Selenium SeLECT^®: Exempt From European Union Food Supplements Directive

On August 1, 2005 , the European Union is scheduled to ban approximately 300 supplement ingredients as part of the Food Supplements Directive. Sabinsa submitted an extensive dossier containing research findings and safety data and was granted exemption from this directive for Selenium SeLECT^®. The remaining 23 member states of the European Union will grant derogation or accept the result of derogation by the United Kingdom and Denmark .

"We are pleased to be able to continue providing manufacturers in the European Union with our high-quality, pure and safe Selenium SeLECT^®, and in turn allow consumers to continue to reap the numerous health benefits associated with Selenium SeLECT^® supplementation," stated Dr. Vladimir Badmaev, vice president of scientific and medical affairs, Sabinsa. "We would like to thank our European suppliers Gee Lawson Nutritional in the UK and PharmaNord in Denmark for helping us gain this status in their respective countries."

The continued availability of Selenium SeLECT^® is welcome news to finished dosage form manufacturers in the EU. Recent clinical research revealed that Selenium SeLECT^® is more bioavailable than inorganic forms of selenium. These findings were highlighted in a VendorWorks Presentation entitled 'Bioavailability of Selenium a Key Factor in its Nutritional and Therapeutic Use' at the SupplySide East International Tradeshow and Conference in Baltimore , MD , on May 6th. Dr. Vladimir Badmaev, vice president of scientific & medical affairs at Sabinsa Corporation, along with Dr. Richard A. Passwater, a renowned selenium expert, presented research surrounding the bioavailability of several forms of selenium, including Sabinsa's Selenium SeLECT^® brand selenomethionine.

NSF Certification for Sabinsa's Products and Facilities

Todd Norton received the plaque from Kathleen Jordan of NSF International. Others in the picture: Amber King (Right), Larissa Moore (Left) of NSF

Italian Regulatory Authority and the Medicines and Healthcare products

Regulatory Agency (U.K), have been alerting global regulatory agencies that certain products containing Coleus forskohlii have been associated with four cases of acute atropine like poisoning (agitation, confusion, hallucination, tachycardia, mydriasis and past amnesia) following their ingestion. Two additional adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports of tremor, asthenia, visual disturbance and confusion have also been related to the use of Coleus forskohlii containing products in Italy .

The products in question are Coleus forskohlii 20% supplied by Indoworld Prating Corporation (India), GALENO SRL, EPO SRL And Alchem International Ltd (India) and Coleus forskohlii 10% supplied by GALENO SRL, EPO SRL. The Italian authorities suspect a possible batch contamination. Whilst it has not been confirmed, it is possible that Coleus forskohlli may have been substituted or adulterated with a member of the Solanaceae family. This is a family which includes a number of poisonous and psychoactive plants, and includes Atropa belladonna (Deadly Nightshade). Many members of the family contain tropane alkaloids such as atropine. These reports accentuate the importance of stringent quality control in sourcing, processing, storage and distribution of herbal products.

The branded ingredient Forslean^® a standardized extract from Coleus forskohlii roots supplied by Sabinsa Corporation, undergoes stringent testing at every stage, and has clinically proven safety and efficacy. Recently, an independent toxicological review by CANTOX Health Sciences International, further established the safety of ForsLean^®.

Spices Board India Certifies Curcumin C³ Complex^® as "Sudan Red Free"

Believed to cause cancer if consumed in large enough quantities, Sudan I, II, III, IV are forbidden colors under the "Colors in Food Regulations 1995" in Europe. Their degradation products are regarded to be carcinogenic and teratogenic.

The European Commission first notified exporting countries of chili, notably India , as far back as June 2003 that consignments of hot chili and hot chili products imported into the EU for human consumption, should be accompanied by an analytical report demonstrating the consignment was free of Sudan I. The EU has since expanded the scope of notification to cover Sudan II, Sudan III and Scarlet Red (Sudan IV).

In January this year, a European Commission effort extended the rules on the illegal red chemical dyes to include curry powder. Banned under European Union rules last year, the harmful Sudan dye, also known as "scarlet red", has since been found in a range of chili powders and curry powders, as well as more than 200 food products containing these ingredients.

In February 2005, such findings resulted in the largest product recall measure in British history. Subsequently, British regulators announced mandatory testing for certain imported spices, including cayenne pepper and turmeric, to see if they contain the illegal red dye linked to cancer. Testing began in early May, leading to the recall of several products from department store shelves.

No Sudan dyes were detected on an independent analysis of Curcumin C³ Complex^®, the patented standardized Turmeric root extract from Sabinsa Corporation. The Spices Board, India issued a certificate stating that the product is free from Sudan -I, Sudan-II , Sudan -III and Sudan-IV.

People Focus:
Hame Persaud

Hame Persaud recently joined Sabinsa Corporation as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Hame brings to Sabinsa more than 18 years experience in developing and marketing products in the beauty and nutritional supplement industries. He will work closely with Sabinsa's management team, helping to create comprehensive sales and marketing strategies to educate customers on the company and its extensive product lines.

Prior to joining Sabinsa, Hame ran his own consulting business and has helped launch more than 20 companies in the nutritional care industry including Eniva Corporation and Blue Mountain Nutraceuticals. He also worked as director of marketing and special projects for Garden State Nutritionals, where he assisted in the formulation and introduction of dietary supplement products for a number of internationally known companies in the beauty, network marketing and pharmacy industries. Additionally, Hame spent eight years with Aveda Corporation, where he held numerous high-level management positions including director of sales for the company's central region and business assistant to the CEO. While with Aveda, Hame developed and successfully launched Intelligent Nutrients, Aveda's sister nutritional supplements company, based in Minneapolis , Minn. hame studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University , Mansfield College , Oxford , and holds an honors law degree from the London School of Economics in London , England .

COSMETIC CORNER

We recently launched a new product - Chlorogenic Acid 60%, which is extracted from green coffee beans. The product was launched in Europe at the In Cosmetics in Berlin and in North America at the NYSCC Supplier's Day.

Chlorogenic Acid and other caffeoyl esters are among the most potent free radical scavengers found in plant tissues. Chlorogenic Acid has a very high alkyl peroxyl radical scavenging activity. Compared to about eighteen other compounds, (including quercetin, gallic acid, alpha-tocopherol), chlorogenic acid was only second to rutin. According to literature reports, in particular, the inhibitory potency of chlorogenic acid on ONOO- scavenging (peroxynitrite radical) is considerable when compared with other metabolites, natural products or synthetic compounds.

Chlorogenic Acid is therefore a natural antioxidant with potential applications in antiaging compositions and in compositions that provide active protection against oxidation, and damage by free radicals.

Tradeshows:

Sabinsa Corporation will participate in the following upcoming industry events:

ChemSpec Europe, 2005
June 22-23
Dusseldorf , Germany

PRODUCT ADS

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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".