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Current
Issues - Newsletter
April 2000 |
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Sabinsa
Corporation Participates in European Trade Show Event |
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Sabinsa Corporation participated in
the trade show event, In-Cosmetics Europe, held
in Barcelona, Spain from April 11th to April 13th
2000. Products from the expanding cosmeceutical
line, including Tetrahydrocurcuminoids, BoswellinÒ
-CG, Aleuritic acid, Green tea catechins, Rosmarinic
acid, Ursolic acid, and Turmeric oil were exhibited
at the show. |
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Role of Antioxidants in Chronic Disease Prevention
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The
National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released a report on
April 11th reviewing the emerging science of antioxidants
and their potential for disease protection. As summarized
by the Council for Responsible Nutrition, although the
report did not conclude that scientific evidence is sufficiently
consistent to permit recommended intakes based on disease
prevention, it did recognize the wide range of safe intakes
for antioxidant vitamins and issued higher Recommended
Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for vitamins C and E. The new
RDAs for antioxidant nutrients are: vitamin C (75 milligrams
(mg) for women and 90 mg for men), vitamin E (15 mg),
and selenium (55 micrograms (mcg)).
The report stated that there is "reason to expect
that the antioxidant vitamins (C and E) should decrease
the risk of cardiovascular disease." The report
concluded that vitamin E does inhibit LDL oxidation
(a causative agent for cardiovascular disease) and could
also affect the health of arteries in other ways. The
report also noted that it is reasonable to expect that
vitamin C would reduce oxidative damage to the eye,
thus lessening the risk of cataracts and other conditions.
The NAS report also established tolerable upper intake
levels (ULs) for vitamin C (2,000 mg), vitamin E (1,000
mg) and selenium (400 mcg). ULs for adults are set to
protect the most sensitive individuals of the general
population.
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High-selenium
Food Products |
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High
Selenium pork: A Successful Product in Korea.
Selen pork, a special brand of high selenium
pork, containing about ten times the selenium content
of traditional pork is being marketed successfully in
Korea. Pigs yielding this product are fed Sel-Plex,
an organic selenium supplement which contains selenomethionine
and other naturally-occurring organic selenium compounds.
A study performed in Spain2 reported that
a combination of supplemental selenium and the antioxidant
vitamins E and vitamin C in swine diets helped reduce
drip loss and improve the shelf life of fresh pork products.
Drip loss is a particular problem in pale, soft and
exudative pork. Selenium and vitamins E and C are potential
antioxidants. Vitamin E helps prevent lipids in the
cell membrane from breaking down. Selenium also appears
to protect the cell, preventing the fluid portion of
the cytoplasm from breaking down.
In the study, University of Murcia
researchers fed pigs 0.1 parts per million supplemental
organic selenium. Pork from those pigs showed slightly
lower drip loss for up to 120 hours after slaughter
(Fig. 1).
In an additional trial,
consumers rated the antioxidant-supplemented pork as
juicier and more tender than pork from the control pigs
that were not fed organic selenium.
- Agro-Industry High Tech-January/February
2000, page 41.
- A. Munoz, M. D. Garindo and M.V.
Granados (1997) Effect of selenium yeast and vitamins
C and E on pork meat exudation (cited by T.P. Lyons
In: Biotechnology in the Feed Industry, 14th Annual
Symposium, p. 1).
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Selenium-rich
Designer Eggs |
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Efficient
transfer of dietary selenium through the inclusion of
an organic form of the trace element in laying hens’
diets opens up new possibilities for functional eggs providing
this essential trace element to an increasingly health
conscious world population.
Source:
The International Egg Commission Newsletter, June
1999
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FDA Withdraws
Proposed Limits on Herb Ephedra |
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On
Friday, March 31st, 2000, Federal health officials withdrew
controversial proposals to limit consumption of the
herb ephedra since they plan to conduct a new review
of its safety. Ephedra has been promoted as an ingredient
in weight-loss products by the dietary supplements industry.
The FDA has been criticized by industry members for
creating unfounded concerns about this substance, based
on about 273 adverse events reports from people consuming
ephedra-containing products.
In 1997, based on these concerns, the FDA had proposed
limiting ephedra dosages in supplements and enforcing
the use of warning labels for consumers to take them
for no longer than seven days because of the risk of
heart attacks, strokes or other serious problems. Those
proposals are now withdrawn on account of opposition
from lawmakers and industry groups who contended that
the FDA did not have enough scientific evidence to support
the limits and had relied on anecdotal evidence. Besides,
ephedra has been used for centuries in Asia and only
has a mild stimulant effect comparable to caffeine,
if taken in the proper manner.
As reported by Reuters, Wes Siegner, a spokesman for
the Ephedra Education Council, an industry group, stated
that the industry was very interested in marketing these
products safely and believed in their current national
standard, which includes warnings against ephedra use
by people with heart problems or other conditions that
make taking stimulants dangerous. The FDA, meanwhile,
said it had enlisted agency officials and outside experts
to review the reports of possible side effects to ephedra..
Sabinsa Corporation supplies Sida cordifolia extract
standardized to contain 0.8% ephedrine.
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Immunological
Effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria |
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A review
article in the current issue of the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition details the therapeutic and preventive
effects of yogurt and lactic acid bacteria on diseases
such as cancer, gastrointestinal disorders, and asthma.
Since the immune system is an important factor in all
of these diseases, early researchers proposed that lactic
acid bacteria had an immunostimulatory effect. This hypothesis
was investigated by using mainly animal models and occasionally,
human subjects. Although the results of these studies
are not conclusive due to improper experimental design
and conditions used, they do provide a strong rationale
for the hypothesis that increased yogurt/active lactic
cultures consumption, particularly in immuno-compromised
populations such as the elderly, may enhance the immune
response, which would in turn increase resistance to immune-related
diseases.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 71,
No. 4, 861-872, April 2000
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Plant
Sterols and Stanols Help to Prevent Heart Disease |
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According
to a new clinical review1, the risk of heart disease could
be reduced by 25 % by adding plant stanols or sterols
to the daily diet. Plant stanols and sterols reduce the
absorption of cholesterol, thereby lowering serum cholesterol
levels. Plant stanols are esterified to form plant stanol
esters that can be incorporated into margarines and other
foods. Dr. Malcolm Law from the Wolfson Institute of Preventive
Medicine and the author of the article states that just
2 g of plant stanols added to an average daily portion
of margarine can reduce the risk of heart disease by effecting
decrease in serum concentrations of low density lipoprotein
cholesterol by an average of 0.54 mmol/L in people aged
50-59, 0.43 mmol/L in those aged 40-49, and 0.33 mmol/L
in those aged 30-39.
A recent study revealed that cholesterol absorption
decreased by 18% in subjects consuming soy sterol ester
and by 17% when the subjects took ß-sitostanol
ester, as compared to untreated controls2.
- BMJ 2000; 320:861-864 (25 March)
- Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2000 Apr; 71(4):908-13
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Tea Drinking
& Bone Mineral Density in Older Women |
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High
caffeine intake is reported as a risk factor for reduced
bone mineral density (BMD) in older women. Most studies,
however, are from populations in which coffee drinking
predominates and is the major caffeine source. Tea contains
caffeine but also has other nutrients, such as flavonoids
(catechins), that may influence bone mass in different
ways. The amino acid theanine, present in tea, is also
reported to counteract the stimulant effects of caffeine.
A study performed in Britain, where tea-drinking is
common, measured BMD in 1256 free living women aged
65–76 years in Cambridge, United Kingdom. There
were 1134 tea drinkers (90.3%) and 122 non–tea
drinkers (9.7%). Compared with non–tea drinkers,
tea drinkers had significantly greater (5%) mean BMD
measurements, adjusted for age, and significantly greater
body mass index. These findings were independent of
smoking status, use of hormone replacement therapy,
coffee drinking, and whether milk was added to the tea.
The authors concluded that nutrients found in tea, such
as flavonoids, may influence BMD and offer protection
against osteoporosis in older women.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 71,
No. 4, 1003-1007, April 2000
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Product
Focus : Tetrahydrocurcuminoids |
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Tetrahydrocurcuminoids
(THC)*, the patent pending nutrient for topical and oral
applications are color-free compounds derived from the
yellow curcuminoids** (the biologically active principles
extracted from the rhizomes of (Curcuma longa) (Figure
2). The properties of THC, particularly its superior
antioxidant property, combined with the lack of yellow
color, render this product useful for oral (e.g. achromatic
foods) and cosmetic applications that currently employ
conventional synthetic antioxidants.
Oral Use
THC has been reported to be an effective antioxidant
and chemopreventive agent.1 The Tetrahydrocurcuminoids’
chemopreventive properties are associated with their
antioxidant effects since free radicals have been
proven to be causative factors of tumor promotion.
A recent study validated the well-known superior
antioxidant properties of THC and explained the mechanism
of antioxidant action. In this study, the inhibitory
effects of curcumin and THC were studied on the lipid
peroxidation of erythrocyte membranes induced by tertbutylhydroperoxide.
The results demonstrated that THC showed a greater
inhibitory effect than curcumin. The authors concluded
that THC must efficiently scavenge free radicals such
as the tert-butoxyl radical and peroxyl radical. They
also based their explanation of the tetrahydrocurcuminoids’
mechanism of antioxidant action on their molecular
structure. The diketo moiety was identified as exhibiting
antioxidant activity by cleavage of the C-C bond on
the active methylene group (CH2-)
carbon located between the carbonyls in the diketo
moiety.2
Similar results were reported in
another study that evaluated the comparative antioxidant
activity of curcuminoids and tetrahydrocurcumin in
vitro using linoleic acid as the substrate in an ethanol/water
system as well as using rabbit erythrocyte membranes
and rat livers. It was found that Tetrahydrocurcumin
had the strongest antioxidant activity among all curcuminoids
in each assay system. The authors concluded that these
results must play an important role in the antioxidant
mechanism of curcumin in vivo.3
Cosmetic Use
The tetrahydrocurcuminoids’ antioxidant actions
are useful and important in maintaining skin health
and integrity. As established, free radicals on the
surface of the skin, generated thorough exposure to
ultraviolet radiation, chemicals, or other environmental
stress factors catalyze aging of the skin. The tetrahydrocurcuminoids’
precursors, the curcuminoids, have been validated
as topical antioxidants in laboratory experiments.
Curcuminoids are reported to protect normal human
keratinocytes from hypoxanthine/xanthine injury in
in vitro studies. This study suggests that curcuminoids
and therefore THC offer protection to the skin and
could be included as functional antioxidants in topical
applications.4 Added benefits
of THC are its anti-inflammatory5,6
action and ability to improve the shelf-life of fat-based
topical formulations by inhibiting the auto-oxidation
of fats.
- Kim et al. (1998) Carcinogenesis, 19(1), 81-85.
- Sugiyama et al. (1996) Biochem. Pharmacol., 52(4),
519-525.
- Huang et al. (1997) J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl.,
27, 26-34.
- Bonté et al. (1997) Planta Medica, 63(3),
256-266.
- Mukhopadhaya et al. (1982) 12, 2287.
- Rao et al. (1982) Ind. J. Med. Res., 75, 574-578.
** Patent granted for curcuminoids and its
derivative, e.g. THC, US Patent #5,861,415
* Patent Pending
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People
focus: Helen Ricalde |
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Helen Ricalde recently joined Sabinsa’s
New Jersey office as Manager, Quality Assurance/Quality
Control. She graduated from Rutgers University in
May 1999 with a Bachelor’s degree in Food
Science and Biological Sciences. Before joining
Sabinsa, Helen gained valuable experience at McNeil
Specialty Products Company, a division of Johnson
& Johnson, participating in research on sucralose.
While in school, she worked as a Laboratory Assistant
at Dragoco, an international flavor and fragrance
manufacturer. She had also been a Research Assistant
at Cook College’s Department of Food Science,
participating in studies involving virulence mechanisms
of E. coli 0157:H7. We take this opportunity to
welcome Helen aboard! |
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Sabinsa's
upcoming shows |
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Sabinsa
Corporation will participate in the following Trade Show
Events in May 2000. May 3-5, 2000:
Vitafoods International at PalExpo Convention Center
(Geneva, Switzerland)
Booth #1570
May 8-10, 2000:
Supply Side East at Meadowlands Convention Center (Secaucus,
NJ)
Booth #613
May 16-17, 2000:
NY Society of Cosmetic Chemists Suppliers Day Event
at Meadowlands Convention Center (Secaucus, NJ)
Booth #116
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| "The information
presented in the "Current Issues" Newsletter
from Sabinsa Corporation is for informational purposes
only. It is abstracted from web and print media
sources. Readers are advised to refer to the original
sources for additional information". |
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