Across the Nutra-verse: CBD safety, omega-3 DHA for arterial health, BASF interest in HMOs, and more

27-May-2019 - Last updated on 27-May-2019 at 01:59 GMT

It’s a global industry and there’s a lot happening. We know it’s not always easy keeping up with everything that’s happening around the world. The answer? Our weekly round-up of key news from across the globe.

USA

Mouse study finds level of liver toxicity for CBD

A new study with mice has found a level of liver toxicity for CBD, providing important information about safe dosage ranges for regulators.

Data published in Molecules, found indications of liver damage at doses that would be equivalent to those used in humans. Researchers from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock also found that CBD differentially regulated more than 50 genes, some of which were linked to drug metabolizing enzymes.

Igor Koturbash, PhD, the study’s lead researcher, told NutraIngredients-USA that their data indicate that, “there is a potential for herb/drug interactions.”

Dr Koturbash said the results should be a cause for further investigation of the safety parameters of hemp extracts, especially as they are appearing willy-nilly on the market in a host of delivery forms and at a wide range of dosages.

Europe

BASF and Glycosyn partner on HMOs for gut health

BASF is partnering with biotechnology firm Glycosyn to develop and commercialize human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) for use in dietary supplements, functional nutrition and medical food.

Under the terms of the agreement, Glycosyn grants BASF the exclusive license of its HMO patent portfolio for gut health that extends beyond infant nutrition to gastrointestinal health.

“We expect products in the dietary supplement and functional nutrition markets first, but based on growing scientific evidence, we also see opportunities to penetrate medical food applications,” said Stefan Ruedenauer, director of research & development and scientific marketing at BASF Human Nutrition.

Glycosyn's patent portfolio includes the use of E.coli and other microbial strains to produce around fifteen additional HMOS at lab scale for use in infant formula and other nutritional and health applications.

BASF already launched 2’-FL (2’-Fucosyllactose), the most abundant HMO in breast milk, earlier this year. The ingredient, which is branded Prebilac, is available for use in dietary supplements with the first consumer products created from the partnership expected to be launched by the second half of the year in the US and the EU.

For more on this, please click HERE.

Asia

Garden of Life expands in China with ‘mykind’ supplement series

US-based Garden of Life – a subsidiary of Nestlé Health Science – is expanding its offerings in China with the launch of “mykind” series of supplements, including multivitamins, fish oil, probiotics, and protein powder.

Mykind multivitamins are made from natural organic fruits and vegetables, and will be available via cross-border e-commerce in China.

For more on this, please see the full article on NutraIngredients-Asia.

USA

DHA omega-3 linked to less aortic calcification

Omega-3 heart © Getty Images zozzzzo — © Getty Images / zozzzzo

A new study with 998 men aged between 40 and 49 in the general population found that higher levels of omega-3s, and DHA in particular, may be associated with less aortic calcification.

Scientists from the University of Pittsburgh (USA), Korea University (South Korea), the University of Hawaii (USA), and Shiga University of Medical Science (Japan) wrote: “Evidence concerning LCn-3PUFAs and atherosclerosis is limited in the general population. Evidence generated from this study adds to the evidence on the anti-atherosclerotic property of LCn-3PUFAs especially DHA in healthy middle-aged men.

“The findings of this study, if replicated in larger and longer follow-up studies, would help support intake of LCn-3PUFAs policy in the general population.”

Harry Rice, PhD, VP of regulatory & scientific affairs for the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED), told NutraIngredients-USA: “What I find really interesting is not that there was an inverse association of omega-3 blood levels and aortic calcification, but that the results appeared to be driven by DHA, not EPA. Which fatty acid is best for maintaining cardiovascular health or treating specific cardiovascular conditions is an ongoing debate and there appears to be an uptick in research differentiating the benefits of one fatty acid over the other.”