/home.html 16-18 April 2024, Paris, France https://www.in-cosmetics.com/global/en-gb.html 19-21 April 2024, Bologna, Italy https://www.cosmofarma.com/en/ 14-16 May 2024, Geneva, Switzerland https://www.vitafoods.eu.com/en/home.html

www.acg-world.com

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

New Partnership to Enhance Regulatory and Safety Capabilities for Food and Cosmetics PLM market leader and top regulatory compliance provider team up to create integrated platform to screen ingredients throughout product development lifecycle.

entric Software®, the Product Lifecycle Mana gement (PLM) market leader and FoodChain ID, the leading food safety and regulatory service provider are pleased to announce their part nership to bring enhanced regulatory compliance capabilities to product development. Centric Soft ware provides the most innovative enterprise solu tions to plan, design, develop, source, price and sell food & beverage, cosmetics and consumer products to achieve strategic and operational digital trans formation goals. FoodChain ID is trusted by over 30,000 companies across the global supply chain, with technology-en abled solutions and expertise to keep the food and cosmetics supply chain safe and transparent. The highly controlled industries of Food and Cos metics require access to trustworthy regulatory in formation so that the risk of formulation missteps are reduced, especially at the development stage. This saves much time and effort down the line, and notably lessens the chance of dreaded recalls. Not all PLM platforms have strong formulation ca pabilities and those that do often rely on manual look- ups or databases pieced together by in-house regu latory compliance teams. The pairing of FoodChain ID’s world-class regulatory libraries and databases driven by the agility of Centric PLM’s formulation, packaging, quality, nutrition, labeling and artwork capabilities gives the food and cosmetics industries the best of both worlds, resulting in a complete for mulation and regulatory compliance solution. Clinton Chadwick, Vice President, Strategic Partner ships at FoodChain ID, explains how the association drives accuracy and speed into product development. “What makes this partnership with Centric Software

so exciting is the ability to accelerate product inno vation with Centric PLM by reducing time-consum ing iterations between product development and regulatory compliance teams.” Chadwick adds, “With FoodChain ID’s data sources pulling from over 220 countries, the data quality of our compliance engine is second-to-none.” Ron Watson, Executive Vice President of Product at Centric Software discusses how much more effi cient it is to formulate with FoodChain ID. “Product developers working in Centric PLM can see the im mediate impact of ingredient changes against cur rent global regulatory compliance regulations as they are formulating.” For example, when looking at market expansion, the food or cosmetics scientist can evaluate a formula or ingredient against a regu latory threshold level in the target country and then adjust the formula at the development stage if neces sary, where ingredient changes will have little nega tive impact. Chris Groves, CEO of Centric Software says “We are overjoyed about our alliance with FoodChain ID. It marries Centric’s technological expertise in food & beverage, cosmetics, beauty and other formulated goods with FoodChain ID’s extensive global databas es and stellar reputation in food safety and regula tory compliance. This gives the users of both solu tions confidence in formulation and the means to work seamlessly in one platform, driving even more efficiency into product development.” Request a demo: https://www.centricsoftware.com/request-a-demo/ www.centricsoftware.com www.foodchainid.com

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

Eliminating Leaking Softgels GELITA is the first gelatine manufacturer to address the problem of capsule leakage. The new EASYSEAL® gelatine simplifies the production of softgels and helps to reduce costs.

elatin expert GELITA is introducing a unique solution that enables manufacturers to opti mize softgel production in one easy step. By switching to the new EASYSEAL® gelatin, manufac turers can enjoy significant reductions in leakers, lower processing costs and higher quality end pro ducts. Leakers are softgels which lose their fill due to faulty capsule seams and are a major cause of lost productivity and reduced yield for producers of softgels. EASYSEAL® overcomes the issue, providing additional benefits at the same time. The highly pro cessable pharmaceutical grade gelatin optimizes seam forming and enhances seam thickness and stability so that soft capsules are more resistant to physical stress during production and packing. Its outstanding characteristics enable EASYSEAL® to seal capsules more reliably at higher machine speeds than other gelatins. EASYSEAL® can also be used at higher speeds with ingredients (e.g. suspen sions) that are normally complicated to fill in soft gels, and for products that require special equip ment such as double step die tooling. As well as de livering higher capsule burst strength, EASYSEAL® is less dependent on sealing temperature than other gelatins and has superior drying properties. This brings advantages in terms of energy efficiency and enhanced production capacity. Jessica Pfoehler, Global Marketing, Business Unit Performance Solutions, GELITA AG, says: “Many man ufacturers tolerate a reject rate of up to 5 percent in soft capsule production due to leakers. With EASY SEAL®, this common industry problem will be a thing of the past – simply by changing one parameter: the gelatin.” GELITA is the first gelatin manufacturer to ad dress the problem of leakers. Its intervention comes at a time when trends in nutritional ingredients and APIs mean soft capsules manufacturers are given increasingly challenging product requests, and cost optimization is more crucial than ever. Following pi lot trials conducted with the University of Heidel berg, Germany, proof-of-concept has been demon strated under real industrial production conditions by several softgel manufacturers. EASYSEAL® is suitable for use with food supple ments, Rx medicines and over the counter health and wellness products. It is available in bovine and porcine forms and is produced in line with FDA regu

lations, HACCP, ISO9001:2015 and FSSC22000. A re spective C-DMF (China Drug Masterfile) is available to ease entering the China market. The global pharmaceutical gelatin market for soft capsules was worth more than USD 215 million in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1 per cent, according to figures from MarketsandMar kets.1 1

Pharmaceutical Gelatin Market – Global Forecast to 2027. Market sandMarkets, December 2022.

www.Gelita.com

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

NHCO Nutrition® Laboratories Selects Centric PLM to Transform Product Development French dietary supplement producer partners with Centric Software for internationalization, data security & optimized communication.

entric Software®, the Product Lifecycle Ma nagement (PLM) market leader, proudly an nounces its partnership with NHCO Nutri tion® Laboratories, a French dietary supplement producer. Centric Software provides the most inno vative enterprise solutions to plan, design, develop, source and sell products such as apparel, footwear, sporting goods, furniture, home décor, consumer electronics, cosmetics, food & beverage and luxury to achieve strategic and operational digital trans formation goals. Founded in 2008 by pharmacist, Charles Elkrief, NHCO Nutrition Laboratories has become an essen tial player in the field of micronutrition. NHCO, affili ate of the Chiesi group since 2018, is a French food supplement laboratory specializing in researching and developing formulas based on amino acids, which is the foundation of their expertise: Aminoscience®. As a mission-driven company, NHCO advocates for an in formed and responsible use of dietary supplements and has been providing training to healthcare pro fessionals who recommend its products since 2008. Supporting the growth and internationalization of NHCO Nutrition, along with the increasing number of products and raw materials led NHCO to decide to invest in their first PLM system just over a year ago. “It is essential to have a tool to centralize and structure the product lifecycle process,” says Fran çois Bernard, ICT Manager, Global IT at NHCO Nutri tion Laboratories. NHCO looks to the project to ensure product data

security, optimize internal communication and cer tify product traceability as well as drive growth and internationalization efforts. As NHCO assessed po tential PLM partners, François Bernard shares that the Centric Software team was highly involved throughout the process. “Centric has been supporting us throughout the project,” says François Bernard. “Their presentations, demos and responses to our questions were of high quality and delivered with responsiveness, which gave us confidence in their expertise.” “We chose Centric Software because Centric PLM is a comprehensive tool that also offers a user-friend ly experience,” says François Bernard. “We were also impressed by Centric’s Agile Methodology, which promotes team collaboration and fast time to value.” “We’ve established key performance indicators to evaluate the success of the implementation,” shares François Bernard. “We are expecting high user adop tion rates, a reduction in email communication related to product development and the migration of product information, including formulations, into Centric PLM.” "We look forward to our partnership with NHCO Nu trition Laboratories as they continue to expand in ternationally,” says Chris Groves, CEO of Centric Soft ware. “We are excited that they’ve chosen Centric PLM as the foundation for their product lifecycle process and commitment to continuous improvement.” https://laboratoires.nhco-nutrition.com http://www.centricsoftware.com

®®

Cirpusins

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US 11,052,125; US10,172,903; US 9,782,450; US 9,387,193; AU2015394033; AU2013292593; CA2883176; US 11,052,125; US10,172,903; US 9,782,450; US 9,387,193; AU2015394033; AU2013292593; CA2883176; EA025578; EP3291805; EP3108935; EP2744571; HK1232483;JP6759243;JP6135761; KR10-1600212; EA025578; EP3291805; EP3108935; EP2744571; HK1232483;JP6759243;JP6135761; KR10-1600212; KR10-1717889; NZ622927; PH 1-2015-500349; P!D201708495; RU2691404; SG 11201707106U KR10-1717889; NZ622927; PH1-2015-500349; P!D201708495; RU2691404; SG 11201707106U

Cirpusins ® is a standardized extract prepared fro

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- info@sabinsa.com.pl | M: +48 797 851 226

Cirpusins ®® is Cyperus a standardized extract prepared from dried roots of rotundus and contains a minimum o Cirpusins is a standardized extract prepared from dried roots of Cyperus rotundus and contains a minimum of 6% Stilbenes Cyperus rotundus and contains a minimumand of 6% Stilbenes (Piceatannol, Scirpusin-A Scirpusin-B). C (Piceatannol, Scirpusin-A and Scirpusin-B). Clinical findings (Piceatannol, showed Scirpusin-A and Scirpusin-B). Clinical findings significant body weight control in obese showed significant body weight control in obese individuals. The showed significant body weight control in obese individuals. The weighteffect management of dose Cirpusins showed d weight management of Cirpusinseffect showed dependent weight management effect of Cirpusins showed dose dependent significant inhibition of adipogenesis andadipogenesis the preclinical study significant inhibition of and the p significant inhibition of adipogenesis and the preclinical study on high fat on diet high induced obesity showed reduction in body fat obesity diet induced obesity showed on high fat diet induced showed reduction in body red weight, and fat weight, especially the visceral fat. The lipid profile weight, fat weight, especially weight, and fat weight,and especially the visceral fat. The the lipidvisceral profile fat. and the biochemical parameters were normalized with the and the biochemical wereparameters normalized with and the parameters biochemical werethenorma supplementation of Cirpusins. supplementation of Cirpusins.

supplementation of Cirpusins.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the EFSA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease. * These statements have not been evaluated by the EFSA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the EFSA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

Taking Care of Mental Health Supplementation with certain vitamins and supplements may offer potential benefits for mental health, such as managing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stressrelated conditions. However, it's crucial to emphasize that supplements are typically considered as complementary therapies and should be used under the guidance of healthcare professionals. Further research is needed to better understand their mechanisms and effectiveness in addressing mental health issues. AUTHOR:

Daria Šurić, MPharm

What is mental health?

According to the WHO definition: “Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.” It is an integral component of health and well-be ing that underpins our individual and collective abil ities to make decisions, build relationships and shape the world we live in. Mental health is a basic human right. And it is crucial to personal, community and socio-economic development. Mental health is more than the absence of mental disorders. It exists on a complex continuum, which is experienced differently from one person to the next, with varying degrees of difficulty and distress and potentially very different social and clinical outcomes. Mental health conditions include mental disorders

and psychosocial disabilities as well as other mental states associated with significant distress, impairment in functioning, or risk of self-harm. People with men tal health conditions are more likely to experience low er levels of mental well-being, but this is not always or necessarily the case1.

Mental disorders prevalence

As the world comes to live with and learn from, the far-reaching effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must all reflect on one of its most striking aspects – the huge toll it has taken on people’s mental health. Rates of already-common conditions such as depres sion and anxiety increased by more than 25% in the first year of the pandemic, adding to the nearly one billion people already living with a mental disorder. Pre-pandemic, in 2019, an estimated 970 million peo ple in the world were living with a mental disorder*.

Nutramedic &Cosmetics Between 2000 and 2019, an estimated 25% more people were living with mental disorders, but since the world’s population has grown at approximately the same rate the (point) prevalence of mental dis orders has remained steady, at around 13%. Having good mental health means we are better able to connect, function, cope and thrive. Mental health exists on a complex continuum, with experi ences ranging from an optimal state of well-being to debilitating states of great suffering and emotio nal pain2. In both males and females, anxiety disorders and depressive disorders are the two most common men tal disorders. Anxiety disorders become prevalent at an earlier age than depressive disorders, which are rare before ten years of age. They continue to beco me more common in later life, with the highest esti mates in people between 50 and 69. Among adults, depressive disorders are the most prevalent of all mental disorders. In 2019, 301 million people globally were living with anxiety disorders; and 280 million were living with depressive disorders (including both major depres sive disorder and dysthymia). In 2020, these numbers rose significantly as a result of the COVID-19 pande mic. In both cases, the countries that were hit hard est by the pandemic had the greatest increases in disorder prevalence. All over the world, there was a greater increase in disorder prevalence among fe males than among males, probably because females were more likely to be affected by the social and economic consequences of the pandemic. And glo bally there was also a greater change in prevalence among younger age groups than older ones, poten tially reflecting the deep impact of school closures and social restrictions on youth mental health.

Types of mental health disorders

Specific mental disorders are grouped together due to features they have in common. Some types of mental illness are as follows: • anxiety disorders • mood disorders, e.g. depression • schizophrenia disorders

Impact of stress and mental health

Everyone experiences stress from time to time. When it becomes chronic, it can affect mental health. When stress it’s long-lasting or chronic, it may begin to affect mental health. WHO definition of stress: “Stress can be defined as a state of worry or men tal tension caused by a difficult situation. Stress is a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives. Everyone experi ences stress to some degree. The way we respond to stress, however, makes a big difference to our over all well-being.” The body’s autonomic nervous system controls the heart rate, breathing, and other body processes that take place without conscious effort. It triggers the fight-or-flight response during stressful situa tions, causing an increased heart rate, dilated pupils, sweating and other symptoms. Continued activation of this response can cause wear and tear on the body and result in physical and

FIGURE 1 Key facts regarding mental health

according to WHO

Affordable, effective and feasible strategies exist to promote, protect and restore mental health. The need for action on mental health is indisputable and urgent. Mental health has intrinsic and instrumental value and is integral to our well-being. Mental health is determined by a complex interplay of individual, social and structural stresses and vulnerabilities. emotional symptoms. Emotional and mental symp toms of stress can include anxiety or irritability, de pression, panic attacks and prolonged sadness.

Mental health and help from supplements

Mood improvement refers to a beneficial change in one’s temporary mental or emotional state which can include improvements in feelings of anxiety, an ger, sadness, relief, positivity, optimism, loneliness, in security, happiness, excitement, curiosity, and calm ness. When “low mood” turns very severe or simply lasts too long, it is often classified as a mood disorder. A growing body of research suggests that certain vitamins and supplements may help with various men tal health issues, especially with anxiety and depres sion. Before starting any supplement for mental health, it is important to consult a healthcare professional because concurrently taking a drug for mental health disorders and a dietary supplement could lead to adverse effects. They are just one part of an overall treatment plan for mental health issues. It's crucial to understand that although these sup plements may provide relief for symptoms, they are usually regarded as complementary therapies.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

Saffron is a spice derived from Crocus sativus L. and has traditionally been used as a food spice. It has gained scientific attention recently for its potential anti-depressant effects and is available in extract form as a dietary supplement. A substantial body of evidence has been gathered, providing a strong basis for the assertion that saf fron exhibits clear antidepressant effects, consisten tly surpassing the performance of placebos. More over, there is some indication that saffron may also possess anti-anxiety properties, taking into consi

Nutramedic &Cosmetics deration that the supporting evidence in this regard is not as robust, and further research is necessary, especially in the context of specific anxiety disor ders. Typically, clinical trials suggest that a standard dose of 30 mg daily of saffron extract is associated with minimal safety concerns, with no meaningful differences in adverse events compared to place bos. Saffron can be conveniently taken in supple ment form, twice daily. Taking 30 mg saffron extract daily (both petals and stigma) appears to be effective in reducing de pression in persons with major depressive disorder, and the potency appears to be comparable to refer ence drugs (fluoxetine, citalopram, and imipramine). That's not to say that the evidence is equivalent to those drugs, however. Other doses may also be ef fective but 30 mg of extract is the most common dose. Results of 31 studies done altogether on 1565 participants have shown moderate improvement in depression and a moderate decrease in depression symptoms which is a very promising result for sup plement ingredients. Also, in 6 relevant studies tar geting anxiety, symptoms decreased indicating a small improvement which is also a good result for a supplement.

Vitamin D's connection with mental health

The aim of the meta-analysis done on Vitamin D deficiency and depressive symptoms was the identi fication and summary of studies examining the rela tionship between vitamin D levels and the risk of de pression and depressive symptoms severity, pub lished between January 2008 and January 2019. Compared to the group with the highest vitamin D, the group with the lowest vitamin D group had 51% higher odds of depression, with negligible heteroge neity (differences in results due to differences in study methodologies) among the studies3. Low levels of vitamin D have been associated with

depression. The decrease in vitamin D production caused by reduced sunlight during the winter months may be a factor in seasonal affective disor der (SAD). If vitamin D levels are not low, supplementation isn’t likely to benefit mood. If they are low, supple mentation is more likely to help if a person is suffer ing from major depression.

Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea)

Rhodiola rosea is a medicinal plant which has tra ditionally been used as an anti-fatigue agent and adaptogenic compound. The root contains a number of bioactive compounds, but the main two that are thought to mediate its effects are rosavin and sali droside. Rhodiola supplements are generally taken in the form of root powder or standardized extracts with 1–5% salidrosides. Although Rhodiola supple ments are usually taken for their stress- and fati gue-reducing effects, they may also have antidepres sant and antioxidant properties. It is important to mention potential risks: interac tions with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction: Rhodiola rosea may decrease the ac tivity of CYP2C9. With simultaneous treatment, the re is a risk of an increase in the plasma concentrati on of medicinal substances that are metabolized by CYP2C9 (e.g., warfarin and phenytoin). In case a drug is converted to its active metabolite via CYP2C9 (e.g., losartan) the effect may be decreased during simul taneous treatment with Rhodiola rosea4. One sort of plant preparation was recorded in tra ditional use (Dry extract (DER 1.5-5:1), extraction sol vent ethanol 67-70% (V/V)), the fixed dosage is: 144 to 200 mg in a single dose, 1 to 2 times per day; daily do se: 144 to 400 mg and the indications for traditional uses are defined: the relief of symptoms of stress, such as fatigue and exhaustion4. Supplementation of Rhodiola rosea tends to refer to either the extract (standardized to 4 mg of salidro

TABLE 1 on-hold EFSA claims for Rhodiola rosea

13-1 ID

WORDING

CONDITIONS

2659

EFSA Access Database:

EXTRACT, 20 drops are equal to 95 mg dry root of rhodiola.

Helps organism to adapt for emotional stress, physical effort./Helps to stimulate the nervous system./Has beneficial effect in fatigue and headaches induced by stress./Beneficial for the sleep difficulties, poor appetite, decline in work performance./Helps to stimulate perception, improve state of mind./Helps to support potency,has beneficial effect on cardiovascular system because it helps to protect against stress and hyperten sion. 2829

EFSA Access Database: As a natural antioxidant it helps strengthen the body against the harmful effects of external environment./ Has antioxidant properties/helps reduce the negative impact of stress/helps protect the nervous system from the damage caused by free radicals./Helps reduce the negative impact of stress on the body./Promotes physical and mental resistance.

Extract: 30 mg./Used as part of a multibot

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

side (rhodioloside) per 144 mg tablet) or an equivalent extract. Usage of Rhodiola as a daily preventative against fatigue has been reported to be effective in doses as low as 50 mg. Rhodiola has two on-hold EFSA health claims related to stress and the nervous sys tem (Table 1.). In Poland, legislation for food supplements has set limits: Root powder < 216 mg is the recommended daily dose of the product, Extract (ratio 1.5-5:1) < 144 mg of the recommend ed daily dose of the product, Extract standardised for rosavins and/or salidro sides: not more than 15 mg of rosavins per recom mended daily dose of the extract, not more than 5 mg of salidrosides per recommended daily dose of the extract. It is recommended that the following warning be included on the label for dietary supple ments containing Rhodiola rosea L.: "Not to be used by children, pregnant and breastfeeding women." In Croatia, in food supplements maximum daily dose is 50 mg of root and root extract. In the Czech Republic: Standardized root extract with 4% of rosavin: maximum of 100mg/day. Acute usage of Rhodiola for fatigue and anti-stress has been noted to be taken in the 288-680 mg range in studies. The anti-stress effects of Rhodiola may occur in part due to it being able to blunt cortisol release un der stressful conditions5. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 60 participants with stress-related fatigue were allocated to take 576 mg of Rhodiola extract daily, or placebo for 28 days. There were small statistically significant improve ments in burnout on the Pines scale. Salivary corti sol was somewhat reduced in the morning6. Rhodiola rosea also has on-hold claims targeting stress, and sleep. (Table 1.)

Magnesium

Magnesium, an essential mineral, plays a crucial role in various physiological processes, and there is a growing body of scientific research exploring the relationship between magnesium levels and stress. Stress can lead to the depletion of magnesium stores in the body. This depletion may occur due to several mechanisms, including increased urinary ex cretion of magnesium and altered cellular uptake. Reduced magnesium levels can, in turn, have far-re aching consequences for both the physiological and psychological aspects of stress. A double-blind randomized clinical trial was con ducted on 46 depressed subjects. The participants were randomly allocated into the magnesium (MG) and the placebo (PG) group and received 500 mg of magnesium and placebo daily for 8 weeks. Beck's test was conducted and blood samples were taken at baseline and after the intervention period for analysis of serum magnesium and BDNF. Daily intake of 500 mg magnesium oxide for at least 8 weeks im proved Beck's test score and serum magnesium in depressed patients but had no significant effect on BDNF levels between the two groups. Further re search is recommended9.

S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe)

S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) is a biochemical compound consisting of methionine linked to an ade nosine triphosphate (ATP) molecule. SAMe naturally circulates in the bloodstream and serves as a methyl donor. In chemistry, a methyl group is essen tially a carbon atom bonded to hydrogen atoms, and the act of donating this methyl group to other mole cules plays a vital role in expediting or maintaining various metabolic processes within the body. Cer tain physiological conditions are linked to reduced levels of SAMe in the circulatory system, such as os teoarthritis and depression, where SAMe exhibits

Nutramedic &Cosmetics significant therapeutic potential. Following an initial accumulation period lasting 1 to 2 months, the administration of supplemental SAMe at daily doses ranging from 800 to 1600 milli grams demonstrates efficacy comparable to certain pharmaceutical treatments for both osteoarthritis and depression. Furthermore, SAMe appears to en hance the effects of some antidepressant medica tions. In conclusion, the results of the present study, which is the first randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled trial of SAMe augmentation to be con ducted in this patient population, provide prelimi nary evidence suggesting that SAMe can be an ef fective, relatively well-tolerated, and safe adjunctive treatment strategy for SRI nonresponders with ma jor depressive disorder. Further studies are required to confirm whether oral SAMe should be added to the antidepressant treatment armamentarium10. There are some challenges associated with SAMe: • Production and Stability: SAMe is a sensitive mole cule that can degrade under various conditions. One challenge is to develop stable formulations and production methods to ensure the purity and longevity of SAMe supplements. • Bioavailability: SAMe's bioavailability is a concern, as it is poorly absorbed when taken orally. Formu lating SAMe to improve its absorption and effica cy is a significant challenge. • Dosing: Determining the appropriate dosing regi men for SAMe supplements can be challenging, as the optimal dosage may vary for different indivi duals and conditions. Achieving a balance between therapeutic effectiveness and avoiding potential side effects is crucial. SAMe is an ingredient with great potential, but still, there are some uncertainties to be cleared.

Zinc

The potential benefits of supplementation with zinc are largely dependent on the individual’s zinc status. Therefore, supplementation with zinc is unlikely to provide a benefit if zinc levels are already adequate and the person is not zinc deficient. Multiple studies have explored the association between zinc deficiency and depression. Zinc defi

ciency is known to impair neurotransmitter functi on, particularly serotonin, which is closely linked to mood regulation. Furthermore, it may lead to neu roinflammatory processes, oxidative stress, and al terations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, all of which are implicated in depression. How ever, it is important to note that causation is not yet firmly established, and additional research is need ed to delineate the exact mechanisms underlying this relationship. The reduction in depression is notable only for treatment-resistant depression alongside a pharma ceutical antidepressant; there does not appear to be a benefit to persons who respond to antidepres sants and the inherent anti-depressant effects with out a pharmaceutical add-on are modest at best7. it is important for healthcare providers to consid er zinc status when evaluating patients with depres sive symptoms, as addressing any underlying defi ciencies may be a worthwhile component of a com prehensive treatment plan for depression.

L-theanine

L-theanine is a non-protein amino acid derived most commonly from tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves, which may be beneficial in the treatment of anxiety and sleep disturbance as suggested by preliminary evidence. L-theanine, an amino acid contained in green tea leaves, is known to block the binding of L-glutamic acid to glutamate receptors in the brain and has been considered to cause anti-stress effects by in hibiting cortical neuron excitation. Both L-theanine and caffeine, which green tea contains, have been highlighted for their beneficial effects on cognition and mood. The results after the mental tasks showed that L-theanine significantly inhibited the blood-pres sure increases in a high-response group, which con sisted of participants whose blood pressure increa sed more than average by a performance of a men tal task after placebo intake. Caffeine tended to ha ve a similar but smaller inhibition of the blood pres sure increases caused by mental tasks. The result of the Profile of Mood States after the mental tasks also showed that L-theanine reduced the Tension- Anxiety scores as compared with placebo intake10. Conclusions of the study findings denote that L- theanine reduces anxiety and attenuates the blood pressure increase in high-stress-response adults. In humans, L-theanine has been reported to mo dulate alpha activity and play a role in attentional tasks in electroencephalogram studies, as well as provide beneficial effects on mental state, including sleep quality. To our knowledge, however, only its acute effects have been investigated in healthy indi viduals. The anti-stress effects of L-theanine (200 mg/day) have been observed following once- and twice-daily administration, while its attention-im proving effects have been observed in response to treatment of 100 mg/day on four separate days and 200 mg/day single administration, which was fur ther supported by decreased responses in function al magnetic resonance imaging. Moreover, L-theani ne has been suggested to have potential therapeu tic effects in psychiatric disorders. In accordance

Nutramedic &Cosmetics with this, we have reported multiple favourable ef fects of four weeks of L-theanine administration (250 mg/day) in patients with major depressive dis order (MDD), although this was an open-label study. Stress-related symptom (i.e., depression, anxietytrait, and sleep) scores decreased and cognitive function (i.e., verbal fluency and executive function) scores improved after four weeks of L-theanine ad ministration. The reduction in sleep quality prob lems (disturbances in sleep latency, sleep distur bance, and use of sleep medication) was greater in the L-theanine administration compared to the pla cebo administration, while verbal fluency, especially letter fluency, was improved in the L-theanine ad ministration among individuals who showed rela tively low performance at pretreatment. Moreover, L-theanine administration was safe and well com plied with. Therefore, L-theanine may be a suitable nutraceutical ingredient for improving mental con ditions in a healthy population12.

Product concept examples

Formulating finished products with these ingre dients for potential mental health benefits can in volve creating dietary supplements or functional foods. Here are some possible product formulations ba sed on the scientific findings: Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Supplement: Product: Saffron Extract Capsules

L-Theanine Anxiety and Mood Support: Product: L-Theanine Capsules Dosage: 200 mg of L-Theanine per capsule Directions: Take one capsule daily as a dietary supplement. Targeted Benefit: Reducing anxiety and supporting mood, especially for high-stress individuals. These formulations align with the reported thera peutic effects of these ingredients, and they offer consumers convenient and standardized ways to in corporate them into their daily routines to support mental health and well-being. Those ingredients can be combined in one product for a synergistic effect. However, it's crucial to follow the country’s regulatory guidelines and quality control measures when pro ducing such products to ensure safety and efficacy. * This estimate includes people living with schizophrenia, depres sive disorders (including dysthymia), anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit/hyperac tivity disorder, conduct disorder, idiopathic developmental intel lectual disability, eating disorders and other mental disorders, as covered in the GBD 201

References: 1

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/men tal-health-strengthening-our-response

WHO Mental health report: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/1 0665/356119/9789240049338-eng.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1

Wilczyński KM, Chęcińska K, Kulczyk K, Janas-Kozik M. Vitamin D deficiency and depressive symptoms: meta-analysis of studies . Witamina D i objawy depresji: meta-analiza badań. Psychiatr Pol. 2022;56(6):1327-1344. doi:10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/130992

https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/ draft-european-union-herbal-monograph-rhodiola-rosea-l-rhi zoma-et-radix-revision-1_mo.pdf

Panossian A, Hambardzumyan M, Hovhanissyan A, Wikman G. The adaptogens rhodiola and schizandra modify the response to im mobilization stress in rabbits by suppressing the increase of phosphorylated stress-activated protein kinase, nitric oxide and cortisol. Drug Target Insights. 2007;2:39-54.

Olsson EM, von Schéele B, Panossian AG. A randomised, dou ble-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the stan dardised extract shr-5 of the roots of Rhodiola rosea in the treat ment of subjects with stress-related fatigue. Planta Med. 2009;75(2):105-112. doi:10.1055/s-0028-1088346

Ranjbar E, Shams J, Sabetkasaei M, et al. Effects of zinc supple mentation on efficacy of antidepressant therapy, inflammatory cytokines, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with major depression. Nutr Neurosci. 2014;17(2):65-71. doi:10.1179/1476 830513Y.0000000066

Siwek M, Dudek D, Paul IA, et al. Zinc supplementation augments efficacy of imipramine in treatment resistant patients: a double blind, placebo-controlled study. J Affect Disord. 2009;118(1-3):187195. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2009.02.014

Afsharfar M, Shahraki M, Shakiba M, Asbaghi O, Dashipour A. The effects of magnesium supplementation on serum level of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and depression status in pa tients with depression. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2021;42:381-386. doi:10.1016/j.clnesp.2020.12.022

Papakostas GI, Mischoulon D, Shyu I, Alpert JE, Fava M. S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) augmentation of serotonin reuptake inhibi tors for antidepressant nonresponders with major depressive disorder: a double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Am J Psychiatry. 2010;167(8):942-948. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.09081198

Yoto A, Motoki M, Murao S, Yokogoshi H. Effects of L-theanine or caffeine intake on changes in blood pressure under physical and psychological stresses. J Physiol Anthropol. 2012;31(1):28. Pub lished 2012 Oct 29. doi:10.1186/1880-6805-31-28

Hidese S, Ogawa S, Ota M, et al. Effects of L-Theanine Administra tion on Stress-Related Symptoms and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2362. Published 2019 Oct 3. doi:10.3390/nu11102362

Dosage: 15 mg saffron extract per capsule Directions: Take one capsule twice a day as a dietary supplement. Targeted Benefit: Reduction of depression symptoms, potential anti-anxiety effects. Rhodiola Stress and Fatigue Supplement: Product: Rhodiola Extract Tablets Dosage: 50 mg standardized to 1-5% salidrosides per tablet Directions: Take one tablet daily as a preventative against fatigue and stress. Targeted Benefit: Reducing stress and fatigue, potential antidepressant and antioxidant effects. Zinc Supplement: Product: Zinc Supplement Dosage: Follow recommended daily dose for zinc supplementation. Directions: Take as a dietary supplement, especial ly if a zinc deficiency is identified. Targeted Benefit: Addressing zinc deficiency associated with depression. S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) Supplement: Product: SAMe Supplement Dosage: 800-1600 mg of SAMe per tablet Directions: Take one tablet daily or as directed by a healthcare professional. Targeted Benefit: Adjunctive treatment for depression, particularly in nonresponders to SSRIs.

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

Stress, Anxiety and Sleep Rising consumer interest in cognitive health products, driven by stress and modern life, has surged post-pandemic. This trend emphasizes natural ingredients, adaptogens and the gut-brain axis. While some nutrients have authorized claims, further research is needed for emerging cognitive ingredients. Consumer interest in cognitive health products

Consumers are aware that the stress and pace of modern life can be damaging to our emotional and physical health. Especially post-pandemic, consumers are increas ingly looking for products to help manage issues such as stress and immunity. Mental health issues do not readily respond to pharmaceutical interventions in many instances. This is one reason why consum ers are increasingly turning to food, beverage, and supplement solutions – and natural ingredients look set to dominate. Another key overlapping trend is the fact that physical health and mental well-being are increas ingly seen as inherently connected, resulting in de mand for food and beverage products that claim to target cognitive health in a holistic manner. And be cause consumers are looking for value for money as living costs continue to rise, products that offer double or even triple health benefits to consumers are likely to become more prevalent. Recent FMCG Gurus data has shown that 48% of global respondents are interested in mental well-be ing. Some 45% of consumers in Brazil and 42% in Ar gentina, for example, recently agreed that they would

“like a diet to help maintain healthy brain function”. This demand is creating new market opportunities.

Products that fit current consumer lifestyles

One interesting trend is the fact that the line bet ween food and supplements is blurring, driven by new delivery methods for functional ingredients such as gummies, powders, effervescents, lozenges, liq uids, and chocolates. Ingredient blends, often in the form of multivita mins, are also a key trend to follow in the brain health supplements market, especially in the main stream where customers are looking for general so lutions.

Cognitive health ingredients with consumer appeal

The global nootropics market alone is set to triple from about $10bn in 2020 to almost $30bn by 2028, according to Grand View Research – an impressive 15% growth per year. However, it is important to use ingredients that have scientific backing. The USbased Natural Marketing Institute found that 63% of respondents to a 2020 poll would take probiotics if they were clinical proven.

Nutramedic &Cosmetics When it comes to addressing stress, anxiety and sleep difficulties, consumers can choose from a num ber of promising ingredients and formats. In this in novation space though, natural ingredients are like ly to dominate. Botanical adaptogens like panax ginseng, rhodio la, schisandra, ginkgo biloba, echinacea, tulsi, lion’s mane, cordyceps, and astralagus have all been linked to cognition benefits, including stress reduction. Ot her ingredients touted to be cognitive-enhancing – such as ashwagandha, lavender, hops, and l-theanine – have also been identified in food and drink trend forecasts. Natural ingredients associated with improving mood and sleep include saffron, ashwagandha, St John’s wort, magnesium, and curcumin, just to name a few. Common sleep-promoting supplements include va lerian, chamomile, and melatonin but other sciencebacked options that food manufacturers may wish to explore include glycine, tart cherry juice, and holy basil. Product development using some of these ingre dients is growing. Brands are also leveraging growing consumer awa reness of the gut-brain axis – and its potentially po werful effects on mood and emotional wellness – in their product development and positioning. A 2022 report by market analyst Lumina Intelligen ce also found that probiotic, prebiotic and postbiot ic supplements sold online featuring gut-brain axis marketing had tripled between 2019 and 2021, across 25 countries. Prebiotic ingredients such as galactooligosaccha rides have been shown to increase the abundance of Bifidobacteria in the gut, which in turn has been shown to correlate with a reduction of stress and anxiety symptoms via the gut-brain axis.

Clinical evidence and health claims

Some nutrients in the brain health space do pos sess authorised claims around “neurological and psy chological functions”. In the EU, for instance, this in cludes many members of the B vitamins family as well as vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids, and minerals like zinc, magnesium, iron, and iodine. Adaptogens - plant-based chemicals or botanicals believed to help stabilise physiological processes – are said to enable the body to restore balance and support it with managing physical and mental stress. Emerging science around adaptogens has suggest ed a positive influence on the hypothalamic pituita ry-adrenal (HPA) axis. This is a system of hormones, receptors, and glands involved in bodily homeosta sis, stress control, and processing energy. Food, drink, and supplement products with gutbrain-axis claims are increasing globally, featuring a 2% average annual growth when comparing launch es in 2018 and 2022, according to data from Innova Market Insights. Critically, 64% of consumers understand the con cept of bacteria within the digestive system, and two in three also recognise that gut health is key to achieving overall well-being.16 New clinical findings are also highlighting how probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics can actively support cognitive health via the gut-brain axis, opening up opportunities to tar

get cognitive health as part of a holistic approach to wellbeing. More research however is needed before several emerging cognitive ingredients can go mainstream. Read the complete report: https://www.ingredientsnetwork.com/quarterly-di gests-page000632.html

References:

https://www.who.int/news/item/02-03-2022-covid-19-pandemictriggers-25-increase-in-prevalence-of-anxiety-and-depressionworldwide https://www.vitafoodsinsights.com/vitafoods-europe-2023-programme/identifying-natural-ingredients-support-sleep-and-men tal-wellbeing https://www.ingredientsnetwork.com/high-fibre-launches-cap ture-consumer-interest-in-news120109.html https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2023/06/28/Supplementslaunchpad-Cognitive-health-hydration-immunity-and-protein https://www.ingredientsnetwork.com/health-taste-and-more-usconsumers-want-products-news120569.html https://www.ingredientsnetwork.com/health-taste-and-more-usconsumers-want-products-news120569.html https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/nootropicsmarket https://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/probiotics-prebiotics/ probiotics-macro-trends-microorganisms-digital-magazine https://www.vitafoodsinsights.com/vitafoods-europe-2023-programme/identifying-natural-ingredients-support-sleep-and-men tal-wellbeing https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2023/06/28/Supple ments-launchpad-Cognitive-health-hydration-immunity-and-pro tein https://superfoodsaustralia.com.au/products/lions-mane-mush room-extract?currency=AUD&variant=29578008363078&utm_ medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20 Shopping https://www.lumina-intelligence.com/probiotics-reports/gutbrain-axis-brain-health-probiotics-in-25-countries/ https://nutraceuticalbusinessreview.com/news/article_page/Onmind_and_on-trend_formulating_products_for_cognitive_well- being/203810 https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/3/1/188 https://www.nutritioninsight.com/analysis-feature/gut-brain-axis. html https://fmcggurus.com/blog/fmcg-gurus-the-role-of-the-gut-mi crobiome-in-2022/ https://www.ingredientsnetwork.com/cognitive-enhancing-ingre dients-remain-novel-yet-news120173.html https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33551817/

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

ABG10+ May Improve Blood Pressure Levels ®

Results of a new clinical study have confirmed the blood pressure balancing effect of Pharmactive Biotech Products, SLU’s ABG10+®. Aged Black Garlic (ABG10+®) has demonstrated the positive effect in blood pressure in patients exhibiting Grade-1 hypertension receiving prescribed drug treatment.

ged Black Garlic is a whole raw garlic bulb (Al lium sativum L) that has been aged under con trolled temperatures for a certain period of time. Pharmactive’s proprietary ageing process po tentiates the accumulation of garlic’s bioactive com plex of antioxidant compounds, including polyphe nols, flavonoids, and melanoidins - particularly S-al lyl cysteine (SAC). The study, published in the research journal Nutri ents, was a randomized, triple-blind controlled trial conducted at the Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vi lanova (Lleida, Spain), and in collaboration with the Atherothrombotic Disease Detection and Treatment Unit (UDETMA). Led by Dr. José Carlos Serrano, Ph.D., the study involved 81 volunteers suffering from Sta ge 1 hypertension and who were already on blood pressure-reducing medication. Over a period of 12 weeks, the subjects received 250 mg of ABG10+ daily, which provided 0.25 mg of SAC, or a placebo. No changes were made to diet or lifestyle and the subjects were instructed to conti nue taking their blood pressure medication. Blood pressure measurements were recorded daily at ho me by the participants as well as at baseline and at the end of the study by specialists. The addition of ABG+ supplementation helped bet ter control blood pressure levels, with reductions ob served in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 1.8 mmHg and 1.5 mmHg, respectively. Moreover, it was observed via blood serum tests that ABG10+ supplementation may boost the relea se of nitric oxide and increase the body’s antioxidant capacity. ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) acti vity seemed to be reduced, and lower blood uric acid levels also were observed. “These secondary parameters help us gain an un derstanding of the likely mechanism behind ABG10+’s effect on blood pressure,” explains Alberto Espinel, Open Innovation Director of Pharmactive. “Nitric ox ide is a natural vasorelaxant produced in the body to maintain cardiovascular function, improving blood pressure, and increasing blood flow. Nitric oxide also is a cellular antioxidant and thus helps mitigate oxi dative stress and its associated negative effects on blood vessels and the cardiovascular system. Reduc ing the angiotensin converting enzyme activity is a key strategy to decrease blood pressure in hypertensive patients.” The majority of the volunteers enrolled in the stu dy had a medical history of high blood pressure span

ning 15 years on average. Despite adhering to their prescribed pharmacological routine, they were still unable to maintain blood pressure levels within a normal range. “This study suggests that incorporat ing food bioactives such as aged black garlic extract into the treatment regimen could serve as a valu able complement to conventional drug therapy, and could contribute to reduced cardiovascular risk,” Es pinel adds. “Such intervention could be especially beneficial for the management of arterial high blood pressure in persons experiencing resistance to drug therapy - all without inducing side effects.” Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardio vascular disease, including stroke and heart failure. Research has demonstrated that even modest re ductions in blood pressure can lead to meaningful gains in the prevention of such incidents. For exam ple, a reduction of 2mm Hg in systolic blood pressure can reduce the risk of stroke by 10% in middle age. The new study followed favorable outcomes of a 2022 clinical trial involving ABG+, where participants with moderately elevated cholesterol levels achi eved significant reduction in diastolic blood pres sure (5.85 mmHg on average) compared to placebo. “As garlic ages, its fresh compounds like allicin and sulphur undergo chemical changes, forming new com pounds, including SAC and melanoidins,” explains Carlos Rodríguez, Communication Manager. “These compounds create the special flavor, aroma, and col or of aged black garlic which is why it is a culinary fa vorite of chefs. Yet these same bioactive compounds are believed to possess powerful antioxidant and support cardio health.” Pharmactive’s ABG10+ extract is derived from gar lic grown and cultivated in Castilla la Mancha, two hours away from the company’s facility in Madrid, and gently processed using green technology, with out the use of solvents, or chemicals. The ingredient can readily be incorporated into supplements as well as functional foods.

https://pharmactive.eu/ info@pharmactive.eu

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Kemin Granted European ™ Patent for Use of Neumentix Nootropic solution to support working memory will now be available for inclusion in European-made food supplements, foods and beverages.

emin Industries, a global ingredient manufac turer that strives to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80 percent of the world with its products and services, has been grant ed a patent by the European Patent Office for its method to promote the growth of new neural cells using Neumentix™, a water-soluble spearmint extract that supports working memory. The patent (number EP 3 538 085 B1) was granted on July 12, 2023, and validated in Spain, France, Germany, Italy, the Neth erlands, and the United Kingdom. This is the fourth patent that Kemin Human Nutrition and Health has filed and been granted for its proprietary spearmint extract.1 Neumentix, a natural nootropic rich in polyphe nols, was developed for neural health and contains more than 50 phenolic compounds, including ros marinic, salvianolic and lithospermic acids. Neumen tix targets the hippocampus - one of the few areas of the adult human brain that can produce new nerve cells throughout one’s lifespan. The rate of neurogenesis in the hippocampus has been found to decrease with age, stress, sleep deprivation and oth er factors affecting cognitive performance. Research shows that the phenolic complex in Neumentix pro motes new neuron growth in the hippocampus, which can improve the ability to learn, manage information and react. 2-5 "This patent confirms the novelty of research fin dings on Neumentix’s ability to grow new neurons in the brain,” Brenda Fonseca, Global Technical Services Lead, Kemin Human Nutrition and Health, and inven tor listed on the patent. “Our research has indicated that Neumentix, sourced from patented plants and characterized by its phenolic complex, works to nou rish the neurons in the brain and may increase new neural growth in specific areas of the brain, provid ing an important source of neuronutrition to fuel brain performance in healthy adults.” In addition to working memory, Neumentix pro vides other cognitive benefits, such as focus, sus tained attention and enhanced physical performan ce, and can be formulated into a variety of applica tions. Neumentix acts on adults’ neural tissues in six key ways:6-11 • Decreasing oxidative stress • Reducing inflammatory markers • Increasing neurotrophin levels • Protecting neuronal cells • Elevating neurotransmitter levels • Promoting new neuronal growth

"Delivering high-quality, unique, patented and sci ence-backed ingredients is extremely important to Kemin, because our customers provide supple ments, foods and beverages that help improve the quality of life for those around the world," added Fonseca. "Backed by over 19 peer-reviewed scientific publications covering clinical and preclinical re search, as well as spearmint plant features, Neumen tix is a great choice for manufacturers looking to formulate with safe, sustainable and scientifically backed brain health ingredients to help promote new neuronal growth.”

References: 1

Spearmint plant denominated KI-MsEM0110, US 9545075, issued January 17, 2017, Spearmint plant denominated KI-MsEM0042, US 9545076, issued January 17, 2017 and Plant Material Drying Meth ods" (KEM 179 US) issued on December 12, 2017 as United States Patent US9839661.

Nieman et al., (2015, Funct Foods Health Disease)

Herrlinger et al. (2018, Journal Compl and Alt Med)

Falcone et al. (2018, J. ISSN)

Falcone et al. (2019, Nutrition Research)

KHTL-017-134 (TL-16-00075) Key Polyphenols in Neumentix Can Act in Multiple Ways to Support Cognitive Performance

Locri F. et al. Nutrients. Dec 3;11(12). pii: E2931

Cammalleri et al. Nutrients 2020, 12; 1189

Taira et al., J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2020 Aug;29(8):104818

Bian et al. Current Neovascular Research,2020 17 1-8

Amato et al. IOVS June 2023, Vol.64, 2586

www.kemin.com

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

Ferrous Bisglycinate Supplementation in Pregnancy Many consumers are reluctant to take iron supplements during pregnancy because they often cause side effects on the digestive system, which can be a major challenge to patient compliance and reduce efficacy. A meta-analysis confirms that iron bisglycinate has higher efficacy and lower risk of side effects in pregnant women compared to other iron salts.

new systematic review and meta-analysis pub lished in Nutrition Reviews1 has concluded that ferrous bisglycinate supplementation in pregnant women provides significantly higher effi cacy at raising hemoglobin status, and results in a 64% lower rate of gastrointestinal adverse events compared to other iron salts. 3 Conducted by a team of researchers from the Uni versity of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, the research sought to evaluate the effects of ferrous bisglycinate supplementation compared to other iron salts* on iron status and gastrointestinal (GI) ad verse events.1 Multiple chelated iron products were used in this research, including Albion® Minerals’ Fer rochel®. The findings present supplement manufac turers with an exciting opportunity to innovate with high efficacy iron forms.

Iron deficiency: a global concern

Iron deficiency is a worldwide issue and is esti mated to effect over 40% women of childbearing age in certain countries.4 However, many consumers are reluctant to take iron supplements during preg nancy as they often cause side-effects to the diges tive system, which can pose a significant challenge in patient compliance and decrease efficacy. The data in this latest study compared rates of GI ad verse events observed in trials of pregnant women, showing that ferrous bisglycinate supplementation was 64% less likely to result in GI adverse events compared to other iron salts. The meta-analysis included 17 different randomiz ed controlled trials, focusing on over 1,100 children and pregnant women. The results demonstrated that ferrous bisglycinate supplementation led to greater improvements in haemoglobin status among pregnant women - a commonly measured biomarker of anemia and iron status. The research also reported ferrous bisglycinate supplementation led to greater chang es in ferritin, another iron status biomarker, howe ver this difference did not achieve statistical signifi cance. However, this was partially attributed to dif ferences in reporting adjustments between trials. While analysing the available data related to the children group, these differences failed to reach statistical significance, likely due to the relatively small number of clinical trials included and differ ences in trial design (n=4). Following this initial study, Balchem has now com missioned a new clinical trial on Ferrochel® in preg

nant women with the same research team, which aims to begin recruitment in Fall 2023. This research aims to provide further insights into the optimal forms of iron to be used across various ages and stages of life. “These findings are important as they confirm that not all oral iron supplements should be considered as equal. The ideal form of iron in prenatal multiple micronutrients should be highly bioavailable and ha ve a low risk of gastrointestinal side effects in order to optimize adherence and reduce the risk of iron de ficiency anemia during pregnancy. Ultimately, our findings show promise for ferrous bisglycinate as a superior form of supplemental iron compared to iron salts”, adds Crystal Karakochuk, Assistant Professor in Human Nutrition in the Department of Food, Nu trition, and Health at University of British Columbia, and the lead researcher on the study. “We’re pleased to see that this latest study pro vides further evidence to show the enhanced effica cy and tolerability that ferrous bisglycinate, such as Ferrochel®, is commonly associated with”, comments Jonathan Bortz, MD, Vice President Nutrition Scien ce at Balchem. “For decades now, we have been in vestigating the role iron can play in supporting healt hy pregnancies and we are confident that additional data will provide additional proof of the superiority of ferrous bisglycinate over other iron salts.” Ferrochel® is the flagship product within Balchem’s Albion® Minerals portfolio, with decades of research supporting its use. A unique, fully chelated iron pro duct formed by binding iron to two organic glycine molecules, its small molecular size allows it to re main intact throughout the GI tract for optimal ab sorption. This more bioavailable form of iron is es sential for gestating mothers and growing children. * “Other iron salts” = Ferrous Sulfate, Ferrous Fumarate, Carbonyl Iron, Iron Multi-Amino Acid Chelate, Ferrous Ascorbate, Sodium Feredetate, Ferrous Glycine Sulfate, and Polymaltose Iron.

References: 1

Fischer JAJ, et al., Nutr Rev 2023; 81(8): 904-920.

GI adverse events defined as Heartburn, Nausea, Constipation, Di arrhea, Abdominal Pain

Other iron salts defined as Ferrous Sulfate, Ferrous Fumarate, Carbonyl Iron, Iron Multi-Amino Acid Chelate, Ferrous Ascorbate, Sodium Feredetate, Ferrous Glycine Sulfate, and Polymaltose Iron

Stevens GA, et al., Lancet Glob Health 2022; 10: e1590-99.

https://balchem.com/human-nutrition-health/ hnh-products/albion-minerals/

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

New Study Demonstrates Levagen+® Positively Impacts URTIs Gencor has announced the publication of its recent human clinical trial demonstrating its palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) ingredient, Levagen®+, to be a safe and effective supplement for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs).

RTIs are caused by an infection of the muco sal lining of the upper airway and include coughing, sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, fe ver, and scratchy or sore throat. PEA is an endocan nabinoid-like bioactive signaling lipid that is part of the N-acylethanolamine (NAE) family. In the case of URTIs, there is an increase in inflammatory cytokine production. PEA has been shown to have potent an ti-inflammatory effects that impact the expression of cytokine released. The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, published in the journal Nu trients, investigated the effectiveness of Levagen+ on URTI incidence, duration, and severity over 12 weeks. Three hundred and ninety-eight participants bet ween 18 and 65 were allocated to the Levagen+ group or the placebo. The Levagen+ group con sumed 300mg twice daily, and the placebo group consumed 300mg twice daily of maltodextrin. All participants completed the SF-8 questionnaire to measure the health-related quality of life every four weeks. A total of 87 participants experienced at least one URTI during the study, with a total of 103 URTI episodes recorded. The results showed that the

total number of URTI episodes was significantly low er in the Levagen+ group when compared with the placebo group. There was also a significant differ ence in the severity of scratchy throats and report ed coughing between the two groups, demonstrat ing that Levagen+ is a safe and effective supple ment for URTIs. “We are thrilled with the outcomes of this study; along with a healthy diet and exercise, Levagen+ can be a strong ingredient to support immune health,” R.V. Venkatesh, Co-founder at Gencor. “We have sev eral published studies backing Levagen’s efficacy and will continue investigating this potent ingredi ent for improved health and wellbeing.” Levagen®+ is a bioavailable palmitoylethanolami de (PEA), a self-affirmed GRAS ingredient manufac tured in cGMP facilities, and has been clinically test ed to support joint health, sleep, recovery, and im munity. Levagen+ is applicable for dietary supple ments, food and beverages, and cosmeceuticals. www.levagenplus.com www.GencorPacific.com

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

Upcycled and Plant-based Protein for Sports Nutrition At this year Fi/Hi Europe, Ingood by Olga will present an innovative plant-based and upcycled ingredient PEAKARA®.

he sports nutrition market is growing fast, and this evolution can be explained by two reasons: firstly, the rise of the active lifestyle consumers, indeed the athlete is no longer the main consumer; secondly the boom in plant-based pro tein products. According to a survey on sport nutrition consum ers conducted by V-label GmbH in 2021, 71% of con sumers say that "plant-based protein" are attractive, ahead of “whey protein” where 69% say so. The company said: „At Ingood by Olga, we are con tinuing to develop our activities in the nutrition and health markets with thier range of plant-based nu tri-functional ingredients. We want to offer the best of our materials by pro viding natural and useful ingredients to everyone, for a more positive approach to food and social transition. After 2 years of R&D work and a deep commit ment to limiting our impact and food waste for a more circular model, we are launching a new nu tri-functional ingredient: PEAKARA®. The name is a contraction of "PEA" to emphasize the material from which is derived (European yellow pea) and "KARA", a play on the word "okara" to emphasize that this is an upcycled ingredient.“

What is PEAKARA®?

PEAKARA® is an innovative plant-based and upcy cled ingredient from European yellow pea develo ped for sports nutrition recovery post workout. It's a pea protein densely nutritious with high quality proteins (55%), a healthy omega 3 and omega 6 ratio (1:5), rich in fibers (more than 8%) and poor in sugars (less than 1%). PEAKARA® has a unique protein composition for a plant-based protein with a quality close to that of an animal-based protein: it is rich in EAA’s: 46% per 100g of protein and in BCAA’s : 22,4% per 100g of protein. PEAKARA® is a complete source of essential amino acids (EAA’s) and is highly digestible with a chemical index of 157 (according to regulation 96/8 CE) and a PDCAAS of 1 (FAO, 1991). PEAKARA® is perfect for healthy and tasty plantbased protein-enriched applications targeting re covery for a high-quality plant-based proteins en richment. Neutral in taste and non-allergenic, it is perfect for healthy, vegan and tasty plant-based protein-enriched applications such as ready-to-mix protein powders, protein bars, energy balls, desserts, spreads, etc. https://ingoodbyolga.com/ ingredients@avec-olga.com

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

ThymoQuin -OCare Black Seed Oil Now Applicable for Oral Health ®

Thymo-Quin®-OCare is a cold-pressed, full-spectrum black seed oil standardized to 3% thymoquinone with at least 1.2% p-Cymene and less than 1.25% free fatty acids. It's oral health applications include mouth wash, toothpaste and dietary supplements.

riNutra and its Korean partner, HuTri Corpora tion, have announced the use of ThymoQuin®- OCare, a cold-pressed, full-spectrum black seed oil standardized to 3% thymoquinone with at least 1.2% p-Cymene (the main bio-actives in black seed with synergistic action) and less than 1.25% free fat ty acids, is now a potent ingredient for improved hali tosis (bad breath) and sensitive teeth. “We are thrilled to supply the first patent pending ThymoQuin oral health care product. ThymoQuin- OCare is a powerful, plant-based option for impro ved oral health. We have been working on this pro ject for a while, analyzing several BSO sources, and testing them in vitro compared to existing popular products. We found that the full spectrum BSO, standardized thymoquinone level, higher ratio of thymoquinone to p-cymene (at least 3:1 ) and low free fatty acids – by far, improve oral health” said Alex Chuyoun Song, CEO at HuTri Corporation. Black seed oil’s main active constituent is thymo quinone and is unstable in the presence of oxidants, like free fatty acids – which naturally occur in the plant. This leads to reduced potency of the black seed oil and rancidity. It was, therefore, a major goal of TriNutra to find a way to standardize and stabilize its black seed oil. TriNutra’s ThymoQuin is the first

cold-pressed, full-spectrum black seed oil standard ized to 3% thymoquinone and p-cymene (min. 1.2%) with very low levels of free fatty acids (FFA) (less than 1.25%). This patented composition offers po tent health benefits with increased bioavailability. ThymoQuin®-OCare is the only black seed oil that is full-spectrum and standardized to the two main actives from black seed and with low FFA. “HuTri Corporation has been a great partner in spearheading the research behind ThymoQuin’s oral health capacity which is now specially branded as ThymoQuin®-OCare,” said Morris Zelkah, CEO at TriNutra. “We are excited about the opportunity Thy moQuin®-OCare presents in this category as it con tinues to demonstrate superior results.” This announcement follows ThymoQuin’s meeting of the USP monograph standards, its European pat ent for improved stability and bioavailability, and its US patent for the composition and synergistic ef fects of ThymoQuin with Omega-3. ThymoQuin®-OCare’s oral health applications in clude, but are not limited to, mouth wash, toothpas te and dietary supplements. www.trinutra.com service@trinutra.com

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

CosmetoSAFE Consulting’s Solution for Cosmetics Technologists As many as 76% of cosmetic technologists believe that regulatory changes in the ingredient area require them to work a lot or very intensively, according to the Technologist Needs Survey report by CosmetoSAFE Consulting. The increasing commitment to work on updating product documentation means that specialists lack the time to create innovative products and develop new concepts. Rescue comes from CosmetoSAFE Assist, a tool for R&D departments, that will automate many processes when creating and updating product concepts.

e asked technologists about their opin ions on the biggest challenges in their work today. The top three challenges in the work of technologists today are: disrupted sup ply chains (37% of respondents ranked the problem as the most important); keeping up with legislative changes in the area of ingredients (39% of respon dents ranked the challenge as number two and 35% as number one!); and adapting products to changing market trends. Consequently, we can see that the pandemic aftermath is still being felt strongly in the R&D area, which for more than three years has been shaping and changing the way the cosmetics indus try operates in Poland and Europe. The following challenges faced by R&D departments today were mentioned among the most frequently repeated individual responses: • seeking substitutes for raw materials on an 'as-is' basis,

• disrupted raw material supply chain: availability and price volatility make it impossible to forecast production costs, • short transition periods for changes to constitu ent legislation; the time is too short to develop stable formulations, • the lack of a single, consistent database and clear information on legislative changes provided well in advance. A trend emerges from the responses of our res pondents, remarks Iwona Białas, safety assessor and CEO of CosmetoSAFE Consulting, indicating that in novation, keeping up with trends, in today's reality, has to give way to current problems related to main taining production continuity and keeping up with legislative changes. Having worked with cosmetic technologists for a decade years now, developing cosmetic safety as

Nutramedic &Cosmetics sessment reports, we largely work on the same data (documents), we can see what problems they face on a daily basis. Based on this experience, we have cre ated CosmetoSAFE Assist – this is an intuitive tool designed to facilitate the daily work of cosmetic companies' R&D teams, Iwona Białas concludes.

What is CosmetoSAFE Assist?

CosmetoSAFE Assist is CosmetoSAFE Consulting's proprietary tool supporting the work of techno-lo gists, product documentation specialists, regulatory departments or product managers, which compre hensively addresses product assumptions. Its aim is to increase productivity and effectiveness of work as well as minimising the risk of errors. The tool cuts by 50% the time spent working on cosmetic product documentation by: • automation of product documentation (PIF), con centration calculations or price calculations, • efficient management of formulations, raw mate rial documentation and related information, • assessing compliance with the requirements for marketing statements, • enabling the tracking of blacklists and informa tion on banned substances.

How do companies work with product and raw material documentation today?

The development of a cosmetic product is, on the one hand, a challenging conceptual task – we have to be inventive in terms of the claimed properties of the product, its composition, and its application pro perties. On the other hand, the legislator imposes on us the obligation to ensure adequate repeatability of manufacturing, stability, microbiological purity or safety of product application and, finally, evidence of the claimed cosmetic effect. The technologist's job requires technical skills and time to perform all the necessary activities on the laboratory side. In addition, the technologist must collect, process and properly archive a lot of information: raw material dossier, test results, packaging data, etc. The results of the survey confirm that, in the era of almost geometrically increasing legislative chan ges, working on product documentation takes more and more time. The matter becomes even more com plicated when legislative changes require rapid im plementation into product items present on the mar ket. When asked how much time it takes them to work on product reformulations and adaptations of formulations to legislative changes, technologists indicated a decidedly greater involvement in this type of activity in relation to 2020: for 10% of re spondents, product updates today take up approx. 50% of their working time (less than 4% of respon dents gave such an answer in 2020); for 25% of the respondents, it is between 30 and 50% of their time (almost twice as many respondents chose this ans wer when compared to 2020). Technologists note the lack of human resources to deal mainly with documentation. In particular, the constant recipe changes generate a huge amount of work related to updating the PIF or safety assess ment of the finished product. An additional problem is that the documents provided by suppliers are not prepared according to a uniform template. Some

Dominance of responses on a five-point ranking scale, n = 99.

time they are incomplete or even incorrect, or are difficult to obtain. Significantly, the lack of human resources to complete the documentation is a prob lem indicated by 58% of respondents today, while three years ago it was 33% of respondents. When asked about the tools and/or system solu tions used for recipe creation and related duties (concentration calculations, labelling, etc.), as many as 72% of survey participants said that they only use Microsoft Excel. For mass production costing tools, 84% of respondents admitted that they use Excel for this purpose, too. Those who use other software for documentation work most often use ERP or oth er in-house systems. Interestingly, there is a growing awareness among R&D employees of the possible use of automated solutions in their work. In 2020, only 6.17% of res pondents complained about the lack of appropriate tools that would systemically help manage data, compared to nearly 30% today. In our view, automation is also an opportunity for organisations to effectively manage their internal know-how. When presenting CosmetoSAFE Assist, we cannot promise that all the red-tape activities related to cosmetics creation can be transferred to data processing tools: in our solution, technologists still have to analyse the raw material dossier, pro perly assess the quality and suitability of raw materi als or packaging to his or her requirements, but note that they perform these activities for a given item on a one-off basis (according to our proprietary da ta archiving system) and then use the conclusions in future implementations – until, obviously, the next change of a given item takes place, sums up Iwona Białas. There are a number of regulatory challenges ahead, which we mention in the Technology Needs Survey Report. The Green Deal is also just beginning to enter cosmetic salons, and we can see that it will change the way the sector operates for years to come. It is worth preparing for these changes today and finding the tools that will allow us to navigate through them. www.cosmetosafe.com www.cosmetosafeassist.pl

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

Regulation 2023/1545 Amends the List of Fragrance Allergens in Cosmetics These substances are mainly present in fragrances of synthetic or natural origin and are components of essential oils, as well as individual essential oils in their entirety. The list of fragrance allergens in cosmetic products is expanded with 56 new allergens.

T AUTHOR:

Gordana Gorinšek, MSc in Phytomedicine, Cosmetic Product Safety Assessor, Expert Consultant for Cosmetic Product Safety and Regulatory Affairs

he European Commission published Regulati on (EU) 2023/1545 on July 27, 2023, amending Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding the labeling of fragrance allergens in cosmetic products. This amendment expands the existing list of fragrance allergens. By adding new fragrance substances to the list, specifically, 56 new allergens that must be listed in the ingredient list on the product informa tion (declaration) when present in certain concen trations in cosmetic products, the number of fragran ce allergens has now increased to a total of 80 sub stances. These substances are mainly present in fragran ces of synthetic or natural origin and are components of essential oils, as well as individual essential oils in their entirety. They are widely used in perfumes and other scented cosmetic products, as well as in many other products such as detergents, fabric softeners, and other household items. The goal of Regulation 2023/1545 is to protect the population from developing fragrance allergies (pri mary prevention) and to protect sensitive individuals from developing allergy symptoms (secondary pre vention). Contact allergy is a lifelong altered specific reactivity of the human immune system that can lead to eczema (allergic contact dermatitis) upon re-exposure to a sufficient quantity of allergen. The percentage of the Union's population allergic to fra grance allergens is estimated at 1-9%. For primary prevention, limiting fragrance aller gens may be sufficient. However, individuals sensi tized to a particular allergen can develop symptoms when exposed to concentrations of allergens lower than the maximum permitted levels. As a measure of secondary prevention, it is important to inform sen sitive individuals about the presence of specific fra grance allergens in cosmetic products so they can avoid contact with substances to which they are al lergic. In response to the Commission's request to up date the list of individually labeled fragrance aller gens, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) issued its opinion at a plenary session held from June 26 to 27, 2012, confirming that the fra

grance allergens listed in entry 45 and entries 67 to 92 of Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 re main relevant. Furthermore, it identified 56 addi tional fragrance allergens listed in Regulation 2023/ 1545, which have already caused allergies in humans and for which there is currently no requirement for individual labelling. In light of the SCCS's opinion, it can be concluded that there is a potential risk to human health arising from the use of additional fragrance allergens, and it is necessary to inform consumers about the pres ence of these allergens in cosmetic products. Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 adds new fragrance substances to the existing list of fragrance allergens that must be individually specified when present in concentrations exceeding: • 0.001% leave-on products and • 0.01% in rinse-off products. The new fragrance substances that must be listed on the product information are: • Pinus Mugo • Pinus Pumila • Cedrus Atlantica Oil/Extract • Turpentine • Alpha-Terpinene • Terpinolene • Myroxylon Pereirae Oil/Extract • Rose Ketones • 3-Propylidenephthalide • Lippia citriodora absolute • Methyl Salicylate • Acetyl Cedrene • Amyl Salicylate • Anethole • Benzaldehyde • Camphor • Beta-Caryophyllene • Carvone • Dimethyl Phenethyl Acetate • Hexadecanolactone • Hexamethylindanopyran • Linalyl Acetate • Menthol • Trimethylcyclopentenyl Methylisopentenol

Nutramedic &Cosmetics • Salicylaldehyde • Santalol • Sclareol • Terpineol • Tetramethyl acetyloctahydronaphthalenes • Trimethylbenzenepropanol • Vanillin • Cananga Odorata Oil/Extract • Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil • Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Oil • Citrus Aurantium Flower Oil • Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil • Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil • Citrus Limon Peel Oil • Lemongrass Oil • Eucalyptus Globulus Oil • Eugenia Caryophyllus Oil • Jasmine Oil/Extract • Juniperus Virginiana Oil • Laurus Nobilis Leaf Oil • Lavandula Oil/Extract • Mentha Piperita Oil • Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil • Narcissus Extract • Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil • Pogostemon Cablin Oil • Rose Flower Oil / Extract • Santalum Album Oil • Eugenyl Acetate • Geranyl Acetate • Isoeugenyl Acetate • Pinene Given the new restrictions, cosmetic manufactu rers are allowed a reasonable period of adjustment to implement changes in product formulations to en sure that only cosmetic products compliant with the new legal requirements are placed on the market. The adaptation to the new requirements will fol low these timelines: • 3 years for introducing new cosmetic products to the EU market, until July 31, 2026. • 5 years for cosmetic products that are already available on the EU market, until July 31, 2028.

References:

Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 of 26 July 2023 amending Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards labelling of fragrance allergens in cosmetic products. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parlia ment and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on Cosmetic Pro ducts.

Aromatični kutak Ltd. Brune Bušića 21 Zagreb, Croatia https://pif.com.hr/ info@aromaticnikutak.hr T. + 385 98 1750 934

Three Skincare Trends for 2024 Oleon Health and Beauty, specialists in the supply of sustainably produced ingredients for the beauty and personal care industry, says that there are three dynamic trends that will drive new product developments in 2024.

hese include solutions that target compromised or sensitive skin, natural and sustainable ingredient processing, and playful textures that bring a WOW factor to skin and personal care products. According to Ine Matthé, Product Manager at Oleon, sustainability and reduc ing environmental impacts are no longer differentiators but a consumer expec tation. “It’s time to move beyond token gestures to hard action,” she states. “At Oleon, we are firmly invested in fostering sustainable processing systems as il lustrated by the recent launch of our pilot enzymatic esterification plant in Bel gium.” As a solvent-free process, enzymatic esterification means that Oleon can now develop ingredients and materials with high efficiency and product quality, but with a smaller carbon footprint and increased process safety – offering sig nificant benefits to a brand’s sustainability positioning. “We currently have two products commercially available, Radia® 7199ACT and Jolee® 7749ACT - protective emol lients with great sensory properties,” she points out. Emollient capability is im portant when dealing with compromised or sensitive skin as it can directly impact dermal health. Consequently, consumers and brand owners are on the lookout for protective emollients that can balance, condition, and nourish their skin. “We know that a strong skin barrier is the first line of defense against compro mised skin. An increase in modern life stressors means that we are facing an un precedented assault on our skin - whether pollution, UV rays, chemicals, contami nants, or harsh and abrasive skincare products,” Ine notes. To offset these chal lenges, the industry is invested in developing solutions including the use of nat ural lipids, emollients, and next-level sun care products to shield the delicate skin environment from damage while protecting the skin barrier. “Here, our Jolee® and Radia® ranges offer unique, naturally produced, and highly innovative emollients that stop evaporation, protect the skin barrier, and offer fantastic elasticizing and lubricating effects with great texture and skin feel. “Jolee® 7181 for example is a non-greasy protective emollient with a glossy finish - excellent for use in sun care formulations while Jolee® 7202, a natural emollient and silicon alternative, offers excellent spread, absorption, and lightness,” Ine explains. And lightness is important in skincare too, making room for consumers to em brace fun textures and formulations that can bring an element of playfulness to products! “Our Oleon Jelly Radia® 7799 is a rheological modifier for transparent, waterless and natural formulations, offering a unique and fun texture, while main taining transparency,” Ine concludes. www.oleonhealthandbeauty.com

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

New Findings for Award-winning Conditioning Biopolymer AURIST™ AGC Launched recently for hair conditioning, new study shows AURIST™ AGC can also improve skin conditioning.

ontinuing its deep biotechnology research, IFF today announced the findings of a new study demonstrating AURIST™ AGC—a water- soluble, readily biodegradable cationic biopolymer– is effective in improving the performance of body wash products. Initially offered as a hair conditioning polymer – AURIST™ AGC also improves skin rough ness feel and rinsability in skin cleansing and body wash applications. These new insights underscore the ability of IFF’s proprietary Designed Enzymatic Bio polymer (DEB) technology to deliver scalable, perfor mance-oriented, sustainable personal care solutions. “We are dedicated to assessing the untapped po tential of our ingredients, adapting to evolving mar ket dynamics and empowering our customers to de liver innovative benefits across many applications,” said Johan Jansén-Storbacka, director, Personal Care, IFF. “With this clinical data, we can extend AURIST™ AGC’s transformative impact further into the skinca re space.”

Next-generation skincare solutions

The clinical study by expert panelists aimed to de termine the sensory benefits AURIST™ AGC brings to skin cleansing formulations. The results showed that the panelists experienced a significant reduction in skin roughness, and a smooth and silky residual feel after using cleansers containing AURIST™ AGC. The study also evaluated rinsability. In recent Min tel reports, speed has appeared as a consistently cited claim for new shower-product launches from 2020 onwards1, and 66 percent of surveyed consumers

want to reduce their time spent in the show er. 2 During the study, the panelists observed a sub stantially reduced rinsing time when using formula tions containing AURIST™ AGC.

Inspiring change: a brand with lasting impact

Launched in March this year, AURIST™ AGC is part of IFF’s new AURIST™ functional line. This collection comprises natural and nature-inspired solutions de signed to deliver benefits across leave-in or rinseoff products for both the skincare and haircare seg ments. This novel, readily biodegradable condition ing biopolymer was awarded the gold prize for Best Functional Ingredient at the 2023 in-Cosmetics Glo bal Innovation Zone. “The latest findings demonstrate the value the DEB technology can bring to the industry,” said Wayne Ashton, vice president, Home & Personal Care, IFF. “We are committed to continuing our in vestment in biotechnology and AURIST™ AGC, and we believe the DEB platform can deliver outstand ing results that meet our customers’ expectations for enhanced sustainability.” To learn more about the AURIST™ range of pro ducts and other innovative personal care ingredient offerings from IFF, click here. 1

Mintel's Global New Products Database (GNPD), Soap & Bath Pro ducts, 2020 to 2023, accessed 6 September 2023.

Mintel, UK Women’s Facial Skincare Market Report 2023.

www.iff.com

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

Planet-friendly Nutrition with Algal Astaxanthin At this year’s Fi/Hi Europe, AstaReal will present its range of naturally derived astaxanthin products for healthy agers, vegans and animals.

t this year’s Fi/Hi Europe, AstaReal will show case its recently launched Astaxin® VEGAN, an astaxanthin formula designed to not only pro mote good health but also help address environmen tal concerns. Microalgae-derived astaxanthin is one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants with scien tifically proven health benefits for both humans and animals alike. Alongside various consumer dosage forms of natural astaxanthin, the Swedish company will present its premium feed-grade Novasta® EB15 for pets, horses, livestock and other animals. Plant-based products are flourishing globally, as a result of consumer interest in health, naturalness and sustainability, as well as rising numbers of vegetari ans and vegans. AstaReal’s new astaxanthin formula, Astaxin® VEGAN, perfectly taps into this market. The vegan softgel is made of carrageenan and modified starch, with the content mirroring Astaxin® Original. AstaReal offers the most researched brand of na tural astaxanthin on the market. Its health attributes are backed by more than 70 human clinical studies, and include improved vision, stronger cognitive func tion, better muscle health and smoother skin textu re, thus addressing concerns of various target groups, from healthy agers to athletes. In addition to the company’s bulk raw and finished products, Fi Europe visitors will be able to receive technical guidance on manufacturing various astaxanthin finished dosage forms, such as hard capsules, softgels, sachet/stick powder mixes and gels, gummies and liquid shots.

In line with preventive health trends, a growing number of consumers are also looking for ingredi ents that support and protect the wellbeing of their pets. With its strong antioxidant and anti-inflamma tory properties, AstaReal® astaxanthin is a valuable ingredient for feed and pet food applications. Within the Novasta® range, the company offers a novel en capsulated product called Novasta® EB15, which aims to better preserve and maintain the antioxidant po wer of astaxanthin even after challenging produc tion processes. This means that astaxanthin can be safely and with less hurdles incorporated in most types of formulations, from soft chews to pellets. Peter Ahlm, Head of Marketing & Sales at AstaReal AB, says: “Consumer interest in sustainable foods and nutraceuticals will, with no doubt, continue to drive demand for plant-based offerings. Here, algae and microalgae-derived astaxanthin can play a key role, and look set to be future-proof ingredients. In addi tion, consumers want the best for their companions too, true to the motto ‘What’s good for me is good for my pet’. That’s why they are increasingly seeking pre mium animal food with healthy ingredients that are scientifically backed, like Novasta® EB15.” At the fair in Frankfurt, AstaReal will be represent ed at “Try Swedish”, the official Swedish country pa vilion at stand 3.0G242. http://www.astareal.se

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

INSPIRATIONAL SUCCESS STORY

757 Natural Cosmetics We spoke to Antonija Kvasina, CEO and co-founder, about developing a brand with the aim of creating 757 natural products that represent Croatia's 757 natural beauties. n How did it all start, what inspired you and what was the original idea? My high school friend and I decided to start a busi ness together ten years after that, given the circum stances we found ourselves in. We were both pas sionate about natural cosmetics, and so the idea of producing natural cosmetics was born. We devel oped the 757 Story for a whole year after the first idea. Initially, we had many ideas for the brand name, packaging, and positioning. For example, one idea was to name the brand "Lavandin" and focus on Dal matian tradition, as "lavandin" is a type of lavender we use in production. We even thought about shap ing each soap like an island, so we looked for contour maps to create molds for each island. The last idea was for our products to represent Croatian islands, specifically to be 602, which led to the ultimate idea – why represent only the islands, why not all of Cro atia's natural beauties? We contacted various insti tutions to familiarize ourselves with the categoriza tions (islands, rivers, mountains, lakes, national parks, and nature parks), and that's how 757 was born. We realized that the idea and the story had to be simple, clear, and align with what we wanted to represent. Since our focus is on nature, natural ingredients, and sustainability, we realized that 757 perfectly embod ies all of that.

Therefore, the 757 brand aims to develop 757 na tural products representing the 757 quantifiable na tural beauties of Croatia: 602 islands and islets (The Blues), 78 mountains (The Greys), 34 rivers (The Whi tes), 24 natural lakes (The Blacks), and 19 national parks and nature parks (The Greens). Each product category represents a category of natural beauties within which natural cosmetic products are develop ed – fragments of Croatia, and each product "tells a story" about one of them. n What was needed from idea to realization? From the initial idea to realization, there were many steps. The entire first year of operation was about establishing the business, from legal regula tions and setting up the production facility to test ing different product formulations and creating sto ries about the initial fragments and their packaging. In addition, from the very beginning, we have been working with numerous collaborators, and as we grow, we need to engage new people. We must say that we are thrilled to have such an amazing team. After laying the foundations of the business, it was necessary to develop product formulations along with stories for each product because the idea was for each product to be named and described with a story about the different natural beauties it repre sents, referring to the ingredients. For example, the

Nutramedic &Cosmetics soap "The Bruce Tea" (Brusnik Island) got its name through a play on words – "Bruce" (Croatian – "brus," meaning " "gravel" or "stones" in English, referring to the island's famous shape) and "Tea" due to the es sential oil it's made from (tea tree). Similarly, the soap "Bruce" is black because Brusnik Island is unique for its black rocks and the endemic species of black lizard, so one of its ingredients is activated charcoal. For example, the "The King Alminty" soap got its name through a play on words – "Alminty" instead of "Almighty" because it refers to the legend that says Kraljevac Island got its name from King Bela IV, who once hid there, and the dominant scent of that pro duct is mint. The body scrub with orange and lemon essential oils is called "Valley Down South" because it represents the Neretva River area, known for its cit rus groves. There are also "The Sleeping Giant," a night serum representing the Klek Mountain, which looks like a sleeping giant, and "The Great Essence," our first face cream with bakuchiol, representing the Velebit Mountain, known for its exceptional bio diversity. In the further stages of business development, we decided to expand the 757 concept to "Fragments of Fragments." Although our mission is to present and develop 757 fragments of Croatia through natural products, we know that there are actually countless fragments: us, you, products, different skin types, our customers' opinions, our customers' sugges tions, ingredients, communities, partners, animals, the planet. The concept of "Fragments of Fragments" represents a story about the beauty and power of nature, about the uniqueness of all fragments in the world, about the future and helping. Therefore, al though they are all different and unique, they are all connected – whether it's our products, their stories, their names, their appearance, whether it's our team members, other small producers, or each customer's skin. Although unique, all fragments are part of one world. So, we decided to start connecting fragments in various ways – supporting other producers through the #supportlocal concept, making donations to nu merous charitable organizations, and engaging in activities that lead to a more sustainable way of do ing business. This is how another number was born – one that helps the environment and animals. Action 545 (Pet4Pet) represents the concept of the possibility of returning plastic and glass packag ing. Every customer who returns plastic packaging contributes to raising funds to help animals, as for each return of plastic packaging, PET euros are set aside for donations to animal welfare organizations and shelters, while also receiving a discount on their next order. The goal of the action is also to reduce the overall amount of waste packaging and raise awareness about the importance of the circular economy and the ReUse concept. Therefore, we en courage our customers to return glass packaging as well to receive a discount on their next order. We continue to come up with new ideas and fragments.

oil, and shea butter: "The Sea Heart" (Galešnjak – or ange, lemon, and citronella), "No Man's Land" (Velika Palagruža – lavender and cinnamon), "The Island Man" (Bodulaš – lavender), "The Big Rock" (Veliki Sikavac – eucalyptus, rosemary, and palmarosa), "The King Al minty" (Kraljevac – mint, cinnamon, and cloves with blue poppy seeds), and "The Bruce Tea" (Brusnik – tea tree and activated charcoal). Next, we continued with "The Whites," a category representing the rivers of Croatia, containing natu ral body care products. There are currently two ty pes of body scrubs and two body oils: "The Minor Canyon" (Cetina – rosewood-scented body scrub), "Valley Down South" (Neretva – body scrub scented with orange and lemon), "The Butterfly Effect" (Kupa – lavender-scented body oil for dry skin), and "Rose Gold" (Drava – rosewood-scented body oil for nor mal skin). The last category of products we opened is "The Greys," representing the mountains of Croatia, whe re there are currently two face serums: "The Golden Mountain" (Mosor – a serum based on organic im mortelle oil and olive squalane for dry, normal, and mature skin) and "The Sleeping Giant" (Klek – a night serum based on a blend of cold-pressed oils rich in antioxidants and essential oils of geranium and rose wood for oily and combination skin), as well as "The Great Essence," our first face cream with bakuchiol, representing a mountain with exceptional biodiver sity – Velebit. We market our products through our online shop

n What products do you offer today, and where and how do you market them? We started our story with "The Blues," a category representing the islands and islets. In this line of skin cleansing products, there are currently six types of natural soaps based on extra virgin olive oil, coconut

Nutramedic &Cosmetics come loyal due to the quality of the products, their formulations, and the natural ingredients (from ex tra virgin olive oil sourced only from Dalmatia, coldpressed oils excellent for the skin like avocado oil, hazelnut oil, or almond oil, to bakuchiol – a gentle natural alternative to retinol). We have received a lot of positive feedback so far. It's a great feeling when you hear this after putting in the effort. One of our ideas during development was to try to create demand in foreign markets so that foreign customers buy our product in the Croatian market as both a souvenir and a cosmetic product, and if they like it and it suits their skin, they have the op tion to order through our online store. Since we have achieved that, we are extremely proud of it. We would also like to highlight our 545 (Pet4Pet) action that we started last year. We sincerely thank everyone who recognized it and participated in it, and we hope that more and more customers will reco gnize our efforts and help us achieve these goals. We believe that this action can succeed and grow only with the support and cooperation of our cus tomers, and we hope it will strengthen in the future.

and various stores across Croatia (and some abroad). These are mostly concept stores, hotel souvenir shops, or boutique shops throughout Croatia. In ad dition, we focus on product customization, and the refore, corporate gifts for clients and employees, fragments as thank-you gifts for villa, apartment, and hotel guests, and wedding favors are significant channels for us. n Are you satisfied with what you've achieved? Yes, very much so. Although we know that the goal of developing 757 natural products is very ambi tious, we believe that we are on the right path and are satisfied with everything we have achieved so far. The speed of achieving the goal is not our priori ty; quality and enjoying the entire process are what matter to us. We might reach the goal, our children might, or even our grandchildren. Therefore, we fo cus on various accompanying activities that we con sider most important at the moment for our busi ness and, ultimately, for achieving the ultimate goal – to make the world a little better in this journey, as we like to say, "fragment by fragment." n What are you most proud of? Among other things, we would say we are most proud of our story about 757 natural products rep resenting 757 natural beauties. This story generates interest among customers, giving them a dimension of getting to know various beautiful natural places in Croatia. After trying the products, customers often be

n Is there anything else you would like to add... wishes, plans... Our future plans involve launching a new product, which we can't reveal yet because it's still in the for mulation stage, and expanding our business into new industries. Furthermore, one of our plans is to place a greater focus on product customization because we have received many inquiries in that context. We offer various types of gift packages and allow customers to create their own gift packages according to their needs and desires. These packages can include our ready-made products and can be customized, from adding a company logo to the packaging or adjust ing the entire visual identity of the gift. In addition to gift packages, there are also thank-you gifts for villa and apartment guests, as they are ideal souvenir gifts that tell stories about the natural beauty of Croatia. In this case, we also offer partial or com plete customization of the products, from logos on personalized tags or packaging to creating a com pletely new visual identity for private accommoda tions or hotels. And, of course, our main goal and desire in the end is to enjoy the whole process.

Nalivpero Ltd. 757 NATURAL COSMETICS Gaminica 29, Žrnovnica, Croatia Antonija Kvasina, CEO & Co-Founder T. +385 91 89 72 988 antonija@757.hr www.757.hr

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

medicinal plants photo herbarium

Passiflora

Flavonoids, alkaloids and coumarins have been found to be some of the constituents of Passiflora incarnata L. Various parts of this plant, known for its beautiful and unusual flowers, are available in a variety of forms, including teas, tinctures and food supplements.

assiflora (Passiflora incarnata L.) is a herba ceous vine, with bare, thin, poorly furrowed stems up to 9 meters long, with alternately arranged leaves. The leaves are deeply palmately di vided, and the leaflets are ovate-lanceolate, finely serrated at the top. On the long leaf stalks, there are two nectary glands. The flowers are single, 3-8 cm in diameter, the petals are pale purple, and from their base grows a series of filamentous pink to purple corona members, so the petals appear of two types. Passiflora is native to the eastern and southern parts of North America, and is planted as an orna mental plant all over the world. The entire aboveground part of the plant is used. Passiflora incarnata serves as a host plant for se veral butterfly species. Passionflower’s floral arrangement is so unique that early Christian missionaries decided to capita lize on its distinctive morphology, and use it as an educational tool in describing Christ’s crucifixion. The name describes the passion of Christ and his disciples1. The ripe fruits have a spongy partition, interesting in texture, which bears the ripe whitish yellow edible flesh surrounding the black hard seeds1.

Habitat & Cultivation

logical effects. A comprehensive review of the liter ature reveals Passiflora incarnata's anxiolytic prop erties. Experimental studies have demonstrated its ability to modulate gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, leading to anxiolytic effects. This is con sistent with traditional knowledge of the plant's ca pacity to induce relaxation and reduce anxiety. Sci entific studies have elucidated Passiflora incarna ta's role in improving sleep patterns. Its administra tion has been associated with an increase in total sleep time and a reduction in sleep latency. The ob served effects align with its historical application in managing insomnia. It has been shown to modulate neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which may underlie its calming effects. The plant's potential to relax muscular ten sion has been substantiated. Experimental research suggests its efficacy in reducing muscle spasms, which complements its traditional use in this regard. It's available in various forms, such as teas, tinc tures, and supplements, for these purposes.

References: 1

https://chestnutherbs.com/passionflower-ecology-cultiva tion-botany-and-medicinal-and-edible-uses/

Andrew Chevallier Mnihm: The encyclopedia of medicinal plants, Dorling Kindersley Limited, London, 1996. ISBN 0 7513 03143

Passiflora spp.

TAXONOMY

kingdom: Plantae order: Violales

family: Passifloraceae genus: Passiflora

species: Passiflora

incarnata L.

common name

purple passionflower, maypop, old field apricot flowering time

VI - IX month

Native to southern and central America, passion flower is now extensively cultivated in Europe.

Use for medicinal purposes

Passiflora incarnata L. has a history of traditional medicinal use. It is primarily known for its potential calming and sedative properties. It has sedative, an tispasmodic and tranquillizing properties.

Constituents

• flavonoids (vitexin, apigenin) • maltol • cyanogenic glycosides (gynocardin) • coumarin derivates • etheric oils

Action and application

Parts used are leaves, stem, and flowers, harvest when the leaves are green and vital (herba cum flore). Flavonoids, alkaloids, and coumarins are among the constituents identified in this plant. These com pounds are believed to contribute to its pharmaco

Passiflora spp.

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

¡Hola Barcelona!: Vitafoods Europe Announces Farewell to Geneva with Relocation for 2025 The development marks an exciting new future for the brand, with more opportunities for visitors and exhibitors at the world’s nutraceutical event.

nforma Markets has announced that Vitafoods Europe, the world’s nutraceutical event, will move to its new home of Barcelona in 2025. After 26 hu gely successful years in Geneva, the decision comes after extensive visitor and exhibitor feedback, as well as exciting growth plans for the much-loved brand. With the global nutraceuticals market expected to grow at a significant CAGR of 9.3% by 2030, the move will al low the event to grow in line with market potential, wel coming more visitors and exhibitors and creating mo re business opportunities for companies that attend. Vitafoods Europe 2025 will be held on 20-22 May 2025 at Fira Barcelona, with more details on event features, content and sponsors to be announced next year. Speaking on the move, Natasha Berrow, Executive Vice President - Food, at Informa Markets, said, “After over two and a half incredible decades in Geneva, we’re excited to announce that Barcelona will be the home of Vitafoods Europe from 2025. From humble beginnings in 1997 with just 100 exhibitors and a 2,500m2 show floor, Vitafoods Europe now welco mes tens of thousands of visitors every year to con nect, learn and be inspired. The move is the result of the amazing growth we’ve had over the decades, and our new home will allow the event – and the compa nies that visit or exhibit – to continue to grow in line with the fast-paced nutraceutical market.”

A new chapter

Defined by more than just its location, Vitafoods Europe prides itself on being at the centre of the nu traceutical community. Its new home in Barcelona is ideal for facilitating the growth of the event and the wider nutraceutical community. Firstly, Spain is both a key test market for new nutraceutical product laun ches and one of the top 5 countries in the European nutraceuticals market, which collectively make up 66% of the market. Plus, the city’s accessibility was also a crucial selection factor due to the provision of more direct flights, accommodation options and streamli

ned logistics within the EU. Barcelona has approxima tely 40,000 available hotel rooms and nearly 3,000 flights departing from its airport weekly, connecting to almost 200 airports worldwide, including those in North America, South America, Asia and Africa. And the city’s lively culture, attractions and food and drink make it an attractive destination, enhancing the Vi tafoods Europe experience. Together, these factors will make it even easier for companies to attend Vi tafoods Europe 2025 and explore new business op portunities. Berrow further comments on the announcement: “Our goal, as always, is to serve the needs of the nu traceutical community, both now and for years to come. So, as the industry evolves, so too does Vita foods Europe. Barcelona has been selected as our new home after extensive research and listening to both our exhibitors and visitors, carefully consider ing what matters most to them. What’s more, Barce lona is not only a key European market for nutraceu ticals, but it also has the right mix of vibrant archi tecture, culture and atmosphere to match the viva cious spirit of our community. And thanks to the ro bust infrastructure offered by both the city and the venue, Fira Barcelona, this is just the next step in a long and exciting future for Vitafoods Europe.” She adds, “We would of course like to thank the Geneva Palexpo team for a wonderful 26 years. We’re excited to bring our best-ever Vitafoods Europe yet to Geneva in 2024, before welcoming in the next chapter with our much-loved community in Barcelo na in May 2025.”

References: 1

Grand View Research, ‘Nutraceuticals Market Report’, 2023

Frost & Sullivan, ‘Global Nutraceutical Industry: Investing in Heal thy Living’, 2011

Grand View Research, ‘Nutraceuticals Market Report’, 2023

Statistica, ‘Hotel capacity in Barcelona 1990-2022’, 2023

www.vitafoods.eu.com

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In Croatian pharmacies since 2009

B2B Nutramedic&Cosmetics No. 7

Articles inside

¡Hola Barcelona!: Vitafoods Europe Announces Farewell to Geneva with Relocation for 2025

medicinal plants photo herbarium Passiflora

INSPIRATIONAL SUCCESS STORY 757 Natural Cosmetics

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New Findings for Award-winning Conditioning Biopolymer AURIST™ AGC

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New Partnership to Enhance Regulatory and Safety Capabilities for Food and Cosmetics

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