ANVISA approves first tetrahydrocurcuminoid for use in Brazil

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Natural ingredient supplier Sabinsa announced this week that The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) has green-lighted its Curcumin C3 Reduct as health ingredient in the country.

“Brazil has a large and diverse population, with increasing disposable income, seeking health supplements for wellness and preventive health care,” Dr. Anurag Pande, vice president of scientific affairs at Sabinsa, told NutraIngredients-USA. “In short, the Brazilian market’s regulatory framework, growing health consciousness and demographics present a promising landscape for Sabinsa’s unique, clinically studied ingredients.”

C3 Reduct is the first and only tetrahydrocurcuminoids authorized in the Brazilian market, where it is approved at a 120 mg dose.

Next generation of curcuminoids

The authorization “marks a significant milestone in the supplement market in Brazil, ushering in the era of next generation of curcuminoids,” Dr. Pande said.  

C3 Reduct is the first product to deliver curcumin as metabolite tetrahydrocurcuminoid instead of the more conventional turmeric extracts available on the market. Backed by four clinical trials substantiating efficacy and safety, Sabinsa says this metabolite ingredient is pharmacologically superior to curcuminoids and is responsible for curcumin’s biological function in the body.

“As a cascading antioxidant, in comparison to a standalone antioxidant, Curcumin C3 Reduct will act as an antioxidant for a longer time and show cumulatively stronger activity,” the company shared in a statement. “With higher bioavailability in the gut compared to parent curcuminoids, Curcumin C3 Reduct can be delivered in a smaller tablet or capsule.”

White or clear in color, it is marketed across products as a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in areas such as immune function, energy balance, detoxification, metabolism, stress response, neuroplasticity, joint health and digestion, among others—but without the bright yellow staining associated with curcumin.

Opportunity in the Brazilian market

For Sabinsa, the Brazilian supplement market and its rigorous submission process provide “an opportunity to distinguish high-quality, scientifically backed ingredients like C3 Reduct”.

Dr. Pande explained that in a pre-registration market, regulatory approvals play a critical role in ensuring consumer trust and market stability for branded ingredients and products, which he says favors companies like Sabinsa that prioritize scientific research and regulatory compliance. 

"Approval of C3 Reduct by ANVISA on the IN28 list is a testament to the science that Sabinsa has created on curcumin metabolites. This is our first approval in the Brazilian market, with more to follow," said Dr. Muhammed Majeed, founder at Sabinsa and author of the book "Reductive Metabolites of Curcuminoids".

C3 Reduct launched into the U.S. market in 2014 and is approved as natural health product in Canada. It is also the first curcuminoid metabolite ingredient to have been granted Novel Foods approval by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).