Vitamin E protects critical nutrient, prevents neurologic damage and death in embryos

Researchers have discovered that a dietary deficiency of vitamin E in laboratory animals can cause significant neurological impairment in developing embryos, as well as physical abnormalities and embryonic death.
The study suggests that one mechanism leading to this damage may be loss of the role vitamin E plays in protecting levels of DHA, one of the most important of the omega-3 fatty acids that plays a crucial role in brain and cellular development.
The work, by scientists in the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, was done with zebrafish, a vertebrate that has neurologic development very similar to humans.
They also have dietary needs that are more similar to humans than some other animal models.
In these fish, vitamin E-deficient embryos did not respond correctly to visual cues, had severe physical abnormalities as early as two days after fertilization, and many died before the end of five days.
The findings were published in Redox Biology, in work supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.
They take on special significance, researchers say, because more than 90 percent of the adults in the United States who do not take supplements have diets deficient in vitamin E.
“DHA in a developing embryo is very important for cell signaling and membrane development,” said Melissa McDougall, an OSU graduate research assistant in the Linus Pauling Institute and the College of Public Health and Human Sciences, and lead author on this publication.
“Our research showed that adequate levels of vitamin E are important in preventing depletion of DHA in the embryo.
“Without enough DHA, there was also evidence for disruption of the structural integrity of cell membranes as a whole.
It appears that vitamin E protects these critical lipids, such as DHA, from excessive depletion that can cause physical and behavioral damage.”
The study showed loss of locomotor activity in vitamin E-deficient embryos as a measure of impaired behavior. Vitamin E-deficient embryos were 82 percent less responsive to a light/dark stimulus.
Past research done elsewhere with rodents, McDougall said, has correlated low DHA levels with less memory and intelligence, and one study in Bangladesh with vitamin E-deficient pregnant women showed a higher level of miscarriage.
The recommended daily allowance of vitamin E for human adults is 15 milligrams a day, and the typical American diet rarely provides that. Vitamin E is most common in nuts, seeds, some leafy greens like spinach, and a few varieties of vegetable oils like sunflower and canola. Low-fat diets also present a special challenge in getting enough vitamin E.
Not all pre-natal vitamins even include vitamin E, McDougall said, although some of the better ones are now including not only vitamin E but also supplements of DHA, a nutrient most common in fatty fish. It’s worth noting, she said, that vitamin E cannot serve its role in protecting DHA if there is inadequate dietary DHA to begin with.
Most human brain development occurs during pregnancy, and some of the most important neurologic development happens during the first trimester.
The corresponding author on this publication was Maret Traber, the Helen P. Rumbel Professor for Micronutrient Research in the Linus Pauling Institute. Other collaborators were from the OSU College of Pharmacy, the Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory, the OSU Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, and the OSU Environmental Health Sciences Center.
www.oregonstate.edu

Published the regulation on novel foods

The publication of the new regulation on Novel Foods, which novel foods will be regulated in the European Union, it has been long awaited by both the food industry and its suppliers of ingredients and additives. The professor, Andrés Gavilán, the G.B Consulting expert and the chairman of the Spanish Association of manufacturers and marketers of additives and food supplements, AFCA, details in this article the key points of Regulation (EU) 2015/2883. Finally, the long awaited regulation on foods / novel ingredients has come true with the publication on 11 December 2015 Regulation (EU) 2015/2883 concerning to the novel foods. With the publication of the new text, engineered nanomaterial, which will enable the development of functional foods with novel properties and Applications for highly innovative foods are allowed.
Here is the list of novel foods:
Novel ingredients are new ingredients not significantly traded before May 15, 1997, including GMOs. According to the publication of the December 11, 2015 Regulation (EU) 2015/2883, that includes:
1.     Ingredients with new molecular structures and GMO.
2.     Ingredients of microorganisms, fungi or algae, isolated or produced from them.
3.     Ingredients of materials of mineral origin isolated or produced from them.
4.     Ingredients of plants or parts of these plants, or isolated or produced from them, except those that existed before May 15, 1997 in the EU.
5.     Ingredients in cell culture or in tissue culture, from plants, animals, microorganisms, fungi or algae, isolated, or produced from them.
6.     Food with animal’s origin isolated or produced from them, except for animals obtained by traditional practices in the EU before 15 May 1997.
7.     Ingredients obtained from a new production process not used for food production, generating significantly changes in the composition or of the food structure, not used in the EU before 15 May 1997.
8.     Nanomaterials (explained below).
9.     Vitamins, minerals and other substances in food production processes applied not used before 15 May 1997 or containing nanomaterials.
10.   Ingredients used exclusively in food supplements, that have been used in the EU before 15 May 1997, when were used in foods different from food supplements.
Likewise, the Euorpean Union in This Novel Foods regulation provides a procedure for authorization of a new food, to facilitate food companies a practical guide to gain approval for the use of future novel foods.
www.nutraceuticalseurope.com

Fatty diets lead to daytime sleepiness, poor sleep

University of Adelaide researchers have found that men who consume diets high in fat are more likely to feel sleepy during the day, to report sleep problems at night, and are also more likely to suffer from sleep apnea.
This is the result of the Men Androgen Inflammation Lifestyle Environment and Stress (MAILES) study looking at the association between fatty diets and sleep, conducted by the University of Adelaide's Population Research and Outcome Studies unit in the School of Medicine and the Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health.
The results -- based on data of more than 1800 Australian men aged 35-80, including their dietary habits over a 12-month period -- have been published this month in the journal Nutrients.
"After adjusting for other demographic and lifestyle factors, and chronic diseases, we found that those who consumed the highest fat intake were more likely to experience excessive daytime sleepiness," says study author and University of Adelaide PhD student Yingting Cao, who is also based at SAHMRI (South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute).
"This has significant implications for alertness and concentration, which would be of particular concern to workers," Ms Cao says. "High fat intake was also strongly associated with sleep apnea."
In total, among those with available dietary and sleep data, 41% of the men surveyed had reported experiencing daytime sleepiness, while 47% of them had poor sleep quality at night.
About 54% had mild-to-moderate sleep apnea, and 25% had moderate-to-severe sleep apnea, which was assessed by a sleep study among those who did not have a previous diagnosis of sleep apnea.
"Poor sleep and feeling sleepy during the day means you have less energy, but this in turn is known to increase people's cravings for high-fat, high-carbohydrate foods, which is then associated with poor sleep outcomes. So the poor diet-and-sleep pattern can become a vicious cycle," Ms Cao says.
"The simple message is a commonsense one, but we need more people to pay attention to it: we need to eat better; a good sleep the night before is best."
Ms Cao says quality of sleep is often not taken into consideration in studies investigating the effects of varying diets on weight loss.
"We hope our work could help to inform future intervention studies, enabling people to achieve healthy weight loss while also improving their quality of sleep," she says.
www.adelaide.edu.au

Healthy lifestyle advice provides long-term benefits

In a recently published study, providing advice over a 5-year period about leading a healthy lifestyle reduced the risk of heart-related deaths over the next 40 years.
Participants were advised to decrease the intake of saturated fats and increase fish and vegetable products. In addition, overweight individuals were advised to reduce their weight and smokers were advised to stop smoking.
Those who received the advice showed a sustained 29% reduced risk of death at first heart attack compared with individuals who did not receive the advice, for up to 40 years. Death from any cause decreased in the period 8 to 20 years after randomization, but not thereafter.
For the study, all 25,915 men born in Oslo during the period 1923-1932 were invited in 1972/1973 to a cardiovascular disease screening examination; of these, 16,203 men participated in the screening. Overall, 1232 high-risk men with high cholesterol levels were included in the original intervention trial.
"Successful lifestyle intervention on diet and antismoking for 5 years in middle-aged men may give life-long benefits with regard to death from myocardial infarction," said Dr. Ingar Holme, lead author of the Journal of Internal Medicinearticle.
http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/index.html

ROHA ANNOUNCES EXPANSION IN ISTANBUL TURKEY WITH A NEW OFFICE
Roha, one of the leading global firms in the production of food colours and food ingredients, announced the opening of a new sales office in Istanbul, Turkey. Tracing its origin to a small start-up in 1972 in India, Roha has spread its foot prints across 19 countries including US, Mexico, UK, Spain, South Africa, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Egypt, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Italy, Russia, Philippines. Turkey is an emerging market with growing population.
Turkey has established itself as a hub of logistics for Europe, Middle East and North Africa. With the corporate giants expanding their presence with their production facilities in Turkey, it deemed imperative for Roha to set up a new local office in Turkey. This will help boost a strong relationship with the clients while mitigating multiple channels. Roha Dyechem spokesperson commented on the expansion, “Our vision of bringing in innovation in newer areas and creating a strong bond with the customers lead us to the expansion in an essentially key market; Turkey, a market that promises considerable potential. We hope that our new avenues of business will further aide us meet the evolving needs of the consumer. We are looking at catering Meat, Confectionery, Ice-Cream, Bakery, Beverage industries at the moment.
We look forward to enhancing customer needs globally with unparalled quality products at reasonable price range.”
This expansion will further provide an impetus to their development plans in the near future.
www.roha.com

LALLEMAND REINFORCES ITS DAIRY AND MEAT CULTURES POSITION WITH THE ACQUISITION OF THE SURFACE AND RIPENING CULTURES BUSINESS OF DSM FOOD SPECIALTIES
Lallemand, a global leader in yeast and bacteria, has strengthened its position in dairy and meat cultures with the acquisition of the Surface and Ripening Cultures business from DSM Food Specialties, which will be incorporated into Lallemand’s Specialty Cultures business unit. Lallemand Specialty Cultures is dedicated to the development and production of specialty cultures for food applications. The acquisition was completed on April 29th, 2016, and it includes surface and ripening strains of molds, yeast and bacteria for soft cheese and dry fermented meat applications, as well as related industrial and business assets including over 100 existing commercial products.
With this acquisition, Lallemand Specialty Cultures becomes one of the top three global leaders in surface and ripening cultures.
Surface and ripening cultures include specially-tailored molds, yeast and bacteria. They are used in cheese and dry fermented meat and play a key role in texture, color and flavor development while providing protection.
Ripening cultures are also responsible for meat acidification, further protecting meats from undesired bacteria and increasing product safety. “This surface and ripening cultures business is a great asset for our current business as it complements our offer of specialty cultures for dairy and other food products” commented Mr Jérôme Panes, General Manager of Lallemand Specialty Cultures. “New and existing customers will benefit from our fermentation expertise and extensive portfolio to ensure differentiation of their products. With this new acquisition, Lallemand becomes a leading player in the cheese and dry meat cultures market”, he added.
www.lallemand.com

LESAFFRE HUMAN CARE FOCUSES ON IMMUNE HEALTH AT VITAFOODS 2016
Lesaffre Human Care has rolled out its patented bacterium LifeinUTM Bacillus subtilis CU1, the most stable probiotic for the immune support of the whole family, at Vitafoods this year. It has indeed been clinically proven to help support immune health through, for example, its ability to increase human sIgA levels, especially in healthy people with weakened natural defenses. Being highly stable, LifeinUTM BSCU1 can survive extreme conditions, which allows it to deliver its health benefits no matter how harsh the environment may be. LifeinUTM LRGG was also presented at the show. It is a reliable source of high quality Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, a well-documented probiotic bacterium that has shown beneficial effects on digestive and immune health.
www.lesaffrehumancare.com

NERINA STRAWBERRY: DARKER, HEALTHIER AND AROMATIC
Iprona AG through cultivar selection, has recreated a black strawberry named Nerina maximizing polyphenols and anthocyanins. The name “Nerina” comes from the Italian word for black “nero” and the diminutive “ina”.
Before strawberries became light red in color, the original forest strawberries were smaller, darker, and healthier, with a much higher antioxidant content in form of polyphenols and vitamin C.
With the growing consumer demand for healthy living, Iprona set out to bring back the original dark, wild, healthy strawberry cultivar.
With Nerina, Iprona is making a clear statement: “healthy with attitude”. The normal supermarket strawberry has been increasingly cultivated for its looks, sweetness and bright red color, while sacrificing its phytonutritional content.
Iprona is presenting a dark strawberry packed with 18 times more anthocyanins than the normal strawberry.
www.iprona.com

BENEO-INSTITUTE NUTRITION SCIENCE UPDATE: CLINICAL TRIAL CONFIRMS THAT SLOW-RELEASE PALATINOSE™ IS SAFE AND WELL-TOLERATED IN FOLLOW-ON FORMULA
Under the lead of Prof. Koletzko, Munich and within the EU7th Framework Program EarlyNutrition, a randomized double blind control study was conducted including 50 infants in the age of 4 to 8 months. Children received a low-glycaemic follow-on formula with Palatinose™ (isomaltulose) or a control formula of a higher glycaemic index (with maltodextrin) for 28 days. Safety, acceptability and metabolic data were generated. The rational was that in infants, differences in insulin levels are shown between breast-fed and formula-fed infants, which may be related to greater fat deposition with increased early weight gain and later risk of obesity. This is why the low glycaemic yet fully available carbohydrate Palatinose™ is a valuable alternative for infant follow-on formula.
A limiting factor of this study was the restriction for blood sampling: a sample was taken only 1 time after 60 min of formula uptake. This ‘one–time-only-situation’ did not allow to show blood glucose or insulin differences in this study. Clearly confirmed was the safe use and good acceptability for infants of the carbohydrate Palatinose™. which is less sweet than the traditional ingredients used in follow-up formula and GUM (Grown-Up Milk). Palatinose™ is the only other carbohydrate with a lower rise in blood glucose compared to sugar or maltodextrin except for lactose. However, all over the world lactose intolerance is of relevance, affecting children from about one year onwards.
www.beneo.com

CLINICAL STUDY CONFIRMS PORTUSANA^® SUPPORTS BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL
A new clinical study confirms positive effects of Portusana^®, an extract of the herb purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), on blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 Diabetes.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of efficacy and safety of purslane extract in controlling blood glucose levels was published this spring in the Journal of Medicinal Foods by Wainstein, et al.. The clinical trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of purslane extract in improving glucose control, blood pressure, and lipid profile in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Sixty-three subjects received either 180 mg/day or matching placebo for a period or 12 weeks. The glucose homeostasis was assessed by measuring Hb1Ac levels, a long-term marker for blood glucose control and which depend on the blood glucose concentration and reflect the average glucose levels over the prior two to three months. The findings show that Frutarom’s purslane extract is effective in improving blood glucose control in Type 2 diabetic patients, as demonstrated by the reduction in HbA1c. After 12 weeks of treatment, subjects experienced significant HbA1c reduction. “With regards to the staggering statistics on diabetes presented by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the World Health Day, Portusana’s study results are highly promising,” says Rudy Simons Ph.D., product manager for Frutarom Health BU. The WHO report revealed a dramatic increase from 108 million adult cases of diabetes in 1980 (4.7% of the global population) to 422 million in 2014 (8.5% of the population). Unhealthy lifestyles, as well as an unbalanced diet and lack of exercise, are considered the primary reasons for this alarming increase.
Portusana is an herbal extract made from the common plant purslane, Portulaca oleracea, an herb with long traditional use as both food and medicine in the Mediterranean region. Scientists at Frutarom derive the Portusana extract from the highest quality purslane, concentrating its active compounds.
www.frutaromhealth.com

DELIVERING HEALTH AND TECHNICAL BENEFITS WITH COLLAGEN PROTEINS
GELITA, the world’s leading manufacturer of collagenous proteins, returned to Vitafoods Europe (Geneva, Switzerland, 10–12 May) to showcase the latest science in Bioactive Collagen Peptide^® supplementation. Being the official collagen peptide sponsor of the show and a market-leading contributor to clinical collagen peptide research, the company will highlight its latest findings in the areas of sarcopenia and cellulite treatment during the exhibition. Moreover, GELITA will present the future of soft capsule production with reduced cross-linking characteristics.
Muscle strength and body toning - As societies age and global demographics change, sarcopenia has evolved into a serious health problem. To fight the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, GELITA has developed specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides^® named BODYBALANCETM. A recently published clinical study demonstrated that a combination of resistance exercise and BODYBALANCETM supplementation offers a viable approach to fight and prevent sarcopenia in the elderly.
A new just finished study was investigating the effects of BODYBALANCETM intake on body toning and muscle strength in young adults. The initial results are very promising and will be a topic for debate at the GELITA booth.
Cellulite treatment- The positive impact of VERISOL^® on skin health is well documented in various clinical trials. Now, a new study shows that these specific collagen peptides also help to restore the normal structure of the dermal and subcutaneous tissue in cellulite-affected body parts. By tackling the causes as opposed to the symptoms, VERISOL^® collagen peptides pave the way for a new therapeutic strategy to treat cellulite. Nutritional experts will be on stand to discuss the growing opportunities for collagen peptide supplementation in beauty- and health-related applications.
Advanced capsule technology - To further increase the application range of soft gelatine capsules, GELITA highlights GELITA^® RXL ADVANCED at this year’s Vitafoods. Providing decreased cross-linking and reduced drying times, the pharmaceutical gelatine guarantees reliable fill release and more efficient capsule production. Protected by US and other international patents, this gelatine grade improves dissolution and capsule shelf-life and provides significant benefits for the development of OTC products with faster fill release characteristics, even at high humidity and very warm temperatures.
www.gelita.com

INGREDIA: COMMUNITY CUSTOMS CERTIFICATION
Ingredia has just obtained the Community customs certification authorised economic operator (aeo) - Security / Safety delivered by the French Customs Authorities. It will provide the essential securing of the international logistics chain which impacts on customs operations.
www.ingredia.com/data/photo/698.jpg

NESTLÉ HEALTH SCIENCE LAUNCHES LOWFODMAPCENTRAL.COM
Nestlé Health Science has announced the launch of LowFODMAPCentral.com, a unique comprehensive online resource offering information and printable guides about FODMAPs and a Low FODMAP Diet. The LowFODMAPCentral.com website has been developed to support both the consumer seeking more information about a Low FODMAP Diet and the healthcare professional looking to build knowledge and practice tools. FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides And Polyols. Gastroenterology researchers at Monash University in Australia coined the FODMAP acronym in 2005 to classify specific types of short-chain carbohydrates that can be poorly absorbed in the small intestine. It is the poor absorption of these food components that may trigger symptoms including abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and/or diarrhea and excessive gas in people with digestive sensitivities. FODMAPs are commonly found in a wide variety of ordinary foods, such as wheat bread, beans, yogurt, milk, apples, onions, garlic, cashews, mushrooms, honey, and more. LowFODMAPCentral.com was developed by Nestlé Health Science, a company focused on advancing the role of nutrition in the management of health.
www.nestlehealthscience.com

HEALTHY JOINTS, MOBILITY AND EASY PROTEIN ENRICHMENT
At this year’s Vitafoods Europe, Rousselot^®, the world-leading manufacturer of gelatin and collagen peptides, has unveiled the results of a new study on Peptan^® collagen peptides and showcase its range of natural proteins for the health and nutrition market. Experts have highlight how its unique Peptan collagen peptides and ProTake hydrolyzed gelatin can help manufacturers meet the demand for functional foods and protein-enriched products. Results of an in vivo study conducted at the University of Rochester Medical Centre (USA) was unveiled during an exhibition at Vitafoods 2016. These results are particularly noteworthy as they show once again Peptan collagen peptides’ ability to regenerate cartilage and also show for the first time its significant anti-inflammatory effect.
This finding opens new doors for manufacturers looking for efficient and evidenced ingredients for the joint health, mobility and sports nutrition markets.
www.peptan.com